CBS Sports places Texas A&M as a CFP 'dark horse' in 2026

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Texas A&M’s national championship hopes are no longer far-fetched thanks to head coach Mike Elko, who, entering his third season, has built the Aggies into a consistent competitor after making the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, finishing an impressive 11-2 during his second season at the helm.

While his four seasons as Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator are notable, it was his two seasons as Duke’s head coach that helped position him for success in his return to College Station, slowly but surely building the Aggies from the realms of “what if?” to “when?” regarding A&M’s chances to compete with the top programs college football has to offer.

Paired with AD Trev Alberts, Mike Elko has successfully navigated the chaotic NIL world, positioning the Aggies to spend the necessary funds to land top high school prospects and transfer portal players. This approach has continued to pay off this offseason, after securing 17 transfer additions while returning 65% of the 2025 roster.

Combined with reaching the CFP, Elko accomplished his goal of sending double-digit players to the NFL Draft, as a record ten players heard their name called, including unanimous All-American edge Cashius Howell, who Elko and his staff developed into one of the top pass rushers in college football after leading the SEC with 11.5 sacks.

Most importantly, 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, including four turnovers in losses to Texas and Miami in the first round of the CFP, have been addressed this offseason through training and film study.

Entering the 2026 season with one of the deepest rosters in the SEC, CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford doesn’t see the Aggies as clear frontrunners for a national title this season, but did place Texas A&M among the rosters worth a second look.

“Losing Collin Klein to Kansas State was hardly ideal on offense, but it shouldn’t derail Texas A&M’s championship trajectory. Mike Elko has built the Aggies around the traits that travel in the postseason — elite defensive play, physicality at the line of scrimmage and one of the SEC’s deepest rosters. The offensive system may look different, but the talent remains in place to keep Texas A&M among the league’s most dangerous teams. Elko has elevated expectations in College Station because the foundation is finally stable.”

Yes, losing Collin Klein after two seasons is problematic on paper, but Mike Elko deserves confidence in his decision to replace Klein with veteran wide-receivers coach Holmon Wiggins, despite Wiggins’s lack of play-calling experience. Still, Marcel Reed will work with a wide receiver rotation led by Mario Craver, and now including Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton, but the key to success once again lies in the trenches, made up of four new starting offensive linemen.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: CBS Sports places Texas A&M as a CFP ‘dark horse’ in 2026

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