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- [00:00]
Host
The 2026 season is just around the corner for the Texas Adam Maggies. Year three of the Mike Elko era in College Station is quickly approaching. Cole, before we look ahead at this season and this year's team, let's take a look, Cole, at what happened a season ago to set the scene of how we got to where we currently are. And it was a heck of a season. In year two of Mike Elko Kaki started the season 11 0. They did finish 11 and 27 and 1 in conference play, missed out on the SEC title game and they did lose to Miami on their home field in the College Football Playoff. But what did I just say, Cole? The Aggies made the College Football Playoff. They broke out. They were one of the top ranked teams in the country and they were a game away from the SEC title. So Cole, I kick it to you and I say all that and I say this, as you just noticed in what I just did, there's two ways to look at last season, right? You can look at it from the standpoint of what a breakout year too. What a great season. You won 11 games. But as you and I both know, Cole, they remember how you finish. And our last memory of Texas A and M is losing to your arch rival Texas and not scoring a single touchdown against Miami. Granted, a Miami team that went to the national championship. But it was a very bitter ending to an otherwise sweet season. And Cole, as you know, that only elevates expectations going into year three.
- [01:23]
Cole
Yeah, I think that when you look at it, they're very similar to the Houston Texans at the NFL level. Houston made it to the NFL playoffs. They were a 12 win team. They had an elite defense. But the thing that everyone talks about going into 2026 is how bad C.J. stroud looked in the playoffs with seven interceptions. As good as we can say A and M was because A and M was good. A and M is no longer living in this Texas 8 and 4 world. They ended up having a much more prolific offense. They had a very stable offensive line. They were excellent in the red zone. They had a damn good defense. People are going to remember you look terrible for a half against South Carolina. You look dreadful against Texas for a majority of the game and you didn't show up offensively. And the lasting images, an interception in the red zone by Marcel Reed against Miami that knocked you out of the postseason. So I do think that you have to give credit where credit still this is a new era of A and M football to where I think the respect has gone up. But to get that level on a consistent basis, to put yourself in the position of we are always going to be right there alongside Texas and Georgia and Alabama. You have to do it consistently. So you can't just have this one breakout season where you did benefit from having a relaxed schedule, whether or not fair because of. Again, you are given the schedule that you have and you're told win as many games as possible. A and M did that. I still ask myself, can you do it a second time to gain a little bit more respect from the per. From the. From. From the national perspective? Because A and M is a team that does have all the resources and all their ducks in a row to make it where last season was a worse. A worse year for. For Mike Elko and company moving forward.
- [03:08]
Host
Yeah, I mean, I think you have to look at year two of Mike Elko. Cole was a massive success. People are going to talk about the schedule. They're going to talk about the way you finished. Listen, the fact of the matter is, you broke out. Like you said. You. You overcame all the Texas eight and four jokes. You overcame the preseason skepticism. You had signature wins. Right. Whether, I mean, no matter how these teams finish their season. You went to South Bend and you beat Notre Dame.
- [03:30]
Cole
Yeah.
- [03:30]
Host
You throttled lsu. Right. Like, you had signature wins throughout the season. You and I talked about this earlier this offseason. What does success look like for the Aggies in 2026? And I think outside of making the college ball playoff, it feels like the next step, Cole, is win the Lone Star showdown, beat Texas. I mean, that. That's a big part of it as well. But I think you have to look at last season, no matter how it finished, as a massive success, you broke through. You showed it can be done. And to do it again, Cole, in year two of Mike Elko, to do it so quickly, which I thought they had a successful year one. People will snicker and laugh and make their jokes, but I thought they had a successful year one. They built on it in year two, got to the College Football Playoff, and now it sets up, of course, year three. And on that note, Cole, Mike Elko entering his third season. Just really quickly, I will say this. If you told me right now that we're going to get to a point where Mike Elko is the longest tenured head coach in the sec, I would believe you, because I, I really. I don't know. There's just something to me, Mike Elko gives me this calming feeling when it comes to Texas A M. Like, I I feel like it is a brand built to last. In College Station, the floor is going to be really high. I'm not saying they're not going to have some down seasons. It is what it is. Everybody goes through those trials and tribulations. But it feels like to me he has raised the floor there significantly to where you can count on the Aggies being a factor. Certainly in a 12 team format, we go to 16 or God forbid, 24. I think you could almost bank A M being one of those teams that should expect to be in it and probably will be in it every single year. But your thoughts on Mike Elko, the program he has built to this point and, and also too something I didn't mention. Cole, like, you know, we've talked about this before. Without the coaches, year three is important. Year three is kind of looked at Cole as okay, this is who you really are.
