Texas A&M Eyes CFP Return With RB Battle, Eligibility Questions, and Texas Revenge on Agenda

Texas A&M enters the 2026 season with legitimate College Football Playoff aspirations, but coach Mike Elko and his staff acknowledge several significant questions must be answered before the Aggies can build on last year's historic run. Elko, now in his third season in College Station, led Texas A&M to its first-ever CFP appearance, yet the program lost a record 10 players in the 2026 NFL Draft and must replace key contributors across the roster.

Among the most pressing issues is the running back competition. Le'Veon Moss's departure leaves redshirt junior Rueben Owens — who rushed for a career-high 639 yards and five touchdowns last season — as the presumptive starter, but rising sophomore Jamarion Morrow is pushing hard for a significant share of carries. Elko said preseason camp will dictate whether the Aggies operate with a clear starter or adopt a committee approach.

I think training camp will determine a lot of that stuff. We've got a lot of confidence in Rueben. I think Rueben has had a really, really strong offseason. We are excited about the development that he's made. We're excited to see what he's looking like as we put the pads on and head into fall camp.

— Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, at SEC Media Days

Quarterback Marcel Reed offered his own endorsement of the backfield competition, singling out Morrow as a player capable of breaking out. Reed is himself entering a pivotal year, coming off a career-best 3,169 passing yards and 25 touchdowns, though he will work behind an offensive line featuring four new starters.

Craver Steps Into No. 1 Role; Eligibility Rule Adds Uncertainty

The wide receiver room loses KC Concepcion, who was taken 24th overall by the Cleveland Browns, but junior Mario Craver is positioned to absorb that production. Craver caught 59 passes for 917 yards and four touchdowns after transferring from Mississippi State, averaged nearly nine yards after the catch — ranking top-10 nationally — and holds an 81.4 Pro Football Focus grade, making him the second-highest-graded returning pass catcher in the SEC. Transfer Isaiah Horton, a 6-foot-4 receiver from Alabama, adds a deep-threat dimension and is expected to handle red-zone duty, while Craver works primarily from the slot against zone coverages.

Off the field, the NCAA's new age-based "5 for 5" eligibility rule — effective this season — complicates roster planning by granting five full years of eligibility and effectively eliminating traditional redshirting. Nine Texas A&M players who were set to exhaust their eligibility now have extended timelines, and key contributors including Reed, senior safety Marcus Ratcliffe, and senior linebacker Daymion Sanford have all expressed uncertainty about whether they will return for 2027, with their decisions likely hinging on how the 2026 season unfolds.

Looming over everything is the season finale against Texas. Last year, the Aggies went unbeaten until the regular-season finale, when a loss to the Longhorns dropped them to a seven seed in the CFP, where they fell in the first round to eventual runner-up Miami. Since 2000, Texas A&M is 3-10 against Texas, and Elko has made no effort to downplay the significance of reversing that trend. Both programs are again expected to enter the matchup with playoff stakes on the line.