The SEC is making a notable tweak to its targeting policy in 2026, and for Texas A&M, the change could matter in a real way.
The biggest shift is simple: a second-half targeting penalty will no longer trigger a first-half suspension in the next game. The player still has to sit out after the first offense, but the punishment stops there if the call comes late in the game.
Under the new setup, a second targeting offense will lead to a suspension no matter when it happens, and a third offense becomes a full-game suspension. According to John McDaid, there have been no three-time offenders in five years.
The conference is also changing offensive pass interference, which will now be a 10-yard penalty.
For a rule that has long frustrated fans, this is the kind of adjustment plenty of people have been waiting for. Targeting has become one of the most debated calls in college football because of how it’s enforced and because of the damage it can do to a team when a key player gets tossed. The replay process remains in place, and the booth can still initiate a review if something looks off.
What the SEC has not done yet is create a two-tier system like basketball’s Flagrant I and Flagrant II setup. That’s the bigger reform many fans wanted, and it means the league still leaves room for a player to be ejected on a play that can look routine.
Still, the change should help Texas A&M in particular. Senior starting safety Dalton Brooks is one of the hardest hitters in the conference, and Aggie fans have had plenty of moments where they braced for a targeting flag after he delivered a big hit. With the threat of a carryover suspension removed for a first-half or second-half call, Brooks can at least play without that extra layer of concern hanging over him.
It’s not the final answer to the targeting problem, and the SEC will review the policy again before the 2027 season. But for now, it’s a step in the direction fans have been asking for.
In Other News...
Former A&M Defensive Architect Is Now Shaping Another SEC Program
Will Steins first staff move at Kentucky carried a familiar Texas A&M flavor, as the new Wildcats coach turned to former Aggies defensive coordinator Jay Bateman to help shape the next chapter in Lexington. Batemans time in College Station left a clear imprint, with his defenses playing a major role in A&Ms 11-0 start and eventual College Football Playoff trip, the kind of run that makes his resume stand out in the SEC coaching carousel.
For Texas A&M, the connection adds a little extra edge to a matchup already circled on the calendar. Kentucky visits College Station on Sept. 19, giving the Aggies an early chance to see how one of their former defensive architects handles a new job in the same league, while A&M continues looking ahead to a 2026 season that will put its key voices back in the spotlight at SEC Media Days. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Elkos Terry Bussey Update Changes Everything For Texas A&Ms Offense
Texas A&Ms offense is entering the season with a very different look, and Mike Elko is sorting through the ripple effects of departures to the NFL and the transfer portal. The Aggies will lean on a mix of returning players and newcomers to stabilize the receiver room, with the staff still trying to settle who can step into the biggest roles and keep the passing game moving.
One name now sitting at the center of that conversation is Terry Bussey, whose availability changes the outlook for an offense that needs playmakers to emerge quickly. Elkos group has spent the offseason piecing together options around the receiver group, and Busseys presence gives the Aggies a much-needed piece as they head into fall camp with more questions than answers about how the targets will be distributed. [Read more 🡒]
One Aggies Pass Rusher Is Suddenly Turning Heads This Offseason
Texas A&Ms front seven is shaping up as one of the more intriguing parts of the 2026 roster, with a heavy dose of returning production and several newcomers expected to factor right away. Former Northwestern edge rusher Anto Saka is projected to start, while sophomore Marco Jones is set to handle a hybrid linebacker-edge role that could make him a central piece of the defense. In that mix, the Aggies also have a former Georgia transfer in Samuel MPemba, whose limited action last season left more questions than answers.
MPemba is now drawing attention for a different reason. He has shown notable strength during offseason training, and the buzz around his work has only added to the sense that his role could expand in a hurry behind Jones. Texas A&M has plenty of NFL-level talent on the roster already, but the development of players like MPemba often ends up shaping how much upside a defense really has once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]