- [05:23]
Cole
Yeah.
- [05:23]
Host
Like if you're gonna pop a lot of these coaches, they do it in year three, Right. Wrong or indifferent. And that's not to. You know, obviously what happened in year two was incredible. But it is interesting how like if you go back and look at coaches, year three is kind of like the, okay, we should be hitting our stride and reaching sort of our, our peak into year three and beyond. So it is a big season. But Mike Elko, certainly, I think he's one of the coaches I probably feel the most confident in from the standpoint of I know exactly who I'm getting on a week in, week out basis and I feel really confident in that product I'm getting out of him.
- [06:00]
Cole
Yeah, I would say that Mike El Go is a fringe top 10 coach nationally in college football. Like, like if you have him in your top 10, I wouldn't fight back with you on that. Especially because of the way he goes about building his rosters and the things that he expects from his team. But what I thought was so interesting is when Michael got hired at Texas A and M, there were a lot of message boards looking at these high profile offensive names or going after like a Dan Lanning or making a move to go bring in so and so from this from the school because of his offense is so derivative. And all of us that were there said the easy fit is Mike Elko. Like sometimes you don't have to overthink this one. Mike Echo is a defensive minded coach that is a no nonsense mentality and brought out the best version of Texas A M when Jimbo Fisher was on the sidelines. And now he's shown that he can be a head coach elsewhere. The last time that A M was at its peak in college football was when they had a defensive minded head coach leading the charge with a no nonsense mentality and knew what to expect from his football program. So when he got higher and everyone was like this is the easy transition, it's supposed to happen this way. This is what we expect moving forward and it is why I think Texas A M has turned into a team that even though they went 8 and 4 last in their first year, you're right, it felt different, it looked different, it sensed like this is a new day and age of Aggie football and I'm in full agreeance with you. If you told me that we look 10 to 12 years down the line on everyone in college football and where they currently reside, I will be shocked to see Mike Elko move. There are sometimes just perfect fits, locations, atmospheres, mentalities and I don't think there's anybody better that embodies what Texas A and M is right now, what Texas A and M needs to be to get to that next stage of this regime than Mike Oko. I genuinely don't. I feel like it would be harder to replace Mike Elko out in College Station than any other coach besides Kirby Smart out in Athens Georgia in the SEC right now. It's just the way that he is built.
- [08:09]
Host
Cole that being said, let's take a Look at this 2026 Aggies football team. Starting on the offensive side, it is a bit of a new era beginning as Holman Wiggins takes over at offensive coordinator. Joey lynch is your new quarterback's coach as well. Marcel Reed, of course he is the known commodity. He returns as QB1 and Cole like we talked about earlier in the show, it was a dozen interceptions last year. He will look to at minimum I would say cut that number in half, shrink that number, get to single digit turnovers and also Cole play his best football against the best competition. Like I mentioned, the last memory of Texas A and M, the season did not end on a high note and Marcel Reed did not play his best football. But if he can take the next step forward, he's one of the best quarterbacks not just in the SEC but in all of college football. He does have Reuben owens back at RB1. Jamarion Morrow is his backup and again when you got a guy like Reuben Owens back Cole, we all know this football team ran through the running game a season ago. They will look to do that again with Owens back. Mario Craver returns as wide receiver one one of the best wide outs in the sec according to you, he is the best wide receiver one in the sec. Ashton Bethel Roman returns after a strong second half of the season at receiver and they pick up Isaiah Horton from Alabama via the Portal, which I think was one of the sneaky best pickups of the off season of Portal players. The offensive line, Cole feels like the big question. On offense you return just one starter and Mark Nebu Jr. You did add four transfers with SEC starting experience. Trovon Bow from South Carolina will inform me. From Alabama, Tyree Adams and Cohen Echols both coming from lsu. Also you got Michael Riley back at tight end. You added Houston Thomas from UTSA and Richie Anderson from Fresno State at that position as well. So Cole, it's it's really easy when we talk to Yaggy's offense to look at quarterback and say Marcel Reed, he's the big question, can he take the next step? But there are a lot of other things on this offense that need to click and there are a lot of other big questions that need to be answered in my opinion. Cole most notably the offensive line and a first time play caller in Holman Wiggins.
