Texas A&M’s first-ever College Football Playoff appearance ended with a thud-a 10-3 loss to Miami that left a sour taste in the mouths of Aggie fans and opened the floodgates for national criticism. Less than two days after the final whistle, some voices in the college football world were quick to pile on, labeling the Aggies “frauds” despite an 11-win season that marked their best campaign in over a decade.
Let’s break this down.
In just his second year at the helm, Mike Elko guided Texas A&M to 11 wins-something the program hadn’t done since 2012. That’s not nothing.
It was also the first time since 2020 that the Aggies cracked more than eight wins in a season. For a team that’s been trying to re-establish itself as a national contender, those are meaningful milestones.
Quarterback Marcel Reed showed plenty of promise this year, even if the season didn’t end the way he-or the program-hoped. He passed for a career-high 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns, showing flashes of the kind of QB who can lead a team deep into the postseason.
But the final stretch exposed some growing pains. Reed turned the ball over seven times in the last three games-including six interceptions against South Carolina, Texas, and Miami.
In the CFP, those mistakes were magnified.
On the other side of the ball, the Aggies’ defense had teeth. The pass rush was relentless, racking up 41 sacks on the season.
None more impactful than unanimous All-American edge rusher Cashius Howell, who was a constant problem for opposing quarterbacks. Howell’s dominance gave the Aggies a defensive identity that kept them in games even when the offense sputtered.
Still, the critics zeroed in on the strength-or perceived weakness-of Texas A&M’s SEC schedule. Yes, five of their seven conference wins came against teams that finished with two or fewer SEC victories.
But let’s be real: no one had a crystal ball back in September. LSU, Auburn, and Florida all underperformed relative to expectations.
That’s not something the Aggies could control. You play who’s in front of you.
But because it’s Texas A&M-a program with high expectations and a national spotlight-there’s always going to be scrutiny. And when the postseason ends in a one-touchdown performance, the knives come out fast.
One of the louder voices was SEC Unfiltered’s Chris Phillips, who dismissed the Aggies as “paper tigers” and called the season a bust. That kind of take might get clicks, but it overlooks the broader picture.
This season was a step forward for Texas A&M. It wasn’t perfect.
The playoff debut didn’t go as planned. But 11 wins, a CFP berth, and a young quarterback gaining valuable experience?
That’s a foundation. Whether it’s sturdy enough to build something greater-that’s what Year 3 under Elko will tell us.