Texas A&M’s 2-0 start has the Aggies in a strong spot heading into SEC play, but the numbers behind this roster didn’t come cheap.
After blowout wins over Missouri State and Arizona State, Texas A&M climbed two spots to No. 8 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 9 in the AP Top 25. The rise came after Oregon’s shocking loss to Oklahoma State and Oklahoma’s surprising loss to Michigan in Ann Arbor. Last Saturday’s 48-20 win over the Sun Devils was sealed by a late defensive surge, highlighted by pick-six touchdowns from Edge Marco Jones and cornerback Julio Humphrey, who helped fuel a 24-point fourth-quarter run that broke the game open.
The Aggies still have issues to clean up. The rebuilt offensive line has not found steady footing, and quarterback Marcel Reed is still developing as a passer, even if he’s moving forward under new offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins. But through two games, Texas A&M has done enough in key moments on both sides of the ball to keep winning, and with a nine-game SEC schedule ahead, that matters.
What stands out even more is what it took to build the roster. Early in the offseason, Texas A&M and nearly every Power Four program chasing College Football Playoff contention were pushed into spending an average of $30 million or more just to retain their top players, while also adding talent from the transfer portal.
According to the latest data from The Athletic, Mike Elko and athletic director Trev Alberts spent a reported $45-50 million on Texas A&M’s roster. The No. 1-ranked Texas Longhorns were estimated at $45-55 million. Other schools that spent at least $40 million include Tennessee, Notre Dame, Miami, LSU, Ohio State and Oregon.
In Other News...
Texas A&Ms SEC Opener Comes With One Kentucky Threat To Track
Kentuckys SEC opener against Texas A&M carries plenty of intrigue beyond the usual conference reset, and a lot of it starts with the change on the Wildcats sideline. With Mark Stoops era over and Will Stein now beginning to put his stamp on the program, the matchup offers an early look at how quickly Kentucky can adjust under a new head coach. It also adds another layer for the Aggies, who have to prepare for a team that is still taking shape but already has enough familiarity in its building to make this a tricky first conference test.
Jason Marcum of A Sea of Blue painted the picture as one of transition, from the coaching staff down to the players Kentucky will lean on early. For Texas A&M, the scouting report is not just about who lines up on Saturday but how shared coaching connections could shape the game plan on both sides. With a fresh staff in Lexington and a roster that still has a few clear names to track, the Aggies open SEC play facing a Kentucky team whose most interesting traits may be the ones still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Just Got A Concerning Injury Update On A Key Receiver
A wave of injury uncertainty is rolling through the SEC this week, and Oklahoma is among the teams feeling it most. With several programs juggling questionable and doubtful tags on both sides of the ball, availability is becoming as much a part of the game plan as formations and matchups, and that kind of disruption can ripple through a conference race quickly.
For the Sooners, the biggest concern centers on receiver Trell Harris, who has been ruled out indefinitely after suffering a severe internal abdominal injury. Losing a key target for an undefined stretch leaves Oklahoma with real questions in the passing game, and it adds another layer to a week already defined by health reports and shifting expectations across the league. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M's SEC Opener Puts One Aggies Offensive Question On Display
Texas A&Ms SEC opener against Kentucky arrives with a little extra attention on the sideline, where Holmon Wiggins will be calling plays for the first time. The Aggies have already shown both sides of what this offense can be in the first two games, looking sharp in a strong outing against Missouri State before slowing down against Arizona State.
The challenge now is finding steadier balance as the game gets tougher and the margin for miscues gets thinner. Texas A&M is still trying to build out its run game with four new starters up front, and that makes this a useful early measuring stick for how well the offense can execute when SEC play begins and the pressure rises. [Read more 🡒]