- [10:19]
Cole
Yeah, the Wiggins one is going to be the interesting thing because I think there's a lot of people who kind of were fed up with Colin Klein by the time that you got to the end of his tenure. So how much different will it look? I think that you got to ask yourself what would Holman Wiggins do as a wide receivers coach versus a quarterbacks coach different that will open up plays for his playmakers on the outside or in the slot? I think what's so interesting is that you talk to A M people and I actually reached out to somebody that's on the staff. They love Jamari and Morrow. They believe that Jamari and Morrow may end up being the better of the two running backs with Reuben Owens. But Owens is still a good running back and has been able to show you why he can be a nice complimentary piece. So one thing that is really important I think about having a second gear with this A M offense, especially knowing what we have seen with the long history of the last 10 years of running backs in College Station. Having one guy is great, having two is better. Isaiah Horton is probably the most slept on transfer portal move of the off season because if he plays the game different than Mario Craver and in a lot of ways what worked with Casey Concepcion opposite of Mario Craver is a way that this will work with Isaiah Horton but in a different brand style like I like, like for me, Isaiah Horton's a physical machine. Isaiah Horton will throw people off of him to get that first down where a guy like Casey Concepcion uses suave route running and the ability to make cuts at the right time to really be able to win his one on one battles. So I think that you pair that alongside with the speed threat such as Mario Craver, who can also work the intermediate part of the field, plus another year with Bethel Roman. What you got in the tight end position? The personnel is going to be really sound for Marcel Reed to hit the ground running and by the time that we get to mid season, feel like that. This may be the most explosive offense in the sec, but this really comes down to the offensive line. It's my biggest question mark going into the year. I think that we took advantage or took took for cr. Took took too much credit or didn't give enough credit to what we saw last season by Texas A&M's offensive line and what they're having to replace. It's four new starters and it's four new starters that don't have ties to the program. They all come in via the portal. And so on one hand I asked myself, you're getting experience and you are getting experience in the sec, which is a big deal. It's a massive deal. But on the flip side, and this is probably a bigger one, why were they out of the portal to begin with? Why did they leave their current program? So that leads me to have my question marks of is this a good offensive line or is this just a bunch of experienced players? Sometimes experience doesn't mean it's great, it just means that they have time to play. But A&M's offense, I think it could take a step forward. The big question mark is the offensive line because if you have this, if you have a formidable offensive line, you're going to be able to have stability at the wide receiver position. You're going to be able to run the football with whoever you have as your RB1 and you're going to be effective inside the red zone. But if you don't have an efficient offensive line, everything else is a question mark for me going into the year. How much better can Marcel Reed get? How much more consistently can we see this passing attack be able to improve? Can we see a sufficient run game? It all starts in the trenches and it's important that you start off the ground running in that standpoint.
- [13:32]
Host
Yeah, Cole, it really does feel like to me the pick to click is the offensive line because I I don't even worry as much about Marcel Reed. I, I think Marcel Reed, you know, from a decision making perspective and a taking care of the football perspective obviously has to improve. He's got to cut down on his turnovers. You cannot have a dozen interceptions again like you had a season ago. But I, I do think he'll take a step forward. And we also didn't mention what he means for the running game.
- [13:55]
Cole
Yeah.
- [13:56]
Host
What he does with his legs. And I was there in person last year watching them against LSU and got, he put on a clinic. I mean it was an absolute field day the way he shredded that defense, you know, with his rushing ability specifically. Yeah. So the offensive line, like you said, they don't really have to be great, just be good enough, you know. Holman Wiggins first time play caller I do think is really, really intriguing, but I think Marcel Reed can take the next step. I think this offense can be one of the better ones in the SEC as long as the pieces that come together on the offensive line. But like you mentioned, if we're being totally honest, most guys that are in the portal, especially if they're coming from an SEC school, there's a reason they're in the portal.
- [14:36]
Cole
Yeah.
- [14:36]
Host
You know, like for example, because here's the thing, if you've got a really good offensive lineman, Cole, you ain't letting them go, you ain't letting them walk because they are so valuable. Can those pieces, I don't want to call them castaways or misfits, but can they take some guys that maybe have not played their best football at previous places and play their best football for Texas? How you name and come together as a unit, that's going to be the big question here. Pick to click Offensive line for the Aggies. I agree with you 100.
