Texas A&M’s season has been rough enough on the field, and Mike Elko sounded just as worn down when the questions turned to his offense.
The Aggies entered 2026 with expectations built off the historic success of 2025, but that momentum has vanished. Texas A&M has not matched the standard it set a year ago, and the offense has become the clearest sign of the slide. The unit sits No. 80 nationally in points per game and 12th in the SEC, while also ranking No. 98 in the country in yards per game at 341.5.
That production has been a problem all season, especially with the offense struggling to push the ball downfield. Texas A&M is averaging just 4.7 yards per play, which puts it in the bottom 20 nationally. Much of the blame has landed on quarterback Marcel Reed, but first-year coordinator Holmon Wiggins has also come under the microscope.
When asked about whether a change could be coming, Elko stuck to his current approach.
"Just doing what I believe is the best thing to give us a chance to be successful right now, and I think that's how we evaluate everything," Elko told the media. "And if I felt like there were better options or better opportunities or better things that we could do within the program to help us win, we would certainly do them.
Right now, I believe that's our best opportunity to be successful. So I do think 450 yards points to that.
Again, composure, finishing in the red zone changes the outcome of the offense on Saturday. So that's obviously in part coaching, but that's obviously something that we've got to correct and fix."
The follow-up question about Elko’s long-term confidence in Wiggins clearly hit a nerve.
"That's not for now. That's a stupid question, Carter,"
It was the second time Elko has answered in a sharp, defensive tone this season, reflecting both the frustration around the program and the pressure that comes with the way things have gone.
Texas A&M has three games left, including a chance to play spoiler against Texas at the end of the year. A strong finish, especially with a rivalry win, would at least give the Aggies something to hang onto after a season that has gone far off course.
In Other News...
Texas A&M's QB Search Just Got A Lot More Expensive
The quarterback market is getting pricier by the day, and Texas A&M is feeling the ripple effect before the offseason even fully arrives. Mississippi States Kamario Taylor is reportedly finalizing a $7.5 million deal to return for the 2027 season, a move that could make him the highest-paid quarterback in college football and further tighten an already thin pool of proven transfer options.
For the Aggies, the bigger issue is not just that Taylor is off the board, but that the market is shifting toward retention instead of movement. More high-production quarterbacks are choosing to stay put rather than test the portal, which means Texas A&M may have to spend more aggressively than ever just to stay in the conversation for top-end help. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Heads Into Tennessee With A Growing Problem At Receiver
Texas A&Ms passing game showed some life against South Carolina, but the Aggies still left with a familiar concern hanging over the offense. Quarterback Marcel Reed turned in his best performance of the season, completing 25 of 43 passes for 251 yards, yet the unit still couldnt find the end zone, a reminder that progress through the air has not translated into the kind of production this team needs.
The bigger question heading into Tennessee is who Reed will have available to throw to. Wide receivers Ashton Bethel-Roman and Kelshaun Johnson both sat out the South Carolina game, and Mike Elko did not provide any updates on their status, leaving their availability uncertain as the Aggies keep searching for answers at receiver. Offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins is expected to remain in place for the rest of the season, so for now the focus shifts to whether Texas A&M can get healthier in time to give Reed a fuller set of options. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Has A Strength Tennessee Could Make Matter Most
Texas A&Ms defense has been one of the steadier parts of an uneven season, giving the Aggies a fighting chance even as the record has slipped to 4-5. Opponents have had a hard time sustaining drives against this group, with third-down success rates staying below 50 percent and red-zone trips ending without touchdowns more often than not, a formula that has kept games within reach.
The problem has been on the other side of the ball, where yardage has not always turned into points, as the recent loss to South Carolina showed. Now comes Tennessee, and the matchup is a tricky one for a defense that has already done plenty of heavy lifting, because the Volunteers bring a rushing attack that can force exactly the kind of physical test Texas A&M has been able to avoid at times this season. [Read more 🡒]