Texas A&M’s 2025 run looked like the kind of season that can change a program’s temperature overnight. The Aggies opened 11-0, stacked up road wins at Notre Dame, LSU and Missouri, and got major production from quarterback Marcel Reed and two transfer receivers who made an immediate impact.
Reed finished with career highs across the board, throwing for 3,169 yards with 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Meanwhile, KC Concepcion and Mario Craver combined for 1,836 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, giving the offense plenty of firepower during the surge.
But the finish line told a different story. After the comeback win over South Carolina, Texas A&M’s offense and defense both started to slip. The season ended with back-to-back losses to Texas and then Miami in the first round of the College Football Playoff, even though the Aggies were tied 3-3 entering the fourth quarter against Miami and still had chances to take control.
That backdrop is part of why Texas A&M went after former Northwestern edge Anto Saka so aggressively after he entered the transfer portal. Saka may not be a household name for casual fans, but he’s viewed nationally as a possible first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
He also flashed immediately in live action during the Maroon & White Game, where his football IQ, burst off the snap, speed-to-power rush ability and pursuit speed stood out. The Baltimore native checks in at 6-foot-4, 255 pounds, and his blend of size and athleticism has already made him one of the more intriguing pieces on the revamped Aggie roster.
In a recent Q&A with GigEm247 insider Tony Catlina, Saka made clear the mindset around the 2026 season.
"Are we going to be satisfied with winning 11 games, or are we going to push it and we're going to make it to the championship?" Saka asked in rhetorically.
"That's really been on everybody's mind. Championship or nothing.
And we have the team to do it."
The offensive issues weren’t just about Reed’s late-season slump, either. Against Texas and Miami, he threw zero touchdowns and four interceptions, but the run defense also took a hit. Texas A&M had been allowing an average of 130 rushing yards per game, then gave up 218 to Texas and 175 to Miami.
That defensive dip put a spotlight on Mike Elko, who enters his third season at the helm and also serves as A&M’s defensive play-caller. Replacing unanimous All-American edge Cashius Howell, who led the SEC with 11.5 sacks, became one of the top offseason priorities.
The answer, at least on paper, is a deeper front built around Saka, North Carolina transfer nose tackle CJ Mims, senior DE T.J. Searcy and senior DT DJ Hicks. The goal is straightforward: tighten up the run defense and get a more balanced pass rush this fall.
PFF’s numbers back up the hype around Saka. He posted an 84.1 pass-rush grade, generated 30 pressures and finished with 18 quarterback hurries. His Northwestern career ended with 41 tackles, 12 sacks and three forced fumbles.
In Other News...
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For now, though, the question is less about what names might be available and more about whether Texas A&M will choose to act on the option at all. There has been no official announcement about adding anyone to the roster, which leaves the situation in a familiar holding pattern for a program trying to balance continuity, roster management and the reality that unexpected eligibility changes can quickly alter the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Former Texas A&M WR Is Giving Aggies Fans A Painful Reminder
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Thomas helped create a little extra buzz in camp with a notable grab against veteran cornerback D.J. Ivey, a reminder of the kind of size and ball skills that once made him such an intriguing prospect. Back in College Station, Texas A&M has already taken steps to address its own receiver room by adding Isaiah Horton from Alabama, a move meant to help with the size concerns that have lingered on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Has One Roster Battle That Could Shape Everything
Texas A&M heads into 2026 with the kind of buzz that comes from a first College Football Playoff appearance, and the roster has been reinforced accordingly. The Aggies brought in four offensive line transfers while also keeping important pieces in place, giving the staff plenty of options as fall camp gets underway.
Still, the most important question in College Station is not about talent so much as fit. The starting offensive line has yet to be settled, and the coaching staff is sorting through how the group comes together, knowing chemistry and cohesion up front can define what this team becomes. [Read more 🡒]