- [15:03]
Cole
What I will say real fast is that I, I totally agree with you on Marcel Reed. I don't know if Marcel Reed will improve. Here's what I think. I don't think he will regress. He'll either be the exact same quarterback he was a season ago where if your offensive line is able to click okay, then you probably are still in that 10 win range and making the College Football Playoff and you do have better personnel, but you just can't take a step backwards. And for me, I don't think he will. I think the question is how much more can he improve. But the supporting cast around him I think needs to be the key here because even if he is the same type of quarterback as last season, that's probably still good enough to get you to nine and three and in a day and age where we are having a nine game conference schedule, yeah, I think a nine and three team in the SEC could easily make the playoff this year. So maybe that is Texas A M.
- [15:50]
Host
Cole, let's go to the defensive side of the football. This of course is Mike Elko's bread and butter. The secondary starting with them, they look to be a strength. Marcus Ratcliffe, Dalton, Brooks, Des Ricks all return. You did also add Ricky Gibson from Tennessee down the Portal. Cole One of the things they're going to look to improve on last year, just three interceptions as a unit a season ago. Certainly they will look to triple if not quadruple that number in 2026. Marco Jones, TJ Serci are back at your edge spots. DJ Hicks returns inside. You added Anto Saka from Northwestern. I know a player you're really high on. CJ Mims from North Carolina via the Portal as well. You Damien Sanford back at linebacker. You added Ray Cony from Tulsa who was 10th in the country in tackles in 2025. Cole most notably you got to replace a guy like Cash's Howell who was so fierce for you. A and M, I think ranked top five in the country in sacks. You remember they were fierce getting after the quarterback in 2025. Cole, your thoughts on this defense and as much as we want to talk about offense and certainly it is important, this is a Mike Elko team. The defense is going to be the bread and butter. If the Aggies are going to get back to the College Football Playoff, it is going to be because of another strong defensive performance.
- [17:04]
Cole
Yeah. Is it weird that I'm not concerned about all the new pieces John together? Because I've seen Michael go do this before. I saw him do it in 2024 when he brought in a bunch of new players, especially on the defensive line and they ended up finishing top five in sacks. They end up finishing top five attackers for loss in the SEC. You already mentioned it. They were top five in sacks nationally last season and they were top 10 attackers for losses nationally last season. Season. So now you're saying let's just do it again and replace the talent that comes with high expectations. The development that we have seen. And this goes all the way to not just Mike Elko. This goes to Tommy Moffat, the strength of conditioning coach. This goes to their personnel department to be able to scout out what type of talent they want. It's a trust factor because Elko consistently is getting guys better prepared and acclimated for what is the translation from the college game to the NFL game. So when you return all these pieces in the secondary, a secondary that ranked top 20 last season in coverage, I feel really good about them being in a position where they should only see more improvements. When you're talking about a run defense that needs a little bit of a boost. But they have CJ Mims coming on in Anto Saka, they still have Marco Jones coming off of the edge. I feel like that they're going to be in that range of we're going to probably keep you to under 110 yards per game. Can our secondary be able to improve and create some more turnovers to where we can live in a. You being in a third and six forever. But what I really like is that Elko has a certain brand of player that he looks for and he doesn't care about where you came from. He doesn't care about your pathway to the FBS level. He doesn't care about what your production was. It's. You fit my mold and I'm gonna get you prepared for that. That that's where you look at a lot of the transfer portal names that come on in. Even if they're not the biggest names, their names that you got to feel confident in are only going to improve because of who was the one calling offensively. And again, it's a Mike Elko defense. I. I expect nothing less than for them to be one of the better units in the SEC now. Better units could be a top six unit. They may not be the best unit this year, but I do have a trust factor of whoever Elko brings on in is going to end up hitting their stride by mid season. They're going to be a really, really, really solid roster all around at that standpoint.
- [19:19]
Host
Yeah, I think it's just built into the culture of Texas A and M under Mike Elko Cole, where they're going to be fundamentally sound and really, really tough defensive, defensively, even if. Even if they don't meet the standard to say what they did a season ago or whatever the standard is they might. They may have. I feel like it's going to be a unit where I'm not looking at them as a liability person. Yeah, I feel really confident in what, you know, what brand of football I'm getting on the defensive side. I don't think defense under Mike Elko, you know, we'll see. You never know. But I don't think it's ever going to be a question mark to the Stamp from the standpoint of, you know, they're fielding one of the worst defenses in the sec, I think it is a top half of the league unit probably at its worst. Again, I think similar to what I said about Mike Elko in this program, the floor for the defense is really high. I think the pick of a Ricky Gibson from Tennessee was really, really interesting and I know anti Anto Saka is one goal you've talked about from Northwestern. Super high on. I'm excited to see him play as well. Can the secondary make more game changing plays? I think that is the, that's sort of a low hanging fruit but it is a big question. I mean three interceptions in 2025. Cole we saw teams get three picks in a single game last year so obviously improving on that number is going to be huge. But I, I feel really confident with Mike Elk on the defensive side. Defense is never going to be something we really have to overly worry about going into each and every single season.
