​As summer wanes, so too do the college football previews, and for Texas A&M, coach Mike Elko enters a pivotal third season. After guiding the Aggies to their first-ever College Football Playoff berth and helping place 10 players in the 2026 NFL Draft, Elko faces a crucial stretch as he seeks to build on that breakthrough. Compared with former head coach Jimbo Fisher, Elko’s mature approach and deep football intellect—especially his experience as a top defensive mind—have made him a natural fit in College Station. He spent four years as the Aggies’ defensive coordinator under Fisher, quickly earning admiration from the fan base and praise for his leadership.
Elko’s résumé speaks for itself, and On3’s Crane & Coe, joined by former Georgia standout and linebacker David Pollack, recently argued that the old 8-4 jokes deserve to be discarded and that Texas A&M has regained its swagger under Elko’s guidance. In his initial season at the helm, Elko led the team to a 7-1 start, but a season-ending injury to star running back Le’Veon Moss contributed to a late-season slide, finishing 1-4 with tight losses to Auburn, Texas, and USC in the Las Vegas Bowl.
With a loaded roster and heightened expectations for 2025, Elko, quarterback Marcel Reed, transfer receivers KC Concecpcion and Mario Craver, and unanimous All-American edge rusher Cashius Howell propelled Texas A&M to its first 11-0 start in more than three decades. Yet, as in the previous year, back-to-back losses to Texas and Miami in the CFP first round dashed their hopes of a perfect season.
Heading into 2026, 17 transfer portal additions and a return of 65% of the 2025 roster, including Reed, position Texas A&M as a serious College Football Playoff contender. In concert with Crane & Cone and Pollack, Elko’s leadership and coaching acumen are highlighted as major factors behind the Aggies’ continued momentum.
Stay connected with Aggies Wire for ongoing Texas A&M coverage. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @AggiesWire and like our Facebook page for updates, notes, and opinions surrounding Texas A&M football. You can also follow Cameron on X at @CameronOhnysty. This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire, emphasizing Texas A&M’s renewed swagger under head coach Mike Elko.