Dec. 18, 2025, 6:31 a.m. CT
As the countdown continues and excitement builds, we’re gaining a little more insight from Texas A&M HC Mike Elko on how his team is preparing for the program’s first CFP appearance.
A major part of the preparation this week was managing the long gap between their game against Texas and the upcoming matchup this weekend. One of the issues that surfaced was how it felt like they were pressing in the game against the Longhorns, and Coach Elko addressed this afterward. In a game with even more at stake, it’s crucial that the team understands the importance of not letting the moment overwhelm them.
The Aggies will face one of the most complete teams they’ve encountered, and the three weeks off have given them time to reset and study film to identify tendencies. This will be a close contest, and any edge they can find must be exploited at a high level.
Below is everything Coach Mike Elko shared during Wednesday’s press conference.
Texas A&M HC Mike Elko on third down success defensively
“I think we’ve found a rhythm at times to play and get people behind the chains. We’ve done a better job at creating havoc.”
Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!Coach Elko on his message to the team
“I don’t know if you have conversations about ‘don’t make it bigger than it is.’ Our kids understand the volume and the magnitude of it.”
“It’s what we’ve worked for, prepared for and trained for. Our job is to go out there on Saturday and put our brand on display.”
Coach Elko on Cashius Howell
“He was in a rotational role, but as you recognized, we play three defensive ends pretty regularly. We play three defensive tackles pretty regularly… We view it as we have six starters.”
“He impacted games last year, and I think he was caught a little bit behind three NFL Draft picks from a stature standpoint… He put in a ton of work this offseason to take his game to another level.”
Coach Elko on recruiting Cashius Howell
“You’re certainly not looking at production a ton when you’re watching guys, but what you’re trying to do is see a skill set in the film… What we saw with him was a high level of athleticism, a high level of twitch.”
“That gave us the confidence that he could transition into this league and still do the same things from a production standpoint.”
Coach Elko on navigating the last few weeks of practice
“We had a really good week last week. Last week for us was very similar to what we would have done in fall camp from a preparation standpoint with good-on-good.”
“We’ve been able to get into this week and have a really good practice as if we were coming off a bye, which is how we’ve treated this week. … We feel good with where our team is and where our kids are right now.”
Coach Elko on speaking with colleagues about CFP prep
“More so from a planning standpoint than a what the game is like standpoint. Last year was the first year of the 12-team playoff, so a lot of guys had to go through this type of schedule. How they managed players, how they managed practices.”
Coach Elko on how the WR coaching duties will be managed
“I think that you’ll see John Perry take on a greater role with the wide receivers. That will be something that helps (Holmon) Wiggins take some off his plate… Wiggins will still be involved, for sure, but you want to allow him to focus on the overall unit and the playcalling duties.”
Coach Elko on the Miami defense
“They do a really good job of mixing blitz and base. There are times when they allow their four-down kids to go to work.”
“The two edge kids are as talented a pair as I’ve seen in college football in a really long time.”
Coach Elko on whether Randy Bond will be the kicker for the game
“We’ll make that decision on Saturday.”
Coach Elko on the status of Le’Von Moss
“We’ll keep it as wait-and-see and see how it goes.”
Coach Elko on the progress of Noah Mikhail
“Noah (Mikhail) is going to be a really, really talented player. He has really grown this year with his confidence and ability… He brings a lot to the table when he’s out there.”
“We’re really, really excited about his growth for now and what that’s going to look like for the future.”
Coach Elko on trying to stay true to their routine
“It’s hard to stay consistent because it’s the first time we’ve had three weeks between games… Obviously, you’re not going to practice every day for three weeks.”
“Our kids are at a really good place. I think we look really sharp and crisp at practice, so I’m excited with where we’re at.”
Coach Elko on managing all the changes while preparing for the CFP
“We’ve got a really good culture. We’ve got a really good organization. We’ve got a really good group of people. We’ve got an opportunity to go play in the playoffs, and Texas A&M has never done that.”
Coach Elko on his team’s mentality while getting ready for the game
“Every time you get into an opportunity like this, you get a chance to grow. Every time we get to play a meaningful game here at Texas A&M, it’s an opportunity for us to grow.”
Coach Elko on everyone locked in for the CFP
“This is a really big deal. It’s a big deal for these kids. It’s a big deal for our coaches. It’s a big deal for our program.”
“We haven’t had anybody think about not playing in the College Football Playoff. Our kids are focused. Our coaches are focused.”
No. 7-seed Texas A&M hosts the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes (10-2) in a CFP first-round game at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, at Kyle Field. The game will be broadcast on ABC/ESPN.
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