Texas A&M enters 2026 with the kind of schedule that can either sharpen a playoff contender or expose every weak spot. ESPN’s Football Power Index sees the Aggies landing somewhere in the middle of that range, projecting a 9-3 regular season as Mike Elko heads into his third year in College Station.
The season opens Saturday, Sept. 5, with Missouri State coming to town, followed by Arizona State in Week 2. From there, the road gets much tougher, especially once SEC play starts to stack up. Texas A&M is coming off its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance, and while the path back won’t be easy, there’s enough returning talent to suggest another strong run is in play.
A big reason for that optimism starts at quarterback. Marcel Reed is back for his second full starting season as a redshirt junior, and the offense should have a familiar backbone even with some new faces around him.
The staff, though, looks different. Elko elevated Holmon Wiggins to offensive coordinator and play-caller, while Lyle Hemphill steps in as defensive coordinator in place of Jay Bateman.
Wiggins’ first season calling plays will draw plenty of attention nationally, and the offensive line will be under the microscope too. Texas A&M has to replace four starters up front, which could be a problem early if the group doesn’t gel quickly.
Still, the Aggies brought in four SEC starting offensive linemen, and Adam Cushing has additional depth from the 2025 signing class to work with. Expect some early rotation as the staff searches for the best five.
ESPN’s game-by-game FPI projections paint a mostly favorable picture, with Texas A&M favored in all but three regular-season games. The model gives the Aggies a 98.2% chance to beat Missouri State, 90.3% against Arizona State, 89.5% versus Kentucky, 90.3% over Arkansas, 99.0% against Citadel, 69.5% at South Carolina, 72.% against Tennessee, and 34.9% against Texas. The other tight call comes at Oklahoma, where Texas A&M is listed at 50.1%.
The three games where the Aggies are projected as underdogs are the ones that stand out most: 43.4% at LSU, 41.8% at Alabama, and 34.9% against Texas. ESPN also gives Texas A&M a 66.0% chance at Missouri and a 50.1% edge at Oklahoma, making those two road trips pivotal in the bigger picture.
Several college football analysts have already landed on the same neighborhood, picking Texas A&M to finish 9-3 or 10-2. If the Aggies want to push back toward the CFP conversation, the road slate will likely decide it. Winning at LSU and Missouri, and staying unbeaten before the trip to Alabama, would set up the final stretch with real momentum.
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Texas Made Its Recruiting Run And Aggie Fans Loved The Twist
Texas A&M has spent the summer sitting atop the recruiting class rankings, and the Aggies have had plenty to smile about as Texas tried to make a late run. The Longhorns added key names such as John Meredith and Ismael Camara, enough to make the race feel closer than it had been, but A&Ms early work has kept it in the drivers seat and given its fans a familiar reason to watch the other side of the state closely.
The latest twist has only sharpened that feeling. Texas has already taken a hit in the receiver chase, and another prized commitment is now drawing serious attention elsewhere, which could leave the Longhorns late push looking a lot less imposing than it did a few days ago. For A&M, the bigger picture is simple enough: every wobble in Austin makes the Aggies lead look sturdier, and the recruiting rankings may be settling into a shape that suits College Station just fine. [Read more 🡒]
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Texas A&Ms 2027 recruiting surge keeps piling up attention, and the latest sign of that momentum comes with a little more statewide recognition. The Aggies class sits No. 1 nationally and already features six five-star commits, with offensive tackle Mark Matthews headlining a group that has given Mike Elkos program a different kind of buzz as it tries to keep climbing toward College Football Playoff contention.
Kaden McCarty is part of that wave, too, and the rising four-star edge rusher just added another notable line to his rsum after being named to the 2026 Preseason DCTX Whataburger Super Team on defense. Coming off a strong junior season, McCartys stock continues to rise, and he was joined on the preseason list by fellow Aggies JayQuan Snell, Kennedy Brown and Kaeden Scott, another reminder that Texas A&Ms recruiting footprint is spreading well beyond one headline name. [Read more 🡒]