ESPN's Four 'Ifs' Frame Texas A&M's Path Back to CFP Contention

Texas A&M arrived at SEC Media Days on Wednesday as a program riding the momentum of its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance, but ESPN analyst Bill Connelly has identified four unresolved questions that will determine whether the Aggies can take the next step and compete for a national title in 2026. Coach Mike Elko, quarterback Marcel Reed, linebacker Daymion Sanford, and safety Marcus Ratcliffe represented the program in front of local and national media, with Connelly placing Texas A&M among 18 teams he views as legitimate title contenders — each carrying significant uncertainty.

The foremost concern is Reed himself. The redshirt junior passed for a career-high 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2025 but also threw 12 interceptions, eight of which came against top-35-ranked defenses. He threw multiple picks in four of his final six games, and his Total QBR declined in each of the last four. Against top-35 defenses, Reed completed just 59 percent of his passes while throwing six touchdowns and eight interceptions, compared to 19 touchdowns and four interceptions against the rest of the field. Connelly's assessment acknowledged Reed's dual-threat ability and his role in piloting what SP+ rated as A&M's best offense since 2014, but flagged the volatility.

When things go wrong, they can stay wrong for a while. He threw multiple picks in four of his final six games last season, and his Total QBR regressed in each of the final four. Can he improve with a new coordinator (Holmon Wiggins) and a new offensive line?

— ESPN's Bill Connelly

Rebuilt Lines on Both Sides of the Ball

The offensive line question is equally pressing. Four starting linemen were among the record 10 Aggies selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Texas A&M lost six of last season's top seven blockers in total. Elko and offensive line coach Adam Cushing responded by adding four SEC starters through the transfer portal, but Connelly questioned whether that constitutes a genuine plug-and-play situation. The defensive front presents a similar challenge: unanimous All-American edge rusher Cashius Howell and defensive tackles Albert Regis and Tyler Onyedim all departed for the NFL, accounting for two-thirds of last year's defensive line snaps. Elko has brought in edge rushers Ryan Henderson from San Diego State and Anto Saka from Northwestern, along with defensive tackles CJ Mims from North Carolina and Brandon Davis-Swain from Colorado, but Connelly noted the Aggies could be reliant on unproven youngsters if those transfers underperform.

The fourth concern centers on explosive plays. Texas A&M improved to 14th in defensive SP+ last season, but Connelly noted the risk-reward balance was inconsistent, and both of the Aggies' losses — to Texas in the regular season and Miami in the CFP first round — were driven in part by big plays. Adding to the degree of difficulty in 2026, the SEC is playing a nine-game conference schedule for the first time. Texas A&M faces road games at LSU, Missouri, South Carolina, Alabama, and Oklahoma, in addition to hosting Texas in the regular-season finale. Elko addressed the gauntlet directly, telling SEC Network host Paul Finebaum that the Aggies must develop the physicality and mental toughness necessary to survive it. Reed, meanwhile, said the transition to new offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins — elevated after Collin Klein departed to become Kansas State's head coach — has not been disruptive, and described ongoing collaboration with Wiggins and new quarterbacks coach Joey Lynch. The Athletic ranked Reed 13th nationally and placed him in its second tier of quarterbacks, defined as close to but short of elite, with at least one anonymous Power 4 offensive coordinator expressing doubt about his ceiling and flagging Klein's departure as a potential setback.