Texas A&M enters 2026 with the kind of buzz that only comes when a roster looks ready to chase something bigger. In Mike Elko’s third year, the Aggies are being talked about as one of the SEC’s top teams and a legitimate College Football Playoff contender.
That kind of expectation doesn’t hang in the air by accident. It rests on a handful of players who can tilt the season one way or the other.
At the top of that list is the obvious answer: Marcel Reed. The quarterback spent 2025 showing he can drag Texas A&M to wins on his own, and by the end of the season he had worked his way into the conversation as a realistic Heisman Trophy candidate. He’s the face of the offense and the de facto leader of the team, and if he takes another step in 2026, the Aggies’ ceiling rises with him.
Texas A&M also needs help on the edge, and that’s where Anto Saka comes in. The incoming transfer from Northwestern was one of Elko’s biggest portal additions, bringing a track record that includes 41 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks over three seasons. With Cashius Howell off to the NFL, the Aggies are looking for a disruptive presence right away, and Saka is expected to step in as an immediate starter on the defensive line.
The backfield has its own opening to fill after Le'Veon Moss and EJ Smith both ran out of eligibility following the 2025 season. Rueben Owens II is positioned to absorb a major share of that workload.
He already proved he could contribute after coming back from a season-ending injury in 2024, finishing last season with 639 rushing yards on 119 carries and 130 receiving yards. The big question is health, but if he stays on the field, Texas A&M has a clear answer in the run game.
Mario Craver is another name that matters a lot for this offense. He arrived before the 2025 season and immediately became a major part of the passing attack, catching 59 passes for 917 yards and four touchdowns.
Now he’s back for year two in the program, with a stronger grasp of the scheme and a built-in connection with Reed. With KC Concepcion gone to the NFL, Craver is in line to take over the WR1 role and form a dangerous tandem with incoming transfer Isaiah Horton.
On the other side of the ball, Dezz Ricks gives Texas A&M a veteran presence in the secondary. He’s entering his third season in College Station and has already logged 26 games with 22 starts. With multiple years in Elko’s system, Ricks is expected to become one of the team’s top corners and a steady leader in a secondary that will feature both new and familiar faces.
If Texas A&M is going to live up to the hype, these are the players who will shape the answer.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Just Got A Preseason SEC Slot Fans Will Hate
Texas A&Ms offseason work has already drawn plenty of attention, and not all of it has been flattering. CBS Sports college hoops insider Jon Rothstein slotted the Aggies ninth in his preseason SEC power rankings for 2026-27, a spot that reflects how crowded the league is expected to be even after a busy portal haul and some important retention on the roster.
The Aggies did bring in the No. 18 transfer class, headlined by scorers PJ Haggerty, Jalen Shelley and Tyshawn Archie, while also keeping pieces like Zach Clemence and Mackenzie Mgbako. There is still plenty of schedule grind ahead with a mix of home-and-home and road SEC dates, but the bigger sting for A&M fans is how the league picture is shaping up around them, especially with Texas sitting much higher in the same conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Marcus Ratcliffe Is Emerging As The Face Of Texas A&M's Defense
Texas A&Ms secondary is shaping up to be one of the more interesting parts of the defense heading into 2026, and Marcus Ratcliffe sits right at the center of it. The senior safety transferred in from San Diego State and has quickly moved into the kind of role that brings both production and responsibility, with the Aggies counting on his experience to help anchor a unit that also includes Dalton Brooks and transfer Tawfiq Byard.
Ratcliffes rise has already shown up in preseason recognition, including a spot on the Lott Trophy Watchlist, and the expectation around him is only growing as camp approaches. What makes him especially important for Texas A&M is the way he can be deployed near the line of scrimmage, where his presence could make him a steady force in the run game and a central figure in how this defense sets its tone. [Read more 🡒]