Where is Texas A&M HC Mike Elko ranked among the 12 CFP head coaches?
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Texas A&M (11-1, 7-1 SEC) is just four days away from taking on Miami (FL) (10-2) in the first round of the College Football Playoff, taking place inside what should be a sold-out Kyle Field for any early kickoff on Saturday afternoon. In just his second season at the helm, head coach Mike Elko has already surpassed expectations, while the Aggies have broken down multiple barriers in the process.
While the regular season was certainly special, this team is much too talented to be knocked out of the tournament in the first round. That will be up to Elko and his coaching staff to guide the Aggies for four quarters and avoid slow starts that have been a regular-season issue.
While this is just Year 2 for the former Duke head coach, Elko’s understanding of the ever-changing college football landscape, his elite defensive background, and steadfast focus on building and growing a healthy culture within the program have made him one of the more respected leaders in the country. However, if the Aggies fall to Miami on Saturday, this perception could shift.
On Tuesday, USA TODAY Sports writer Paul Myerberg ranked all 12 head coaches. Among the likes of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, Ohio State’s Ryan Day, and Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti, there isn’t a lack of elite coaches in the CFP. Coming in at No. 6, right above Miami coach Mario Cristobal, Mike Elko’s rise from long-time defensive coordinator to leading the Aggies to the CFP places him smack dab in the middle.
“Elko had A&M on the verge of an appearance in the SEC championship game before a loss to Texas on Black Friday. That disappointment aside, he’s been able to tap into the program’s immense potential after going 16-9 in two years at Duke and being named the 2022 ACC coach of year.”
Missing out on the SEC Title Game two years in a row was never the plan, and while Elko and the Aggies have yet to defeat the Texas Longhorns, making it to the College Football Playoff is much more important at this stage of the season.
Here are the entire CFP head coach rankings:
- Kirby Smart — Georgia
- Ryan Day — Ohio State
- Curt Cignetti — Indiana
- Dan Lanning — Oregon
- Kalen DeBoer — Alabama
- Mike Elko — Texas A&M
- Mario Cristobal — Miami (FL)
- Brent Venables — Oklahoma
- Joey McGuire — Texas Tech
- Jon Sumrall — Tulane
- Bob Chesney — James Madison
- Pete Golding — Ole Miss
Texas A&M will host Miami on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. with coverage on ABC and ESPN.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M HC Mike Elko ranked 6th among 12 CFP head coaches
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