Texas A&M’s latest injury report brought a mixed bag Wednesday night, and by Thursday night not much had shifted in the wrong direction for the Aggies - except for one more name moving firmly out of the mix.
Mario Craver remained questionable, the same designation he carried on the Wednesday report. Graduate offensive lineman Trovon Baugh, though, was bumped from doubtful to out, joining Terry Bussey, Kelshaun Johnson, and Blake Ivy on the unavailable list.
There were no new injuries added for Texas A&M, after WR Ashton Bethel-Roman was added to the report for the South Carolina game on Thursday of that week. Tennessee also stayed put on its report, with no new additions and seven players still expected to miss the game, including sack leader Tyree Weathersby.
Craver’s status looms large for the Aggies heading into Saturday’s matchup with the Volunteers. Texas A&M is trying to knock off Heupel’s top-10 team, and Craver stands out as one of the most explosive athletes on a roster that could use every bit of that kind of juice.
On the basketball side, Bucky McMillan’s new-look team finally got its first major statement win of the season. Texas A&M rolled past Oklahoma State at Reed Arena, a sharp response after last year’s blowout loss in Stillwater early in the season. After working through lighter competition to open the year, this was the Aggies’ first big win, and it should help their case as they hover around the rankings and push toward the top 25.
The schedule now gets more interesting. Texas A&M hosts Southeastern Louisiana next Monday, then heads to Fort Worth for a Thursday meeting with TCU. After that comes the Battle 4 Atlantis, where the Aggies will have a chance to make a real national impression if they can stack a couple of wins.
And for those already looking ahead to football’s next roster puzzle, the transfer quarterback market is starting to come into focus. Texas A&M is expected to need a transfer QB this cycle, a path the program has not had to navigate since the portal became such a major force. The competition for quarterbacks is already heating up, and one move only underscored how expensive this chase may get.
Kamario Taylor has re-upped with Mississippi State for a reported $7.5M. That closes the door on any hope of landing him and makes the price of an impact passer in the portal crystal clear.
Around the country, more programs are paying up to keep their quarterbacks at home, which could leave slim pickings when Texas A&M enters the market. For the Aggies and every other team needing a signal-caller, the next few months are shaping up to be a fascinating ride.
In Other News...
Mike Elko Faces One Huge Choice In Texas A&Ms CFP Push
Texas A&Ms push toward the expanded College Football Playoff is starting to look like a 2027 conversation, and it may come down to how Mike Elko handles the biggest decision on his offense. The Aggies have a clearer picture on the defensive side after first-year coordinator Lyle Hemphill helped steady things, while the roster still has room to grow through recruiting and the transfer portal.
For Elko, the key question is whether Holmon Wiggins remains the right fit at offensive coordinator and how Marcel Reed is positioned as the starting quarterback picture develops. With the Aggies expected to be in the mix for another CFP run, those choices could shape whether Texas A&M has the balance and firepower to finally turn optimism into a real postseason push. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Gets An Early Home Test Fans Should Watch Closely
Texas A&Ms early-season schedule brings a noteworthy home test when the Aggies meet Oklahoma State in a blackout game, with the building set to be dressed in black and the matchup carrying a little extra edge because both teams are still unbeaten. It is the kind of November game that can tell you something real about where a team stands, especially when the opponent comes in with its own momentum and a head coach in Steve Lutz who already has his group moving in the right direction.
For the Aggies, it is also another chance to see how Bucky McMillans team handles a game with some atmosphere around it, not just a routine nonconference date. The series history adds another layer, and while early-season records can change quickly, this one has enough going for it to feel like more than a tune-up, which is exactly why fans should be watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Elko Sees One Big Tradeoff In Texas A&M's Playoff Boost
The College Football Playoffs move to 24 teams in 2027 figures to open more doors for programs like Texas A&M, which will have a better path to the postseason and a real chance to host playoff games. For a fan base that has spent years watching the bracket feel just out of reach, the expanded format offers obvious upside, especially with automatic bids in place for Power Five champions, the top Group of Five team and a larger pool of at-large selections.
Mike Elko, though, sees the other side of the equation. While the Aggies stand to benefit from the added access, he has pointed to the tradeoff that comes with a bigger field, worrying that the regular season could lose some of its edge and that conference championships may matter less in the process. The top eight seeds will still get first-round byes, but the broader question for A&M and everyone else is whether the road to the playoff gets easier at the cost of what made the chase feel so urgent in the first place. [Read more 🡒]