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Mike Elko must have said it a handful of different ways on Wednesday at SEC Media Days in Tampa. But the point is clear: Texas A&M isn’t even close to feeling like it has arrived as a program after reaching the College Football Playoff last season.
And the why of it all is pretty straightforward. Elko explained, asked directly how he keeps players from feeling too satisfied.
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“I show them our trophy case, and it’s empty,” Elko said. “I think they’re all very aware of that. I think, listen, we live in a lot of worlds, and so we’re obviously happy with the things that we accomplished, we’re happy with the direction of our program. But it’s also not lost on us that we haven’t won the hardware that we’re searching for.”
Texas A&M, of course, will be considered a strong candidate for a repeat playoff bid in 2026. The Aggies and coach Mike Elko return starting quarterback Marcel Reed, the linchpin of the offensive operation.
Like many in College Station, Reed will likely be feeling the hunger Elko referenced. He threw four interceptions in the team’s final two games of the season — both losses — after the Aggies had cruised to 11-0 with him slinging and running it all over.
But for Reed and the rest of the team, it’s all about mindset. Mike Elko explained that the drive the team needs to have shouldn’t be hard to come by once you realize the team has won very little of true consequence so far.
“That gets us into a mindset of growth and getting back to work to go finish this thing a little bit better than we did last year and put ourself in a better position maybe to compete for some trophies,” Elko said.
ESPN identifies lingering question for Aggies
ESPN recently published an article breaking down the lingering questions for each of the ranked teams entering the season. Among those teams was the Mike Elko-led Aggies.
The biggest question for Texas A&M revolved around Marcel Reed. Here’s what ESPN pegged it as: Can a first-time playcaller elevate Marcel Reed and keep the Aggies rolling?
ESPN’s Dave Wilson broke down the concern. He wrote the following:
“Holmon Wiggins has worked under some of the best offensive minds in the country at Alabama and joined Mike Elko’s staff in College Station coaching receivers under Collin Klein. With Klein’s departure to return home to Kansas State as head coach, Elko said it was time to give Wiggins the reins as coordinator. He takes over a playoff-caliber team, albeit one that struggled down the stretch offensively, with Reed throwing eight interceptions in his last five games against Power 4 teams and the Aggies scoring 17 points in a loss to Texas and 3 in the playoff defeat to Miami.
“The Aggies have improved their skill position talent tremendously in Elko’s time and took another leap this year, especially at wide receiver, but lost four offensive line starters. Wiggins will have to hit the ground running in his first year calling the shots.”
