COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – After Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed threw his second interception in the first three pass attempts Saturday against Alabama, Aggie fans were alerted to a sight many felt they would never see.
Sophomore backup quarterback Brady Hart walked over to a pile of footballs, selected one to his liking and began loosening his arm on the expansive team sideline inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.
After the game, head coach Mike Elko confirmed they thought about making a change at quarterback.
“Obviously, it couldn’t continue to go that way and so we were ready to do that,” he said. “And then Marcel, obviously, went back out and played probably his best football for the rest of the first half and so that was good to see.”
Reed went on to produce possibly his best two quarters of football in Southeastern Conference play this year, giving the Aggies a chance to upset a ranked Alabama squad on the road for the second time in program history. However, it was obvious Reed was on a medium-size leash for the first time this season.
Moving forward, that margin for error should be even smaller.
It still feels true that Reed, a four-year veteran with more than 6,000 passing yards and 49 touchdowns, gives the Aggies the best chance to win when he’s playing at his best. However, Reed’s best has been fleeting and few stats remain that can defend his spot at the top of the depth chart.
As Elko pointed out during his radio show earlier this season, wins top Reed’s college resume. The Aggies are 24-11 in games in which Reed played. Notably, he led A&M to its first College Football Playoff appearance last year.
“Just because it didn’t go to script, let’s be careful that we don’t lose faith in the guy who has led us to an awful lot of victories and been really, really successful as our quarterback, because he has and that’s just the reality of it,” Elko said. “People could say whatever they want, and they can say whatever they want and they can clip whatever they want and they can put whatever little bit of evidence on film that they want, but he’s been a really, really successful quarterback at Texas A&M and people better not forget that.”
However, that argument leaks with the knowledge that six of those losses have come in the months of November and December with postseason glory on the line.
This season, Reed has a 57.8 passing grade, the 25th-worst among all Football Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks, according to Pro Football Focus. In 2025, Reed ranked 106th and, the year prior, No. 119.
This year, Reed’s negative play rate is 58.3%, which ranks 110th among FBS quarterbacks, and his big play rate is 6.1%, which places him 142nd.
To Reed and Elko’s credit, Hart hasn’t inspired much greater confidence in his limited time in the spotlight. His one passing attempt at the end of A&M’s loss at LSU was an interception. While he completed 8 of 12 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown against The Citadel, it was — well — The Citadel.
“I just still believe [Reed’s] our best option, so that’s kind of where that’s at,” Elko said after the Alabama loss.
This week is A&M’s lone open week of the season. This is a time to get Hart more first-team reps in practice, should he be called upon in the four games left this year. When the Aggies take on South Carolina in Williams-Brice Stadium, Reed should be on the shortest leash of the season. If the game starts with a turnover or a few three-and-outs, Hart should get a go. Moving forward, the Aggies could close out the season with a two-quarterback system, riding the hottest hand.
“If they decide that they want to go with Brady, then I’m right behind them, supporting him, because I know how good a quarterback he is, as well,” Reed said in the Alabama postgame press conference room. “We practice and feed off of each other every single day. So, I’ve just got to make sure that I’m doing what I’m supposed to do and if not, then that’s a coach’s decision.”
Hart deserves a chance to prove himself. Reed also deserves a chance to rekindle the talent that won 24 games during his college career. Most importantly, this program needs to find two wins to get bowl eligible and claim the extra weeks of practice that come with postseason play. That is truly when the program can train up its young talent for the years ahead.
As for Reed and Hart, neither might be in the future plans for A&M’s program after this season. Both should play the most important roles in making sure A&M has future success in the seasons to come.
KBTX senior Texas A&M sportswriter Travis L. Brown can be reached at travis.brown@kbtx.com.
KBTX Senior Texas A&M Sportswriter(KBTX)
Copyright 2026 KBTX. All rights reserved.