Ranking Texas A&M's opponents from easiest to toughest

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Texas A&M's 2026 schedule, per ESPN's latest FPI rankings, is the 9th-toughest in the SEC, while Arkansas (1), Oklahoma (2), and the Texas Longhorns (3) round out the top 3. Last season, the Aggies finished 11-2 with just one regular-season loss to the Longhorns at the end of the year, but earned impressive road wins over Notre Dame, LSU, and Missouri en route to the Aggies' first College Football Playoff berth.

Texas A&M will host Missouri State and Arizona State before Kentucky comes to College Station, followed by an early road trip to Baton Rouge against LSU and new head coach Lane Kiffin. For the Aggies to have any shot at making it back to the CFP, staying undefeated, or dropping just one game before taking on Alabama in Tuscaloosa on October 24 is absolutely critical.

After a record 10 players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, third-year coach Mike Elko returns 65% of his 2025 roster, combined with 17 players from the transfer portal and the 2026 signing class. Led by redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed, the Aggies will have a shot to match last season's record, but the second half of the schedule will all but determine A&M's postseason hopes.

Facing LSU, Missouri, Alabama, South Carolina, and Oklahoma on the road, coupled with hosting Texas in the annual Lone Star Showdown. We ranked each matchup from easiest to toughest for the 2026 season.

12. Citadel

Citadel finished 4-8 last season, but the Bulldogs were competitive in all but three of their eight losses and likely won't present a challenge for Texas A&M a week after the Aggies face Missouri on the road. This should be a blowout, on paper, at least.

11. Missouri State

Texas A&M's 2026 season opener vs. Missouri State will serve as new OC Holmon Wiggins' first opportunity to showcase his play-calling chops, hoping to establish the ground game early behind four new offensive line starters. I fully expect the Aggies to struggle in certain areas early, but ultimately leave Kyle Field with a double-digit victory.

10. Kentucky Wildcats

New Kentucky coach Will Stein could end up being one of the best SEC hires in years to come, but entering his first season, expect the Wildcats to be competitive, but likely finish in the bottom half of the conference standings. Kentucky will host Alabama before heading to College Station, while road trips to South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Tennessee could be must-see television if transfer QB Kenny Minchey lives up to his potential.

9. Arkansas

Another first-year SEC coach will hit the ground running in 2026, as Arkansas will now be led by Ryan Silverfield, who was not the sexiest hire this offseason, but could provide stability for a program desperate to get back to winning eight or more games per season. However, Arkansas's 2026 schedule is brutal, including Texas on the road and LSU at home to end the regular season.

8. Arizona State

Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham is already one of the best coaches in college football, but losing star quarterback Sam Leavitt to LSU could derail the Sun Devils' chances of rebounding in 2026, unless Kentucky QB Cutter Boley, whom Dillingham is well acquainted with, comes through in the clutch.

7. Missouri Tigers

Missouri's 2026 season hinges on the status of star running back Ahmad Hardy, whose offseason injury could derail the Tigers' chances of winning more than six games, especially if former Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons struggles to find consistency in the pocket.

6. Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee possesses the best offensive line in the SEC (in my opinion) and one of the deeper linebacker units in the country, but none of that matters if coach Josh Heupel makes the wrong decision at quarterback, which is inching towards freshman Faizon Brandon winning the job.

5. South Carolina

Texas A&M's epic comeback win over South Carolina served as one of the Gamecocks' most embarrassing moments in program history and nearly cost coach Shane Beamer his job. However, with the return of starting QB LaNorris Sellers, a revamped offensive line, and star Edge Dylan Stewart, it's make-or-break time for "Beamer Ball."

4. Alabama

Entering his third season at the helm, the pressure is on for coach Kalen DeBoer, who is widely considered one of the top offensive minds, but like Tennessee and Arkansas, Alabama has yet to decide on a starting quarterback, as freshman Keelon Russell and senior Austin Mack will compete for the job this fall.

3. LSU Tigers

LSU football should be back to its regular form of competing for national titles under Lane Kiffin. After Texas A&M finally won a game in Baton Rouge for the first time since 1994, there's no doubt facing LSU's loaded roster will be challenging, but the Aggies, especially Marcel Reed, will be ready in Week 4.

2. Texas Longhorns

The Texas Longhorns are a serious national championship contender, entering the 2026 season with depth and NFL talent at every position, while star QB Arch Manning and transfer WR Cam Coleman could be a lethal combination. Texas A&M will host the Longhorns two days after Thanksgiving in a game that could determine both programs' postseason hopes.

1. Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma finished 10-2 with a CFP appearance before falling to Alabama at home, all while starting quarterback John Mateer played through a thumb injury. Finally healthy, Mateer will be aided by a deeper receiving corps, while Brent Venables' defense is slated to match last season's success and be the reason the Sooners make it back to the postseason.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Ranking Texas A&M's opponents from easiest to toughest

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