- [20:41]
Cole
No, what would be interesting is seeing Mike Elko led defense finishing the back half of all defensive metrics in the sec. That's what the concern factor is. I'm not saying year in and year out they are going to be the best defense in the SEC because I think that you have a conversation with with Texas every year, Oklahoma every year to a degree. LSU right now of what they got with when you have a guy like Blake Baker running your defense. But if you're less than anything top six it's it's concerning. Like I think that that's where we are when it comes to the floor for Michael Colette. Top six defense.
- [21:16]
Host
Cole let's go to the special teams. David Alano from Illinois takes over a kicker, Tyler White is back at punter and the Aggies have got some of the most dynamic return men in this conference. Mario Craver, Terry Bussey, just a few that give them electric options in the return game. Cole, your thoughts on how special teams plays into Texas A M's outlook for the 2026 season?
- [21:38]
Cole
I mean like let's be real. It's part of the reason why Ole Miss and Oklahoma made the playoff last year was just trusting their kicking game. What Lucas Canaro was able to do in playoffs gave them a boost to be able to win over Georgia. The fact that Tate Sandell was as prosperous as he was in terms of being so clutch for the Sooners. I think that kicking is such an underrated asset. But you bring it on in with David Alano. Last season he had an 87% field goal percentage rate. He did not miss a single point after attempt. It's a big deal. But you mentioned the explosivity of what they have in the return game. Setting up the offense in a premier position I think is going to be so critical for this team. You don't want to be living in the world of where you just take the fair kick. But at the same time if you can just get yourself out of like the 30 or the 35 yard line, maybe even the 40 for a breakaway here or there, you got to feel really confident that if this A and M offense is as advertised and the offensive line holds itself together, you are going to have a team that probably is scoring more often than not.
- [22:40]
Host
COLE so in our overall outlook for Texas A and M, first things first. What do our friends at Calshe have to say? Percentage chance when it comes to Texas A M win totals? COLE they give the aggies, of course a 97 chance to win five or more games, 86 to win six or more, 86% to win seven or more, 71 to win eight or more, 44 to win nine or more, 35 to win 10 or more, 21 to win 11 or more and 7% to win 12 games. So again it feels like the floor is high. Goal I mean 71 to win eight or more games. That's kind of where it breaks because it drops to 44 nine or more. So eight and a half sort of feeling like the over under win total for the Texas A Maggies Texas A and m with a 38 chance to get to the College Football Playoff via our friends at Kalshi, which is one of the highest numbers certainly from the sec. And when it comes to winning the national championship, Texas A and M with a 4% chance via our friends at CalShe. Cole Nine starters are back for Texas A&M. Four on the offensive side, five on the defensive side. Let's take a look at the Aggies schedule Cole because let's face it, a lot of people want to write off Texas A&M's 2025 season and discredit it by saying they got there because the schedule, it was a soft schedule. Listen, the fact of the matter is this. They played seven of the bottom eight teams in the sec. Now they beat them but they did right. So this year's schedule goal it is much, much different. A and M open ups with Missouri State and non conference. They get Arizona State the following week coming to their place in College Station. They open SEC play at home against Kentucky, then Their SEC road opener the following week at lsu. They then get Arkansas at Mizzou, the Citadel at Alabama. Bye week. Here's where things get really fun, Cole. The month of November at South Carolina, Tennessee at Oklahoma and Texas to close it out. Cole, your thoughts on this 2026 slate. The draw for Texas A and M. What does the schedule say to you? Again, so much was made of it last year that people felt like they took advantage of a softer slate. Again. This one will leave nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. If the Aggies get back to the playoff, there will be no debate or no, no discrediting what they did on their way to get there.
