Texas A&M’s 2026 season opener vs. Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 5, is just two weeks away, and after a dozen preseason practices, third-year coach Mike Elko and his staff, now including first-year OC Holmon Wiggins and DC Lyle Hemphill, should feel pretty confident that the revamped 2026 roster is ready for the new season, especially redshirt quarterback Marcel Reed.
The Aggies’ new nine-game SEC schedule, which includes five brutal road matchups vs. LSU, Missouri, Alabama, South Carolina, and Oklahoma, will more than likely determine if Mike Elko can lead his team back to the College Football Playoff for the second consecutive season after losing to eventual national runner-up Miami in the first round.
Texas A&M could enter the Week 8 road battle vs. Alabama in Tuscaloosa at 6-1 or 7-0 based on the Aggies’ favorability in earlier matchups, while Marcel Reed, who is entering his second full starting season, holds a slight advantage under center, but on Saturday, Alabama’s starting quarterback battle came to a close, as former five-star and redshirt sophomore QB Keelon Russell has reportedly won the job.
On paper, this could be a low-scoring game given both teams’ deep secondaries, which can prevent explosive passing plays, and the pressure on Reed and Russell to make efficient throws and move the chains, and based on Alabama’s early schedule vs. East Carolina, Kentucky, Florida State, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Georgia, and Tennessee, will Keelon Russell still be the starter by then?
My guess? Yes, based on his high NFL upside and ability to make plays with his legs, providing Coach Kalen DeBoer with the most complete quarterback he’s had since arriving in Tuscaloosa.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Alabama names its 2026 starting QB before hosting Texas A&M in Week 8
Reporting by Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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By Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire | USA TODAY Network
