Texas A&M finally living up to the hype at the right time originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
For years, Texas A&M assembled blue-chip recruiting classes, stacking five-and four-star prospects at a level few programs could match. But under former coach Jimbo Fisher, the on-field product never reflected the talent.
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The Aggies’ celebrated 2022 recruiting class failed to deliver results, and back-to-back disappointing seasons led to Fisher’s firing in November 2023. It was a move that cost the school $75 million for the largest buyout in college football history.
Texas A&M needed a home-run hire. It found one in Mike Elko.
Since arriving from Duke, Elko has transformed the Aggies into one of the nation’s top teams. Texas A&M is 10-0 this season and 18-5 overall under Elko. Hours before A&M completed the largest comeback in SEC history, in which they rallied from 27 down to beat South Carolina 31-30 on Saturday, the school rewarded Elko with a six-year extension. His 12-3 mark against SEC opponents has been a defining factor.
This season, A&M has earned back-to-back road wins over ranked teams, routing No. 20 LSU 49-25 and handling No. 19 Missouri 38-17. The signature victory came earlier at Notre Dame. A 41-40 win over the eighth-ranked Irish, with both teams still vying for Playoff bid.
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Quarterback Marcel Reed, a former four-star Fisher recruit, has become the catalyst of A&M’s rise. The redshirt sophomore has thrown for 2,632 yards and 22 touchdowns and added six rushing scores. Three of his touchdown passes came in the historic comeback against South Carolina.
Sophomore receiver KC Concepcion, one of the crown jewels of the 2022 class, has emerged as Reed’s top target. He shares the team lead in receptions (47) with Mario Craver and has 787 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches.
The Aggies boast one of the nation’s most disruptive defensive fronts. They are tied for the national lead with 34 sacks. Senior edge rusher Cashus Howell has 10.5 of them, placing him on the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list and alongside program greats such as Myles Garrett, Von Miller and Aaron Wallace. Howell, a transfer from Bowling Green, has totaled 15.5 sacks in two seasons.
Elko has brought A&M’s recruiting success to life on the field. The Aggies’ 2025 class is ranked No. 9 nationally by 247Sports, and their 2026 group sits seventh. Through both high-school recruiting and the transfer portal, the roster is finally performing to its potential.
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With a possible Heisman Trophy contender, a Bednarik Award candidate and a legitimate run at the program’s first national championship since 1939, Texas A&M is on track for one of their best seasons to date.
