Texas A&M’s climb under Mike Elko has caught Paul Finebaum’s attention, and he isn’t backing off the Aggies now.
On "The Paul Finebaum Show," Finebaum pointed to Elko as the reason he believes the program is moving toward the top of the SEC. He said, "I have been on Texas A&M's future since the day they ended up with Mike Elko versus Mark Stoops," Finebaum said.
"That was a great day in Aggie Land. I said this to him.
He's one of the smartest coaches I've ever dealt with. I think he's one of the best.
That program still hasn't quite taken that final step up to the top of the flagpole, but I think they are on their way."
The optimism has plenty of recent evidence behind it. Elko arrived in College Station before the 2024 season after a successful run at Duke, then guided Texas A&M to an 8-5 mark in his first year.
That was the program’s most wins since 2021. The next season brought the bigger leap: an 11-2 record and the school’s first College Football Playoff berth, while matching its highest win total since the 12-win 1992 team.
A lot of that success started on the defensive side. Texas A&M finished No. 18 in total defense, No. 16 in passing yards allowed and No. 36 in scoring defense. The Aggies also got a breakout season from quarterback Marcel Reed, who threw for 3,169 yards, 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while adding 493 rushing yards and six scores.
Finebaum’s faith in the Aggies isn’t new. He has believed in the direction of the program since Elko was hired ahead of the 2024 season, and he sees the ingredients for something more than a one-year surge.
Elko has already delivered a breakthrough with that playoff appearance, but the harder part comes next: making it stick. Texas A&M has long had the resources and recruiting pull to stand with the SEC’s best. What it has not always done is turn that into championships.
That’s the gap Elko seems to be attacking. If the defense stays sturdy and Reed keeps growing, the Aggies may finally have what they need to take that last step.
Finebaum thinks the move is coming. Now Texas A&M has to finish the climb.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Just Backed Off A Fight With Major SEC Stakes
Texas A&M has chosen not to push back against the SECs new stance on former professional athletes, clearing the path for the Aggies to move on from Bryson Warren. Warren, who spent time in the G-League and never played college basketball, has entered the transfer portal after the conference ruled that players with a pro background like his are not eligible to compete in SEC basketball.
The bigger issue for Texas A&M was never just one roster spot, but the risk attached to standing its ground. The SECs penalties for schools that sign ineligible former pros are severe enough that the Aggies decided against challenging the conference, leaving Warren out of the picture and ending one potential test case before it could become a much larger fight. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M May Be Getting Back A Familiar Guard After All
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The timing is notable for a roster that just saw guard Bryson Warren depart, leaving a spot to be filled in the backcourt. Nothing is official yet, but Griffens situation adds another layer of intrigue to Texas A&Ms offseason planning, especially with the team trying to sort out its guard rotation and keep some continuity heading into the next chapter. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&Ms New College Football 27 Ratings Send An Early Message
EA Sports College Football 27 has started rolling out its latest wave of player ratings, and Texas A&M is already giving fans a fresh talking point. The Aggies check in at 86 overall as a team, with wide receiver Mario Craver leading the way at 91 overall, a sign that the game sees him as one of the rosters clear headliners heading into the new cycle.
The updated player pool also brought in several newcomers for Texas A&M, including freshmen and sophomores Evan Jacobson and Caleb Tafua. Their initial ratings fall in the 74-to-77 range, which gives the Aggies a fairly solid baseline but also leaves room for a few younger pieces to make a bigger impression once the real season gets moving. [Read more 🡒]