Texas A&M’s chances of making it back to the College Football Playoff for a second consecutive season will hinge on redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed taking the next step, which has already begun after 16 preseason practices. Even if Reed finally reaches his full potential, four new starters along the offensive line, paired with a revamped defensive line, will determine if the Aggies make it back to the College Football Playoff.
In Year 2, coach Mike Elko accomplished several goals outside of finishing 11-2 and reaching the CFP, as his offseason premonition that “10 to 12” Texas A&M players would be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft came true after a record 10 were picked, but losing a total of 15 starters was always the challenge, especially after star wide receiver KC Concepcion and unanimous All-American Edge Cashius Howell were selected in the first and second round.
Among the 17 transfer portal additions, former Northwestern Edge Anto Saka and rising sophomore Edge Marco Jones look like the next dominant pass rush duo based on what we’ve witnessed this preseason, while Colorado transfer safety Tawfiq Byard’s versatility adds to an already established and very deep secondary.
While we at Aggies Wire have yet to release our final predictions for Texas A&M’s 2026 season, USA TODAY writers Paul Myerberg and Ramon Padilla released their season predictions for every Power Four program, combined with the Group of Five. For Texas A&M, the new nine-game SEC schedule could leave more than half the conference finishing 9-3 or 8-4.
According to Myerberg and Padilla, Texas A&M is predicted to finish tied for 5th in the SEC with a 9-3 record and 6-3 in conference play.
“Texas and Georgia are followed by Oklahoma and Alabama, with the Crimson Tide still a bit of a wild card given the uncertainty at quarterback with new starter Keelon Russell. Mississippi, Texas A&M and LSU are definite playoff contenders, just with slightly less room for error. New coaches at Arkansas, Kentucky and Auburn come in near the bottom of the standings.”
Texas A&M can only afford to lose two road games and must stay undefeated at home to have any real shot at making it back to the CFP, which means defeating the Texas Longhorns for the first time in over a decade.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: USA TODAY predicts Texas A&M football’s final 2026 record
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