- [25:08]
Cole
Yeah, I think that A M is a perfect set at eight and a half wins. To me, they fall into that tier two category alongside Ole Miss, Alabama, lsu, Oklahoma, where if they make the College Football Playoff, I'm not going to be shocked that you shouldn't be. They're talented enough to be able to get to nine wins. They're definitely talented enough to get 10 wins. It's just where the lumps are in the schedule. Do you play to a certain brand, to a certain expectation, to where you don't feel like that you're falling up short? Like, I think that you really got to look somewhere in that range of the game against Oklahoma. Like, like the game against Oklahoma, can you win that one? Because the thing that I worry about is down the stretch, are they going to be able to hold their own? Because like the LSU game, to me, that's a toss up. I feel good about where they are against Arkansas at home, feel good about where they are against Missouri, Alabama, they probably should be able to be toe to toe with them. But if they lose that game, you could say, hey, you know what happened in Tuscaloosa, it's, it's down the stretch of where you got to ask yourself, can this team be playing at its best performance because of what's on the schedule? And my biggest fear right now, I think if I was an A M fan, is I show up in a big game, but then I have a letdown and a weaker tier game. That, that, that's where I am. And it's back to the version of what we saw of old. And I hope that I'm wrong on that one because I think the culture has changed enough to where A M has put itself in a position where they should never feel that way. They shouldn't. But we remember the Jimbo Fisher era. You beat Alabama, the number one team in the country. You don't show up against Mississippi State. Does that happen for you? Is it something where you go into Tuscaloosa and you get a way for you to be able to have incredible success but then find a way to find a way to mess it up against South Carolina? I mean that's where you are.
- [26:50]
Host
Yeah, it's interesting, Cole. I mean I think Texas A and M certainly you'd agree they are talented enough and good enough. They could start 7 0. There's no question let's you game is tough, but A M has had the, had LSU's number over the last couple years. I mean what's, what's the next toughest game outside of lsu at Mizzou? I suppose they certainly can get off to a really, really hot start. Be the talk of college football yet again. What do you do in that five game stretch to close the season? At Bama, at South Carolina, Tennessee, at Oklahoma, Texas? I think that is the stretch. It goes without saying that is going to define your season. Can you go three and two? Can you do even better?
- [27:28]
Cole
Right.
- [27:28]
Host
I think it's why again the Texas game is of such importance. There's a good chance the Aggies into that one with their playoff hopes on the line.
- [27:34]
Cole
Right?
- [27:34]
Host
I mean it's, it's, you know, like you said, can you avoid the big upsets? If you want to say at Mizzou would be one at South Carolina who's giving them problems. They got throttle the last time they went there. So that end of season stretched it out. But I mean you could look at it on the up. The, the flip side goal is that you know, you kind of, you have a front half of the schedule to get whatever kinks you need to get worked out, worked out. And again, that's not me discrediting LSU or what Kentucky could be under Willstein or even what maybe Arizona State is or what Mizzou is or whatever. But the tougher half of your slate is in the back half. You know, this schedule is backloaded, if you will. So it will give you some time to kind of find your identity, find yourself, you know, get whatever kinks out you to get. But it's going to be that last five games that really defines who you are and what you are. And I, I mean, listen, Cole, if you get to 10 wins, like I said, I think Willie, you will have more than earned and deserve a spot in the College Football Playoff. Is this a slate, Cole? I'll ask you that. You think 9 and 3 could get a and M in?
- [28:39]
Cole
You have to win One of these four games. Lsu, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas. You have to win one of four.
- [28:49]
Host
You got to have a signature win. I would agree.
- [28:51]
Cole
You have. You have. Because here, here's where I am. And I know A and M fans are going to come for me in the comments section. So get ready for it. You could be Texas 8 and 4 again this year, but it feel different than the past year's being a Texas A and m with an 8 and 4 record. When we say Texas 8 and 4, it's because of the way it looked on the field. I don't feel that way about Texas A and M. I feel like that the culture's changed. I feel like that the Persona changed. I feel like the expectations are different underneath a guy like Mike Elko with what he has on his current staff. But there could be a moment where you look and say Oklahoma's defense is too much for Marcel Reed. Texas is still the best team in the state. You don't meet up to the standard of Alabama. Alabama has a opportunity to once again be the best roster that nobody talks about going into the year. LSU got its act together and looked better. And you lose those four games, but you beat everyone else on the schedule, but it feels different. That may be where you are. I think Texas A and M is going to be in that nine win range this year. I do not have them making the College Football Playoff tonight, but it wouldn't shock me if they do. You have to have a signature window. That's where it is.
