Texas A&M actually made the College Football Playoff for the first time ever last season, which is insane, but now they’re heading into 2026 with a seriously revamped roster and a monster SEC schedule that could make that CFP run feel like a distant dream. Coach Mike Elko is kicking off his third year at the helm on September 5 against Missouri State, but it’s the gauntlet of SEC quarterbacks that’s gonna determine if they can even think about another playoff appearance.
The Coaching Shakeup & Roster Overhaul
Elko’s second season was a huge success, but the offseason brought some major changes that could lead to a “bumpy start” on offense. He promoted wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins to offensive coordinator, replacing Collin Klein. That’s a big move for Wiggins in his first year calling plays, even with starting quarterback Marcel Reed returning and an elite wide receiver rotation. They also snagged former Alabama receiver Isaiah Horton and Northwestern transfer edge Anto Saka. These guys are plug-and-play options and they’ll need to be, especially after losing key playmakers like WR KC Concepcion and unanimous All-American edge Cashius Howell in the first and second rounds of the NFL Draft. On defense, Jay Bateman bolted for Kentucky, but Elko brought in defensive assistant Lyle Hemphill as the new defensive coordinator. That’s a smart choice, especially since Elko is keeping his play-calling duties on that side of the ball and Hemphill has a long-term relationship with him, plus a successful year as James Madison’s D-coordinator under his belt. Look, losing ten players to the 2026 NFL Draft stings, but landing 17 players from the transfer portal and returning 65% of the 2025 roster shows Elko is serious about building something.
Brutal SEC Gauntlet & The Signal Callers
A&M’s nine-game SEC schedule is no joke. After their opener, they’re straight into the fire: Kentucky (home, September 19), LSU (road, September 26), Arkansas (home, October 3), Missouri (road), Alabama (road), South Carolina (road), Tennessee (home), Oklahoma (road), and then finishing the regular season at Kyle Field against the Texas Longhorns. We’re still 48 days out from their season opener, but the projections for those early SEC quarterbacks are already wild. Kenny Minchey transferred from Notre Dame to Kentucky and new head coach Will Stein has locked him in as their starter for a couple of years. The dude nearly beat out CJ Carr for the Fighting Irish job in 2025, so A&M’s defense better be ready for his dual-threat skill set. Then there’s Sam Leavitt at LSU, a no-brainer given his starting background at Arizona State, where he led the Sun Devils to the CFP just two seasons ago. He became one of the top signal-callers in the Big 12, and he’s reportedly healthy after last season’s injury issues. Finally, KJ Jackson is set to take over for Arkansas. He’s got competition from Memphis transfer AJ Hill, but even with former Memphis coach Ryan Silverand calling it a “death heat” between them, Jackson should get the start.
The Aggies kick off their season against Missouri State on September 5, but the real test starts September 19 against Kentucky and Kenny Minchey. This early SEC slate is gonna tell us everything about whether this new-look A&M squad can hang after their CFP breakthrough, or if it was just a one-off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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