Texas A&M opened Week 1 of ESPN’s updated FPI rankings at No. 11, sitting just outside the top 10 as the 2026 college football season gets rolling.
That placement comes with a pretty clear backdrop. Mike Elko is heading into his third year in charge, and he does it one season after Texas A&M put together its first 11-0 start since 1992 and earned its first College Football Playoff berth. Even with a school-record 10 players going in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Aggies have managed to rebuild and hold onto some of the nation’s top talent as they try to push past expectations again.
Texas A&M won’t have long to wait to start shaping that résumé. The Maroon and White open the new campaign against Missouri State on Saturday night at Kyle Field.
ESPN’s Football Power Index is built around projected strength and future results, not past accomplishments the way the AP Poll or US LBM Coaches Poll work. In other words, it’s designed to answer a simple question: how good is a team right now, and how likely is it to win what’s ahead?
At the top of the Week 1 FPI standings, Ohio State leads the way at 28.7. Texas follows at 26.9, with Notre Dame at 25.9, Oregon at 25.3 and Georgia at 24.8.
Texas A&M landed in a tight cluster at 20.0, alongside LSU and Texas Tech. Just ahead of the Aggies were Alabama at 20.1 and Miami at 21.8. Behind them came Oklahoma at 17.8, Ole Miss at 16.0 and Michigan at 15.9.
Here is the full top 25 in ESPN’s Week 1 FPI rankings:
Ohio State Buckeyes (0-0) - 28.7
Texas Longhorns (0-0) - 26.9
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0-0) - 25.9
Oregon Ducks (0-0) - 25.3
Georgia Bulldogs (0-0) - 24.8
Indiana Hoosiers (0-0) - 23.1
Miami Hurricanes (0-0) - 21.8
Alabama Crimson Tide (0-0) - 20.1
LSU Tigers (0-0) - 20.0
Texas Tech Red Raiders (0-0) - 20.0
Texas A&M Aggies (0-0) - 20.0
Oklahoma Sooners (0-0) - 17.8
Ole Miss Rebels (0-0) - 16.0
Michigan Wolverines (0-0) - 15.9
Tennessee Volunteers (0-0) - 15.1
Penn State Nittany Lions (0-0) - 13.7
Florida Gators (0-0) - 13.6
USC Trojans (1-0) - 13.6
Clemson Tigers (0-0) - 13.4
BYU Cougars (0-0) - 13.1
Missouri Tigers (0-0) - 12.2
Auburn Tigers (0-0) - 12.0
South Carolina Gamecocks (0-0) - 11.7
SMU Mustangs (0-0) - 11.1
Iowa Hawkeyes (0-0) - 10.6
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For Texas A&M supporters, it is a familiar reminder of the programs quarterback pipeline and of Kings persistence since leaving College Station. He arrived in the pros with a business management degree from A&M, and now he has turned a strong summer into a roster spot, a small but meaningful win for a player still working to establish himself at the next level. [Read more 🡒]
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The next important checkpoint is getting closer, too. Matthews is reportedly nearing an official announcement that he intends to sign with Texas A&M on Early Signing Day, a move that would turn a long-standing pledge into something much more concrete for a program trying to keep its top-end talent intact. For the Aggies, it is the kind of recruiting moment that can help set the tone for the winter. [Read more 🡒]
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Reed also did not dance around the recent history, acknowledging Texas A&Ms losses to Texas since the rivalry returned. With the next meeting set for Nov. 27, 2026, his message was unmistakable: this is the one he wants to change, and for Aggies fans, that kind of confidence is exactly what makes the buildup worth watching. [Read more 🡒]