Note: This story is featured in the 2026 edition of Dave Campbell's Texas Football's Summer Magazine, which you can order here.

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BEHIND ENEMY LINES  

“Elko is exactly what that place needed. He stays out of the spotlight and you never hear about the Aggies anymore in the offseason, and I’m sure he likes it that way. He was the perfect switch from Jimbo.”  

“The way they’ve ended the last two years have kept people on the national level from understanding just how good of a job he’s done at that place. He inherited a mess from the last guy, at least from a culture standpoint and just how to operate a college program in the modern era. That place can get weird but he’s just a normal, football loving dude and that’ll serve him well.”  

“They need to beat Texas. Reaching the playoff and all that is great, but Texas A&M fans care about beating Texas and (Elko) is 0-2. They won’t care how good the team does in the first 11 weeks if he goes 0-3.”  

SCHEDULE AND PREDICTIONS  

Sept. 5 Missouri State W 

Sept. 12 Arizona State W 

Sept. 19 Kentucky W 

Sept. 26 at LSU L 

Oct. 3 Arkansas W 

Oct. 10 at Missouri W 

Oct. 17 The Citadel W 

Oct. 24 at Alabama L 

Oct. 31 IDLE 

Nov. 7 at South Carolina W 

Nov. 14 Tennessee W 

Nov. 21 at Oklahoma L 

Nov. 27 Texas W  

Record: 9-3 (6-3) 

BIGGEST GAME – Nov. 27 vs. Texas 

The Aggies haven’t beaten their most bitter rival since 2010 and head coach Mike Elko is now 0-2 vs Steve Sarkisian and the Horns. Texas A&M’s schedule in 2026 is rough, so beating Texas at home might be a must if the Aggies plan to return to the CFP.  

TRAP GAME – Sept. 19 vs. Kentucky  

Texas A&M hosts Kentucky and first-year head coach Will Stein in an early season SEC showdown that’s sandwiched between a home game against Arizona State and a road trip to LSU. A new, high-powered offense by the Wildcats could conceivably be a problem for the Aggies.  

UPSET ALERT – Oct. 24 at Oklahoma  

Texas A&M’s November slate is no joke. It starts with a trip to South Carolina, continues with a home game with Tennessee, and concludes with a trip to Oklahoma and a clash with the Longhorns on Black Friday at Kyle Field. Knocking off the Sooners in Norman would be huge for the CFP résumé.   

BEST CASE/WORST CASE 

Best Case: 11-1  

Texas A&M strikes gold with a new offensive line and quarterback Marcel Reed takes another leap as a third-year starter under first-year offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins. Mike Elko’s defense improves against the run and the Aggies march to their first SEC Championship game appearance.   

Worst Case: 6-6  

Replacing four of five starters along the offensive line as well as the loss of KC Concepcion keeps Texas A&M’s offense from improving while the run defense continues to plague the Wrecking Crew. A much tougher schedule exposes the Aggies and they limp to a bowl game.    

2025 RESULTS 

Aug. 30 UTSA W 42-24  

Sept. 6 Utah State W 44-22 
Sept. 13 at Notre Dame W 41-40 

Sept. 27 Auburn W 16-10 

Oct. 4 Mississippi State W 31-9 

Oct. 11 Florida W 34-17 

Oct. 18 at Arkansas W 45-42 

Oct. 25 at LSU W 49-25 

Nov. 8 at Missouri W 38-17 

Nov. 15 South Carolina W 31-30 

Nov. 22 Samford W 48-0 

Nov. 29 at Texas L 27-17 

Dec. 20 Miami (CFP) L 10-3 

Record: 11-2 (7-1)