- [30:05]
Host
And on that note, Cole, in closing, it's just the overall outlook for A M. So many different storylines, right? The pass rush, the secondary improving on big plays and forcing more takeaways. The offensive line's a big question. Marcel Reed, can he cut down on mistakes or is he the player that he's been throughout his entire career? Essentially the schedule, right? Does it take its toll? A M, Cole, I mentioned all those things, and they could all work out in the positive as well, right? I think the bigger question is, can the majority of the questions work out in the positive versus working out in the negative? Cole, A M is fascinating because they're the one team. Maybe Oklahoma, y' all can throw in this bucket as well. But A M especially, they're the one team. I've heard as many people say they're overrated as they are underrated. I just don't think people really know what to make of the Aggies this season. Here's the thing. Do they take a step back from last year? I think it is us as analysts, prognosticators, dudes who talk ball, however you want to label us or just fans out there in general, I don't think you should be held. It should be held against you. If you are sort of still in wait and see mode with Texas A and M. Because I think there is some validity looking back at last year and like, hey, to have a great season, to have a magical season, to have a notable season, you need a draw and a schedule goal that is conducive to a big year. I don't know that this schedule really is. Again, if you can get off to a hot start, I think you need to start at worst 6 and 1 to have a real shot. If you can start 7 0, obviously you're in the driver's seat. Last five games will define you. What do you do? Do you rise to the occasion in the biggest moments in the biggest games where we saw you fall through a season ago? I say all that again, Cole, and I'll say is this. There's reasons to feel good about A M. There's reasons to feel skeptical about A M. And I know you can say that about every team. But the Aggies are fascinating because I do think the floor has been risen on this program. Yeah, I think the Texas 8 and 4 jokes are sort of a thing of the past. Not to say that they're going to go eight and four again, but to your point, what they meant, what they really truly meant to their core. I don't think A M is just going to waddle in mediocrity over the course of the Mike Elko era. But the bigger question is are they 18 that's just on the outside looking in or do they have the pieces and do they have the wherewithal and the will they be able to break through and make it back to back season and show that hey, last year wasn't the exception. It is the rule for A M football moving forward.
- [32:38]
Cole
Like okay, I'll say this one more time. Like I 3 through 7 in my in my rankings, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma. I'll go 8 and 4. I'll go 10 and 2. I wouldn't be shocked. There's two teams that I expect right now to be in the College Football Playoff in the sec, Texas and Georgia and everyone else wide open. So it's not a shot at A and M because of I do think that they have the culture, they have the personnel, they have the core in place to be able to make a run. But I also have to see it and I feel that and I'm sk and I'm skepping on all of these teams in that 2 through 7 range, 3 through 7 range. Any single one of them could break on up and find a way to be the first team in of this core to make the College Football Playoff. They also going to have a bad showing and they end up going 8 and 4 and it wouldn't shock me. That's where we are with this next core core of tier two teams in the sec. So A and M, if you want to prove me wrong and say we were better than you expected, do so on the field. It's not just the fact of oh going 6 and 1 to start off your year. It's having an upset win over somebody and it may be Texas. It, it may it, it may be Oklahoma, it may be Alabama and it wouldn't shock me. But at the same time you got to show me it.
- [33:52]
Host
I think to your point Cole, Texas A and m could go 9 and 3 this season and it feel more impressive than the 11 one they went last season.
- [34:01]
Cole
Exactly. Yes.
- [34:02]
Host
I think that is a there is a real scenario where that is the case just because of the signature wins, the teams you overcame and the teams you beat to get to that point. Especially if one of those wins is finally over your arch rival in Texas. So context matters. Who you beat matters. What do you do in those last five games that will define your season? In my mind, if you get down to the point of you got to beat an Oklahoma, you got to beat a Texas, you got to beat both make the College Football Playoff, can you do it? It's not about just doing it once. It's not about just popping off once. It's about can you be consistent, can you do it year in, year out. And when you get the opportunity late in the season to prove yourself, can you rise to the occasion and not fold like you did a season ago? So yeah, Texas A and M to Meol and I know to you and everybody else, one of the most fascinating teams in the sec. Are you overrated? Are you underrated? Hell, what are you rated? I don't even really know at this point. It is going to be a really, really interesting 2026 season for the Aggies. So guys, we'd love to hear from you your thoughts on Texas A and M how you're predicting the Aggies to finish in this upcoming season.