August 14, 2026
Divided forecasts: Media personality dismisses A&M's CFP odds while On3 projects Aggies berth
A ThatSECPodcast co-host says Texas A&M cannot return to the CFP, while On3's Chris Low projects the Aggies as an 11-seed facing Oregon in the first round.
Conflicting assessments of Texas A&M's 2026 College Football Playoff prospects emerged on Friday, as a prominent SEC media personality flatly dismissed the Aggies' chances of a repeat appearance while a national recruiting and analytics outlet projected them as an 11-seed in its early CFP bracket.
Cousin Shane of ThatSECPodcast went on record stating there is no way Texas A&M returns to the CFP, and further predicted the Aggies will lose their final five games of the season. That closing stretch includes road contests at Alabama, South Carolina, and Oklahoma, along with home games against Tennessee and Texas — a gauntlet Shane cited as insurmountable. Shane also pushed back on a claim by SEC Mike that head coach Mike Elko is the second-best coach in the SEC behind Georgia's Kirby Smart.
The skepticism comes despite a banner 2025 campaign in which the Aggies posted the program's first 11-0 start since 1992, made their first-ever CFP appearance, and sent a record 10 players to the 2026 NFL Draft under Elko's watch. Texas A&M entered the preseason ranked eighth in the US LBM Coaches Poll, reflecting sustained national credibility heading into Elko's third season.
On3 Projects CFP Return — With a First-Round Exit
On3's Chris Low released his 2026 CFP projection on Thursday, slotting Texas A&M as the 11-seed against sixth-seeded Oregon in the first round — a matchup that would mark the first meeting between the two programs. Low's scenario has the Aggies falling to the Ducks on the road at Autzen Stadium.
Two evenly matched teams, and two teams with elite talent on both sides of the ball, go at it on a rainy night in Eugene. The Aggies' receivers do what they've done all season, and that's produce explosive plays. Mike Elko has made it a priority to make the offense more explosive. The Ducks are able to match that explosiveness with Dakorien Moore catching two touchdowns and tight end Jamari Johnson making a key third-down catch to keep the ball away from the Aggies late in the game. But the biggest difference? The game is played at Autzen Stadium.
— On3's Chris Low
Key questions surrounding A&M's ceiling center on the development of redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed, who threw for 3,169 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 2025, and the cohesion of a rebuilt offensive line that must replace four starters. The Aggies returned 65 percent of their 2025 roster and added 17 transfer portal players, including Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Horton and Northwestern edge rusher Anto Saka, who drew attention on Wednesday during his first media appearance. New offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins and defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill have taken over their respective units, though reports from fall camp indicate Reed has yet to turn the ball over through the first seven preseason practices.
