Texas A&M has spent Mike Elko’s first two seasons building real momentum, and that’s exactly why Athlon’s latest bowl projection lands with a thud.
The Aggies have gone from 8-5 in Elko’s first year to 11-2 in his second, and for much of that second season they lived near the top of the national picture. They reached the College Football Playoff after a late-season loss that stung, then dropped a first-round game at Kyle Field to eventual national runner-up Miami.
Even so, the trajectory has been obvious: Texas A&M has climbed to heights the program hasn’t seen in a long time, and the next step is supposed to be bigger than just getting in. The goal is a playoff run, maybe even a push toward the national title.
That’s why Athlon’s projection feels so familiar to Aggies fans in the worst way. It has Texas A&M back in the playoff, but once again not making any real noise.
Athlon slots the Aggies as the No. 9 seed, with Texas at No. 3 and Ohio State at No. 1. That setup points to Texas finishing 11-1 with a loss to the Buckeyes, while A&M lands at 10-2 with a loss to Texas and another defeat, possibly against LSU, Alabama, or Oklahoma.
And the matchup gets even more uncomfortable from there. Athlon has A&M traveling to Norman to face No.
8 Oklahoma in the first round, and it expects the Aggies to go home immediately. That would mean either two losses to OU in two games or a split in which the more important meeting goes to Oklahoma.
For Texas A&M, that’s the kind of result that would sting far beyond the bracket itself. Losing to a regional and historical rival like Oklahoma would make the whole exercise feel harsher, especially with Elko still trying to stack the kind of wins that build trust nationally.
There is also the wrinkle that the CFP committee probably wouldn’t simply recreate a late-season rematch in the opening round, so the seeding could shift a bit in this kind of scenario. The Aggies might drop a spot, or Oklahoma could move up, which would send A&M toward Miami instead.
Still, the bigger point is clear: if Texas A&M gets back into the playoff, that’s a positive sign. But if the Aggies are one-and-done again, it will feel a lot heavier this time around than it did a year ago. The hope in College Station is that last season’s taste of the postseason becomes fuel for a deeper run this fall.
In Other News...
Mike Elko's SEC Ranking Will Fire Up Texas A&M Fans
Texas A&M heads into the 2026 season with some real momentum behind Mike Elko, who is entering his third year in College Station after signing a six-year extension. The Aggies open against Missouri State on Sept. 5, and the roster around him already looks different after another active transfer-portal cycle and a strong NFL draft showing from former players, both of which have helped reinforce the idea that the program is moving in the right direction.
Elkos growing national profile is only adding to the buzz. Analysts around the sport have started to place him near the top of the SEC coaching hierarchy, and Texas A&M is also in position to make noise on the recruiting trail with its 2027 class tracking toward elite territory. For a fan base that has waited for sustained traction, the combination of coaching respect, roster churn and recruiting momentum is the kind of backdrop that makes the next step feel increasingly important. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Is Headed For A Huge Identity Test After Marcel Reed
Marcel Reed gives Texas A&M something every program wants at quarterback: a clear starting point and, for now, a steady hand. With two seasons of eligibility left, Reed has time to keep shaping the offense and the Aggies have time to keep building around him, but the larger question is what comes after him and how much of the rosters identity will need to be redefined once that chapter closes.
Brady Hart, Helaman Casuga and Jayce Johnson are all part of the conversation about the next quarterback, which only underscores how unsettled that future still is. The same kind of long-view planning is happening on defense, where sophomore edge rusher Marco Jones is expected to take on a bigger role in 2026 after showing growth under the staff, even as Anto Saka and TJ Searcy remain in line for major pass-rush work. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Suddenly Has Real Tension In Battle For Elite 2027 Back
The race for Landen Williams-Callis has tightened into a short list of heavy hitters, and Texas A&M is still part of the conversation for one of the top running back prospects in the 2027 class. The four-star back has already taken official visits to LSU and Texas A&M, while also making unofficial stops at SMU and Oregon, giving the Aggies a real chance to stay in the hunt against the usual national powers.
Williams-Callis has built a profile that has made him one of the more closely watched backs in his class, and the next stretch of his recruitment figures to matter. For A&M, the appeal is obvious: landing an elite runner this early would give the program a major head start, but the competition is now down to a handful of schools and the pressure is only going to rise from here. [Read more 🡒]