Texas A&M’s 2026 offseason is once again flying under the radar after making the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, and for coach Mike Elko, his third season at the helm will likely be his most challenging given the tough schedule the Aggies will take on in SEC play.
Just hours after the Aggies fell to Miami in the first round of the CFP, Elko went to work, making several key changes to his staff after OC Collin Klein departed to become Kansas State’s head coach, promoting WR coach Holmon Wiggins to the position, while defensive assistant Lyle Hemphill will now serve as the program’s defensive coordinator.
After a record ten players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, Elko and his staff added 17 players from the transfer portal, and combined with the returning veterans, Texas A&M’s 2026 roster is loaded with talent and experience, especially knowing that quarterback Marcel Reed is back under center for his third, and second full starting season.
Since the start of the offseason, the Aggies have been ranked anywhere from 8th to 11th overall, and on Tuesday, The Athletic writer Stewart Mandel placed Elko’s 2026 roster at No. 13 in his Top 25 preseason rankings, feeling that, like the rest of us, Marcel Reed taking the proverbial “next step” combined with the newly formed offensive line gelling with determine the season outlook.
“The NFL Draft showed how much talent A&M lost from its CFP team last season: Seven picks in the first three rounds, 10 overall. The Aggies return their most important player in Reed, but he needs to be more consistent, and he’ll need help from an O-line that lost four starters. Mike Elko signed four replacements with SEC starting experience.”
Texas A&M’s defense, especially in the secondary, possesses elite depth and could be the strength of the team, while the offensive line’s development, Marcel Reed’s decision-making, and improvisation will dictate how well Holmon Wiggins’ offense operates.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M ranked Top 15 in The Athletic’s preseason CFB rankings
Reporting by Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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