For Texas A&M, the next step is clear: get to Atlanta.
The Aggies are expected to open the season ranked in the Top 10 for the first time in the Mike Elko era, and that brings a different kind of spotlight. It also brings expectations that are hard to ignore after Texas A&M reached the College Football Playoff for the first time last year, following an 11-0 regular season.
Even with that breakthrough, one major box still hasn’t been checked. Texas A&M has not yet made the SEC Championship Game. That stands out even more because Texas, which joined the league two seasons ago, has already played for the conference title in Atlanta.
Conference championships may not carry the same weight they once did in the CFP era, but for the Aggies, the SEC title race still matters. A trip to the championship game would put Texas A&M in position to chase the No. 1 overall seed in the playoff bracket.
Over the last two seasons, the Aggies have been right there in the SEC race. In both years under Elko, they were one win away from reaching the conference title game. Only Georgia, the two-time defending SEC champion, can match that level of late-season contention over that stretch.
And each time, Texas has been the obstacle.
If Texas A&M had beaten its rival in the first two meetings since the series resumed, the national conversation around the Aggies would look a lot different. Instead, the question remains whether this team can turn close calls into proof - by reaching the SEC Championship, or by winning a College Football Playoff game under Elko.
The path has been there. The Aggies have been on the edge of Atlanta for two straight seasons. Now they just have to finish the job, and that starts with finding a way to beat Texas at the end of the regular season.
In Other News...
Sarkisian Just Sent A Telling Message About Texas And Texas A&M
Steve Sarkisian didnt hide his irritation when the subject of last seasons rivalry theatrics came up at SEC Media Days, and the timing only sharpened the point for Texas A&M fans. During Texas win over the Aggies, the Longhorns were accused of turning the moment into something bigger than the scoreboard, and Sarkisian made clear he believes college football rivalries should be handled with a little more respect than that.
For the Aggies, the backdrop matters because this is not going away anytime soon. Texas returns to Kyle Field on Nov. 27, and the buildup to that game already has the feel of something that could linger well beyond the final whistle. Sarkisians comments only add another layer to a matchup that has never needed much help finding edge. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Just Got Another Reason To Feel Disrespected
Preseason all-SEC teams are supposed to offer an early snapshot of how the league sees the contenders, and Texas A&M did not exactly get a warm reception. Mario Craver was the Aggies lone first-team choice, earning a spot as an all-purpose player, while Mark Nabou landed on the second team at center and DJ Hicks and Terry Bussey made the third team.
For a roster that entered the conversation with more buzz than that, the omissions stood out almost as much as the names that were included. Isaiah Horton, Dezz Ricks, Dalton Brooks and Daymion Sanford all had cases to be made, and the contrast with other SEC programs only sharpened the feeling that Texas A&M was being overlooked before the season even began. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Captain Just Backed Mike Elkos Recruiting Identity
At SEC Media Day, Texas A&M captain Marcus Ratcliffe offered a clear window into how Mike Elko is trying to build the program: with blunt evaluations and no shortage of honesty. Ratcliffe said the Aggies coach does not try to win recruits over with empty praise, but instead gives them straightforward feedback that helps set expectations from the start.
For Ratcliffe, that approach matters because it creates trust, and trust can carry real weight as Texas A&M heads toward fall camp and keeps shaping its culture. In a recruiting world full of polished pitches, the Aggies are leaning into a simpler identity under Elko, one built on direct communication and credibility rather than flash. [Read more 🡒]