COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M football fans watched decades-long records fall during an 11-game win streak this year, but the Aggies’ gradebook for the season won’t be straight-As.
With a shot at the football program’s first-ever SEC title game in its grasp, the Aggies stumbled down the stretch, losing their last two games and scoring just three points against Miami in the first round of the College Football Playoff. An offense that was explosive for much of the season — scoring over 30 points in nine games — faltered when it mattered most. A&M scored just one touchdown over its final six quarters of play.
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Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed (10) throws a pass during the round one College Football Playoff game against Miami at Kyle Field on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Despite that, the Aggies took a definite step in 2025, finishing with three more wins than in 2024. But another season of opportunity ending in disappointment means the program enters another offseason with more questions than answers.
We identify four questions the Aggies face going into 2026:
Questions A&M football, Mike Elko must answer
What is Marcel Reed’s ceiling?
Once viewed as a Heisman Trophy hopeful, quarterback Marcel Reed’s final two games of 2025 were anything but memorable. Reed threw four interceptions, including the season-ending pass in the final seconds against Miami.
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Against Texas, with the aforementioned conference championship game on the line, the redshirt sophomore threw for 180 touchdownless yards. After racking up 25 touchdowns (rushing and passing) through the first nine games, Reed had three touchdowns (all passing), six interceptions and took 10 sacks over the final three games against FBS competition.
About 20 starts in, Reed still has a tendency to play with a sped-up internal clock, he and head coach Mike Elko have said. That panic could theoretically lead to erratic play. Elko has said he hopes more reps and experience are a solution. The talent is there. A dual-threat QB with big-play capabilities, he’s shown the ability to improve, finishing with career highs in passing yards (3,169), touchdowns (25) and completion percentage (62.1%).
“He’s still a young quarterback. There’s a lot of room for growth for him,” Elko said following the CFP loss. “You saw some strides this year. He’s a great kid and a hard worker. He’ll go to work in this offseason and you’ll see a better kid next year with another year of development.”
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The next questions are: What does Reed’s ceiling look like and what must be done around him to maximize it.
Can they reload with the transfer portal?
According to Sam Khan Jr. of The Athletic, 44.8% of A&M’s starters came via transfer. Six teams in the CFP and 13 programs in the top 25 had fewer.
The Aggies were lauded for how they’ve attacked the transfer portal recently. With additions of Cashius Howell and Will Lee III in 2024, coupled with KC Concepcion and Mario Craver this offseason, it’s clear that Elko and A&M can identify ready-made talent. With 21 players having exhausted their eligibility and several others weighing NFL decisions, roster turnover in Year 3 could look quite substantial once again.
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The Aggies could have to replace starters such as Concepcion, Le’Veon Moss, Trey Zuhn III, among others. The transfer portal could help make 2026 a reloading season instead of a rebuilding one.
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How seamless can the coordinator changes be?
With A&M’s season ending, that also ended offensive coordinator Collin Klein and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman‘s stints with the program. Klein heads to his alma mater, Kansas State, to become the head coach. Bateman moves to Kentucky for a lateral position that promises more autonomy.
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Lyle Hemphill received a promotion from associate head coach to defensive coordinator, while wide receiver coach Holmon Wiggins is now the offensive coordinator.
Defensively, very little is likely to change. Elko was calling plays this season, with Hemphill playing a major role in planning and scheming during the week and on game day. The offense, though, could see greater change.
Both Klein and Reed were emotional after the CFP game when talking about their admiration for one another. Reed suggested Klein, who played a huge role in the Tennessee native’s development, was like a father to him.
This will now be the third play-caller Reed has had at A&M; first with Jimbo Fisher, followed by Klein. Can the defense clean up some of its run-game issues and can Wiggins help build on an offense that finished fourth in the SEC in scoring in 2025?
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How does Texas A&M become a true title contender?
Perhaps the most complex question of them all will invite a tongue-in-cheek answer: How can the Aggies put themselves in the echelon of the Georgias and Ohio States of the world? That means conference title games and perennial inclusion in the CFP. The easy answer? Find talent.
A&M routinely has top-10 or top-20 recruiting classes, but can it develop and retain that talent? And can it win vital games against big-time opponents?
The 2026 schedule should offer several gut-checks for the program with three 2025 CFP teams on the slate alongside a new-look Tigers team and Tennessee (A&M had just two 2024 CFP teams on this year’s schedule and beat several teams that fired, or ended up firing, their coaches).
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Kirby Smart went 8-5 in his first season at Georgia, needing a Liberty Bowl victory over TCU to capture that eighth win in 2016. It took Ryan Day eight seasons and surviving a scorching-hot seat before he was able to bring home a championship for the Buckeyes. Both of them took their lumps in rivalry games before reaching the top — Elko is 0-2 against the Aggies’ chief rival (though he has handled another big rival, LSU, quite nicely).
With the resources and passion surrounding the program, the ingredients for the football team’s SEC title game appearance are in place. But can Elko and Co. cook one up? That’s the question that needs answering.
Reach Texas A&M beat reporter Tony Catalina via email at Anthony.Catalina@statesman.com.
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