Could Texas A&M be better, but finish with a worse record in 2026?

Texas A&M’s 2025 season, by all accounts, was a special campaign, as then-second-year head coach Mike Elko led the Aggies to their best start since 1992, reaching 11-0 and earning a spot in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history. However, losing 10-3 at home to eventual runner-up Miami in the first round was highly disappointing, no matter how well the Hurricanes played down the stretch.

This offseason, 20-plus players from the 2025 roster have departed, including 13 starters who earned invites to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. Despite the losses, Elko and his revamped coaching staff quickly made progress in the transfer portal, signing 17 players, including former Alabama star wide receiver Isaiah Horton.

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Combined with starting quarterback Marcel Reed, star wideout Mario Craver, and running back Rueben Owens, all returning to the starting lineup, Texas A&M’s offense looks to be in good shape, despite losing four starting offensive linemen, who will all likely be replaced with four O-line additions from the portal.

On defense, losing unanimous All-American edge Cashius Howell, combined with several other defensive starters, isn’t detrimental given the returning talent, while Northwestern transfer edge Anto Saka, former Tennessee cornerback Rickey Gibson, and former Colorado safety Tawfiq Byard are all in line to earn starting jobs.

However, Texas A&M’s 2026 schedule, considered one of the toughest draws in the SEC, could result in the Aggies taking a step back record-wise while possibly performing better than last season’s team.

• vs. Missouri State – Sept. 5

• vs. Arizona State – Sept. 12

• vs. The Citadel – Oct. 17

• at South Carolina – Nov. 7

As you can see, Texas A&M will face LSU and Missouri on the road for the second consecutive season, while back-to-back road tests against Alabama and South Carolina could define the season, paired with facing Oklahoma in Norman for the first time since 2011.

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On its face, it’s too early to predict Texas A&M’s 2026 record, but if the Aggies were to drop two or three road games, finishing 10-2 or, at worst, 9-3 would not be shocking. SEC Mike posed the question, feeling that the Aggies could be an overall better team, but still fail to match their 11-2 2025 record.

Texas A&M’s spring football season will begin on Friday, March 20, and end after the Aggies’ Maroon & White spring game on April 18.