Texas A&M’s Season Ends in Heartbreak - and With a Clear To-Do List for 2026
There’s no sugarcoating it - Texas A&M’s season came to a brutal close. This loss wasn’t just painful because of the final score, but because of what it represented: a season full of promise, grit, and flashes of brilliance that ultimately ended short of expectations. Now, with the offseason officially underway, the Aggies are staring down a familiar challenge - fixing what’s broken while preserving what’s working.
Let’s break down what went wrong, what still needs fixing, and what Texas A&M can build on heading into 2026.
The Explosives Issue: Still Haunting the Aggies
One of the biggest questions entering the season was whether the Aggies could finally patch up their issues with giving up explosive plays - particularly on the ground. If you were hoping for a definitive answer by season’s end, well, you didn’t get it. Instead, 2025 became a frustrating case study in déjà vu.
The pass defense held up better than expected in most matchups, but the run game? That was a different story. Too often, opposing backs found daylight - and not just five-yard gains, but game-changing chunks that flipped momentum and field position in an instant.
We saw it throughout the year: Ahmad Hardy ripping off key runs late to keep Mizzou in it, Tre Wisner carving up the Aggies in crunch time down in Austin, and most recently, Mark Fletcher breaking loose for Miami in the final game. These weren’t isolated breakdowns - they were part of a pattern that reared its head at the worst possible times.
Aggressive Scheme, Undersized Front
To be fair, part of this issue stems from the aggressive defensive style Texas A&M leaned into this year. Mike Elko and his staff weren’t shy about dialing up pressure and trusting their front seven to make plays in space.
At times, it worked beautifully. But when it didn’t, the consequences were glaring.
Personnel played a big role here. The Aggies were a bit light up front by SEC standards. Players like Taurean York and Tyler Onyedim played their hearts out and flashed real talent, but there’s no getting around the fact that they’re undersized for the kind of trench warfare you see week in and week out in this conference.
Elko acknowledged as much after the game, pointing to the need for more consistency at the line of scrimmage. That’s not just coach-speak - it’s a clear signal that roster construction in the trenches will be a top priority this offseason.
The Foundation Is There - But the Fixes Need to Come Fast
Despite the defensive lapses, this wasn’t a lost season. There’s a strong foundation in place, especially when you look at the flashes of high-level play across all three phases. The Aggies showed they can hang with the best when they execute - but the margin for error in the SEC is razor-thin, and they learned that the hard way.
This offseason will be about more than just plugging holes. It’s about reshaping the identity of this defense, especially up front. If Texas A&M can shore up its personnel and maintain the aggressive mentality that’s become a calling card, there’s reason to believe they’ll come back stronger in 2026.
But that starts with solving the explosives problem - for real this time. Because if the Aggies want to take the next step, they can’t keep getting gashed in the moments that matter most.