Texas A&M’s 2026 season is almost here, and the staff at Aggies Wire is split on just how far Mike Elko’s team can go in year three.
There’s plenty pushing the Aggies toward another big run. Elko is coming off a first trip to the College Football Playoff and an 11-2 finish that included just one conference loss.
Still, the sting of back-to-back defeats to Texas, along with the CFP loss to Miami, hangs over the program. Around College Station, the standard has clearly moved.
Simply getting in isn’t the finish line anymore.
The roster looks built for another swing at it. Texas A&M brought back 65% of last year’s team before a record 10 players were taken in the 2026 NFL Draft, then added 17 transfers and its 2026 signing class. That mix gives the Aggies a lineup loaded with NFL-level talent almost everywhere you look.
At quarterback, redshirt junior Marcel Reed enters his second full season as the starter after posting a career year: 3,169 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. The flip side is hard to ignore, though.
Four of his 12 interceptions came in the losses to Texas and Miami, which kept his season from feeling cleaner than the numbers suggest. This offseason, Reed worked with private QB coach Jeff Christensen, and the payoff has shown up in all 16 preseason practices, where the staff has praised his accuracy, touch, and decision-making.
Reed should have help. Mario Craver leads an elite receiver group, and transfer Isaiah Horton adds another layer to the passing game.
The running back room also looks interesting, while the offensive line is the big early test with four new starters. On the other side, the Aggies’ defensive line has been reloaded and the secondary remains deep, giving the roster two areas that still look like clear strengths.
With Week 0 starting this weekend, here’s how the Aggies Wire staff sees Texas A&M’s schedule playing out:
Cameron Ohnysty, the lead writer, has the Aggies going 10-2 overall and 7-2 in SEC play, with wins over Missouri State, Arizona State, Kentucky, LSU, Arkansas, Missouri, Citadel, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. His two losses come at Alabama and at Oklahoma.
Dylan Flippo, a contributor, is a little less bullish at 9-3 overall and 6-3 in the SEC. He has Texas A&M beating Missouri State, Arizona State, Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri, Citadel, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee, while dropping games at LSU, at Oklahoma and against Texas.
Jarrett Johnson, also a contributor, matches that 9-3, 6-3 SEC mark. His version gives the Aggies wins over Missouri State, Arizona State, Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri, Citadel, Alabama, South Carolina and Texas, but losses at LSU, against Tennessee and at Oklahoma.
In Other News...
Marcel Reed Just Got More Fuel For Texas A&Ms Biggest Season
ESPNs latest top-100 college football list gave Texas A&M one player in the mix, but it was wide receiver Mario Craver at No. 86 and not quarterback Marcel Reed. For a program trying to build real momentum around a major season, that kind of omission lands with extra weight, especially when Reed is the player most tied to how far the Aggies can go this fall.
The snub has already become part of the broader conversation around Reed, who has been viewed differently by national outlets than some of his peers at the position. The lists inclusion of NC State quarterback CJ Bailey at No. 68, despite a shaky opener, only sharpened the comparison and added more fuel to the argument that Reed still has work to do to force the bigger rankings to catch up to him. [Read more 🡒]
Ashton Bethel-Romans New Role Could Change Texas A&Ms Receiving Pe order
Jeff Tarpleys look at Texas A&Ms pass-catching group put a spotlight on how much the Aggies still have to sort out at receiver and tight end. KC Concepcion and Mario Craver are part of that mix, along with Isaiah Horton and Nate Boerkircher, but Ashton Bethel-Roman may be the most intriguing name in the bunch because of what happened last season and where he is lined up now.
Bethel-Roman spent last year out of position, and the move this season could free him up to do what the Aggies need most from that spot - create more explosive plays. If that shift translates the way it might, it could alter the pecking order in the receiving room and give Texas A&M another weapon to lean on as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Freshman Suddenly Has A Real Shot At Early Snaps
Jerome Myles departure for personal reasons has created a noticeable opening in Texas A&Ms wide receiver room, and it comes at a time when the Aggies are still sorting out who can handle early-season roles. Head coach Mike Elko announced the move, and with one less body in the mix, the attention has shifted quickly to freshman Aaron Gregory as someone who may be asked to help sooner than expected.
Gregory has been trending upward throughout fall camp, with offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins praising his versatility and the way he has picked up multiple receiver spots. That kind of flexibility matters in a room that is still adjusting, and it gives Gregory a real chance to work his way into the backup rotation while Texas A&M looks for dependable options behind its top targets. [Read more 🡒]