Texas A&M’s 2025 football season marked a major step forward-not just for the program, but for second-year head coach Mike Elko, who guided the Aggies to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. An 11-2 finish and an undefeated run at Kyle Field (aside from the CFP loss) speak volumes about the progress being made in College Station.
That lone postseason blemish? A tough first-round exit at the hands of a red-hot Miami team that went on to play for the national title. Sure, there were factors that didn’t go A&M’s way-wind conditions didn’t help, and quarterback Marcel Reed had some moments he’d probably like back-but the bigger picture here is undeniable: the Aggies are trending up, and Reed is right in the middle of it.
Reed wrapped up his first full season as the starter with 3,192 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Those are solid numbers in the SEC, especially for a quarterback still finding his rhythm in the pocket. And now, with his return for the 2026 season confirmed, the focus shifts to what’s next-and more importantly, how much better he can get.
That’s where new offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins and first-year quarterbacks coach Joey Lynch come in. Both are expected to play pivotal roles in Reed’s development, and their impact could be the difference between another one-and-done playoff appearance and a deeper postseason run. Wiggins brings a reputation for maximizing quarterback talent, while Lynch’s track record in developing signal-callers adds another layer of optimism around Reed’s potential leap.
The national conversation around SEC quarterbacks is already heating up, and Reed’s name is firmly in the mix. On a recent episode of SEC Unfiltered, hosts Chris Phillips and Cole Thompson released their early quarterback rankings for the 2026 season.
Both slotted Reed at No. 7-behind a couple of high-profile transfers who haven’t taken a snap for their new programs yet. Phillips, notably, had Texas QB Arch Manning near the top at No. 2, while Thompson echoed that sentiment.
Also ahead of Reed in both rankings were new Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown and LSU’s Sam Leavitt, ranked sixth and fifth respectively. There’s no denying the upside of both players-Brown showed flashes of brilliance at UCF, and Leavitt has intriguing tools from his time at Arizona State-but neither has faced the weekly grind of SEC defenses the way Reed has.
With three years in the league under his belt, Reed has already taken hits from the best and learned how to get back up. That kind of experience matters.
Now, should Reed be higher than No. 7?
That’s a fair question. Somewhere in the 5-7 range feels reasonable, especially when you consider the inconsistencies we saw from some of the other names on the list.
One ranking that raised eyebrows was Oklahoma’s quarterback at No. 4-especially considering his struggles after coming back from injury late in the season. Reed may not be perfect, but he’s shown more consistency, even in tough matchups like Texas and Miami.
Bottom line: Marcel Reed has the tools, the experience, and now the coaching support to take the next step. Whether he climbs those rankings or not, his growth will be one of the biggest storylines to watch in the SEC this fall-and it could be the key to Texas A&M making another serious run at the Playoff.