Texas A&M predicted to face in-state foe in the 2026 CFP quarterfinals
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Texas A&M’s 2025 season was both historic and disappointing, as second-year head coach Mike Elko led the Aggies to an 11-0 start for the first time since 1993, and the program’s first bid to the College Football Playoff after a long-term drought under former head coach Jimbo Fisher.
However, back-to-back losses to Texas during the regular season finale, followed by losing at home to Miami in the first round of the CFP, scoring just three points while starting quarterback Marcel Reed threw two interceptions, and failing to take advantage of several trips to the red zone.
However, Texas A&M’s susceptibility to the run, combined with a run game that failed to find consistency at the end of the year, became the focus of the offseason for Elko and his staff, who vowed to rebuild the trenches amid the 2026 NFL Draft departures, which include five veteran offensive linemen.
Over the last two weeks, Elko added 17 players from the transfer portal, while several key 2025 starters have re-signed with the team, led by Marcel Reed’s return under center. While the coaching staff might not be finished adding players from the portal, the 2026 roster is talented and, most importantly, deep at nearly every position group to make a run back to the CFP.
On Thursday, ESPN CFB writer Bill Connelly released his predictions for the 2026 College Football Playoff, and, heading into Mike Elko’s third season at the helm, Connelly believes that the Aggies won’t just return to the postseason but increase their seeding as an at-large bid after earning a 7-seed last season.
“Just as I was skeptical of Texas, I was higher than most on Texas A&M, so let’s ride that for another season. Mike Elko’s Aggies fell apart offensively late in the year, which turned an 11-0 start into an 0-2 finish, and they’ll have to replace star pass rusher Cashius Howell. But the return of veteran quarterback Marcel Reed and underrated star receiver Mario Craver, along with a portal-fortified offensive line and plenty of stellar defensive options, should ensure a pretty high level of play again in College Station. The SEC isn’t loaded with sure things heading into 2026, but A&M has plenty to offer.”
Connelly is right to say the SEC is questionable as a whole, as several new head coaches and starting quarterbacks will enter the conference with plenty of questions. While the Aggies will replace four starting offensive linemen and senior edge Cashius Howell, the addition of Northwestern transfer edge Anto Saka has been nationally praised.
Interestingly enough, Connelly predicts Texas A&M will host 11-seed Oklahoma State, believing that new Cowboys head coach Eric Morris will immediately turn the program around, now led by his North Texas star transfers, quarterback Drew Mestemaker and running back Caleb Hawkins.
Predicted to defeat the Cowboys, 6-seed Texas A&M will ultimately lose to 3-seed Texas Tech in the quarterfinal round.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M predicted to face Texas Tech in the 2026 CFP quarterfinals
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