For the first time in more than half a decade, the West Texas A&M football team notched an eight-win season in 2025.
The Buffaloes finished with an 8-4 record and defeated Arkansas Tech in the Heritage Bowl, marking the team’s best season since 2019.
Now, Josh Lynn’s squad heads into the 2026 campaign looking to replace a few key pieces of last year’s team.
All-Conference honorees RJ Martinez, Kanyon Ives, Zach Phipps, Sean Johnson and former Caprock standout Jamel Acosta-Lewis, among others, each graduated or transferred schools following the 2025 season.
Alongside the aforementioned departures, offensive coordinator Justin Bane also left Canyon after one season to join Incarnate Word’s coaching staff.
Despite changes to the Buffs’ coaching staff and roster, WT is looking to maintain momentum following the team’s best season since Lynn took over in Dec. 2022.
Before the Buffs kick off their first game of the 2026 campaign on Aug. 27 against Western Colorado in Canyon, here are three storylines for WT heading into the year.
Who will be the team’s starting QB?
Martinez was the engine of WT’s offense in 2025, throwing for 4,122 yards, 36 touchdowns and eight interceptions — while rushing for 308 yards and eight more scores.
With Martinez no longer in Canyon, the Buffs will need a new signal caller to step in and operate offensive coordinator Kevin Bleil’s system.
Nathan Greek, Wyatt Holmstrom, Knox Porter, Colt Mercer and Ryan Gafford were all on the team’s roster in 2025 and are set to compete for the Buffaloes’ starting quarterback job. WT also added Diablo Valley College transfer Jayden Macedo, who threw for 581 yards, seven touchdowns and zero interceptions as a sophomore, adding 114 yards rushing and four scores.
Additionally, Reid Macon, Joshua Greek and Levi Golla join Lynn’s team as freshman from the 2026 recruiting class and could add to the QB competition. Macon played high school football at West Plains, serving as the school’s first starting signal caller.
Macon led the Wolves to a state semifinal appearance in 2024 and capped off his high school career with 2,749 yards and 30 touchdowns through the air, as well as 681 yards and 17 scores on the ground as a senior.
Which skill position players will step up on offense?
To make life easier on a new starting quarterback and new offensive coordinator, WT will need the team’s skill position players to perform well in 2026.
The Buffs lost Phipps and fellow All-Conference honoree Sean Johnson, among others, and need to replace a significant amount of production on offense.
Senior running back Contae Cason recorded 10 carries in 2025, but was named to the Lone Star Conference Preseason Players to Watch List and could play a significant role for the Buffs in 2026.
Redshirt sophomore Trace Clarkson, as well as seniors Brennan Ray and Tory Simmons, saw action in 2025 and could be bigger fixtures of WTAMU’s offense in 2026.
Yamil Oaxaca transferred to WT following two seasons at Sul Ross State, where the senior caught 27 passes for 532 yards and three touchdowns in 2025, earning second team All-Conference honors.
In addition to Oaxaca, the Buffs brought in Slippery Rock transfer Joseph White, Stephen F. Austin transfer Rohan Fluellen, Sierra College transfer Joshua Hamilton, Cal Poly transfer Antoine Sullivan, New Mexico Military Institute transfer Geramyah Porter and Abilene Christian transfer JB Mitchell III, who could all factor into the Buffs’ rotation of skill position players.
Incoming freshman Akeevin Anderson, Markeljric Finch, Ryder Toman and Randall product Kaison Benton could also find their way onto the field in 2026.
Will any local freshman make a significant impact?
Macon and Benton aren’t the only two freshman on WT’s roster from the Texas Panhandle.
The duo is joined by Palo Duro product Shalom Gonzalez and Tascosa alumni Damyen Cervantes, who will all look to make an impact in their first year on campus.
Macon will look to win the Buffs’ starting signal caller job, while Benton has the chance to earn playing time on special teams or in the team’s wide receiver rotation. Gonzalez will battle a handful of experienced defensive lineman for playing time, and could also carve out a role on special teams.
Cervantes joins a defensive backfield tasked with replacing multiple players, including Acosta-Lewis. Similar to Benton and Gonzalez, Cervantes could also earn time on the field by excelling as a special teams player.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: WTAMU football: 3 storylines for the Buffs heading into 2026 campaign
Reporting by Randall Sweet, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Randall Sweet, Amarillo Globe-News | USA TODAY Network
