ESPN discusses Texas A&M's 'lingering question' before the 2026 season

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

After leading Texas A&M to the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, coach Mike Elko’s enters his third season with even higher expectations, even after a record 10 players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. Even with the draft departures, Elko landed 17 transfer portal additions, and combined with 65% of the 2025 roster returning, the Aggies are in great shape to make it back to the CFP.

However, after two successful seasons, offensive coordinator and QB coach Collin Klein is now Kansas State’s head coach, and just weeks after the Aggies’ 10-3 loss to Miami in the first round of the CFP, Elko decided to elevate wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins as the new OC and playcaller, which suprised some in the Aggie fan base given his lack of experience in the role, even after serving as Klein’s co-offensive coordinator over the last two seasons.

The high expectations for Texas A&M’s offense remain intact given that redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed returns for his second full starting season after throwing for a career-high 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns, while his 12 interceptions have received national focus, and rightfully so.

Between the hashes, Reed struggled against top 35-ranked defenses, throwing just six touchdowns and 8 interceptions and four fumbles, while completing 59% of his passes. Still, Texas A&M won four of these six games, and Reed, who has watched his 2025 film ad nauseam, is fully aware that improving his accuracy and decision-making, and eliminating mental mistakes, is the key to avoiding the turnover bug.

Holmon Wiggins is one of the best wide receiver coaches in the country, but will his play calling “elevate” Marcel Reed this fall? ESPN’s Dave Wilson asked the question, and outside of the four new starting offensive linemen gelling early in the year, this relationship will likely determine the Aggies’ chances of matching last season’s success.

“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.”

This offseason, Wiggins stated that, while the Aggies will air it out, establishing the run will be a critical point of focus and will include an offensive line rotation featuring the best run blockers to help establish the ground game, which will open up play action looks, where Marcel Reed thrives.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: ESPN discusses Texas A&M’s ‘lingering question’ before the 2026 season

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos