Texas A&M’s 2025 season came to a sudden stop in the first round of the College Football Playoff, falling to Miami in a game that saw the Aggies held without a touchdown at Kyle Field-something that hadn’t happened since 2002. Quarterback Marcel Reed struggled under the postseason lights, turning the ball over three times, including two costly interceptions that helped swing momentum in Miami’s favor. The Hurricanes now move on to face Ohio State in the CFP Quarterfinals.
Despite the abrupt end, it’s hard to label Mike Elko’s second year in charge as anything but a step forward. The Aggies made the Playoff, showed flashes of elite-level talent, and took care of business through most of the regular season.
Sure, critics will point to a relatively manageable schedule, but 2026 won’t offer the same cushion. Next year’s slate is a gauntlet: road trips to LSU and Missouri for the second straight season, followed by a brutal finish that includes Oklahoma away and a rivalry showdown against Texas at Kyle Field.
But as the Aggies gear up for a tougher road ahead, they’ll be doing it with a reshuffled coaching staff.
Offensive coordinator Collin Klein is gone, taking over as the new head coach at Kansas State. On the defensive side, Jay Bateman made a lateral move to Kentucky, where he’ll serve as the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator and playcaller. Those departures leave Elko with big shoes to fill on both sides of the ball.
He’s already taken steps to rebuild. Lyle Hemphill has been promoted to defensive coordinator, and Elijah Robinson returns as co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach.
Robinson’s return should be a major boost for a run defense that had its share of issues in 2025. With Hemphill and Robinson teaming up, the Aggies are aiming to reestablish their identity in the trenches-an area that’s long been a cornerstone of Elko’s philosophy.
On the offensive side, there’s another potential domino to watch. Adam Cushing, now in his second year coaching the offensive line at A&M, has emerged as a name to watch in connection with Michigan State.
Cushing has deep ties to former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald, having served as his offensive line coach from 2009 to 2018. During that time, he helped develop several linemen who made the leap to the NFL.
Before joining Elko at A&M, Cushing was also on staff at Duke, continuing to build his résumé under some of the game’s most respected offensive minds, including Kevin Johns and Collin Klein. While he’s never called plays, his experience and reputation as a physical, trench-first coach have made him an intriguing candidate for a co-offensive coordinator role-potentially pairing those duties with his current O-line responsibilities.
That said, the Aggies may not need to worry about replacing him just yet. Michigan State is reportedly set to hire former Wake Forest offensive line coach Nick Tabacca, which likely takes Cushing off the table for the Spartans’ staff.
Still, the mere possibility of losing Cushing underscores how much Texas A&M’s recent success has made its coaching staff a target. That’s the price of relevance in college football. When you start winning, other programs start circling.
Heading into 2026, Elko’s Aggies will face one of the toughest schedules in the country, with a retooled coaching staff and a fanbase hungry for more than just a Playoff appearance. The foundation is there. Now it’s about building on it-and finding a way to finish stronger than they did this year.