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USA Today
6 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Circle these dates: Texas A&M's most difficult obstacles in path to reaching CFP
With the No. 10 most difficult schedule in college football this season, the Texas A&M football program will have many obstacles in its path to the 2025-2026 College Football Playoff. In his first season at the helm in College Station, head coach Mike Elko helped lead the Aggies to the school's first eight-win season since 2021. Texas A&M defeated two programs ranked in the top 10 in 2024, with a 41-10 win over No. 9 Missouri and a 38-23 victory over No. 8 LSU. Although the conclusion to last year's campaign was not ideal, Elko and company have significantly rebuilt the roster with top-ranked portal editions to fill positions of need heading into this season. The 2025 Aggie portal class ranks No. 11 per On3 Sports Transfer Football Team Rankings, as the likes of wideout KC Concepcion (NC State), Mario Craver (Mississippi State), defensive back Jordan Shaw (Washington), Julian Humphrey (Georgia) and more round out Texas A&M's portal class heading into Elko's second year as the head coach in Aggieland. While the roster isn't lacking talent, the Aggies have a difficult and long road ahead to reach the Southeastern Conference Championship and potentially the CFP. Road games in the SEC are no small task, and the non-conference slate includes the College Football Playoff National Championship runner-up. With just 59 days remaining until kickoff at Kyle Field, here are the most difficult games on Texas A&M's schedule in 2025: 1. LSU Tigers Heading into his fourth year as the head coach in Baton Rouge, La., Brian Kelly has assembled one of his most impressive squads yet. While the offensive line will miss the presence of current New England Patriots left tackle Will Campbell, 6-foot-7-inch, 310-pound left tackle Tyree Adams will likely fill that position in his sophomore season. Veteran quarterback Garrett Nussmeier also returns under center for the Tigers after ranking second in the conference with 4,052 passing yards and leading the league with 337 completions last season. With wide receiver Nic Anderson returning to full health, and transfers like Barlon Brown (Kentucky) and Destyn Hill (Florida State) rounding out the LSU wide receiving corps, it is going to be a massive test for the Texas A&M secondary when they face the Tigers on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Tiger Stadium. Kelly and company will be looking for revenge after getting embarrassed by the Aggies in 2024. 2. Texas Longhorns The return of the Lone Star Showdown in 2024 reignited the flame of a rivalry that was first played on Oct. 19, 1984. Although last year's matchup ended with the Longhorns defeating the Aggies 17-7 in College Station, this year's contest could be a different story if the pieces of Elko's roster come together. It will take another incredible defensive performance to stop a quarterback like Arch Manning, however. Manning has all the intangibles to become one of the best signal-callers in the SEC, but he still has much maturing to do if he wants to reach that pinnacle. The complete overhaul of the offensive line will be a challenge for head coach Steve Sarkisian, but the running back room is filled with talent like Quintrevion Wisner, who shredded the A&M defense in last season's contest. If Elko wants to remain in good graces with the Aggie faithful, it will likely take a victory in Austin, Texas, to cap off the year. 3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Marcus Freeman's Notre Dame Fighting Irish proved they are deserving of recognition for their success. After suffering a devastating upset loss to Northern Illinois in September, Freeman and company bounced back by reaching the College Football Playoff National Championship against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Among those victories in 2024 was a 23-13 win over Texas A&M. As the Aggies travel to South Bend, Ind., on Sep. 13 at 6:30 p.m. CT, Elko and company will get the opportunity to rewrite the wrongdoings of last year's defeat to Freeman's squad. Highly-touted quarterback CJ Carr leads the Fighting Irish this season, and he could be one of the most talented gunslingers in the country if he meets expectations. The dangerous running back duo of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price return to Notre Dame this season, after combining for 1,871 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns last year. Freeman and the potentially explosive Fighting Irish offense will be an obstacle for Texas A&M, but the defense could be exploited if sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed pans out. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN names Texas A&M's 2026 recruiting class a 'June winner' after recent success
Texas A&M's recruiting success this summer has been awe-inspiring, as coach Mike Elko and his staff landed seven of the program's 21 commits over the past two weeks, including four-star running back KJ Edwards, while back-to-back commitments from five-star cornerback Brandon Arrington and five-star edge Tristian Givens led to national recognition. On Monday, ESPN writer Eli Lederman named the "June recruiting winners," including Texas A&M leading the way, while Florida, Notre Dame, and the Texas Longhorns followed along with a host of other ascending Power Four classes. The Aggies are focused on building through recruiting and replenishing through the transfer portal, as Elko has continued to discuss his focus on developing NFL talent. All seven of the recent commits are some of the best players at their position, including four-star tackles Avery Morcho and Zaden Krempin, who are two of the better pass protectors in the cycle. Here is what Lederman had to say about the Aggies' recruiting success last month: "The Aggies' recruiting heater peaked with the June 19 commitment of five-star athlete Brandon Arrington, who chose Texas A&M over Oregon and sealed the highest-ranked pledge of the Mike Elko era in College Station. Beating Texas to No. 5 overall running back K.J. Edwards two days earlier marked a signature in-state victory, too. Between Edwards and fellow in-state rusher Jonathan Hatton Jr., the Aggies will close the month with the 2026 cycle's top-ranked running back tandem. Commitments from three more top-300 recruits in June -- cornerback Camren Hamiel, offensive tackle Samuel Roseborough and defensive end Tristian Givens -- leave Texas A&M level with Georgia for the third-most ESPN 300 pledges nationally entering July. Through the additions of Edwards and Hatton, along with the late-cycle pledge of five-star offensive tackle Lamont Rogers in the 2025 class, Elko has shown himself capable of winning high-level recruiting battles in the state of Texas. But the Aggies' message is carrying nationally as well. Of the 10 pledges Texas A&M landed in June, five came from out of state, including four of the five ESPN 300 commits now anchoring the nation's second-ranked class, and the Aggies aren't done yet. No. 1 overall prospect Lamar Brown, who is set to commit July 10, is among the program's priority targets for the new month." Currently positioned as ESPN's No. 2-ranked 2026 recruiting class, Lederman is right in stating that Elko has more than proved his recruiting chops, and while landing Arrington and Givens was impressive, beating out the Texas Longhorns for Samuel Roseborough and securing rising Arizona-based cornerback Camren Hamiel, two underrated players who could become future stars. This week, Mike Elko's focus is on one 2026 five-star Ethan "Boobie" Feaster and four-star linebacker Tank King, who will announce their commitments on Friday, July 4. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
What are Texas A&M's 'most important' games ahead of the 2025 season?
Texas A&M's 2025 college football schedule is nationally regarded as one of the toughest in the SEC, primarily due to road trips against LSU, Missouri, and Texas to conclude the regular season. While this narrative holds up, coach Mike Elko's roster is more than talented and experienced enough to weather the storm. This offseason, Elko has made the necessary adjustments, including adding the former James Madison defensive coordinator to the coaching staff to fix issues in the secondary, paired with signing the talented 2025 recruiting class and adding 14 veterans from the transfer portal, led by wide receiver KC Concepcion and defensive lineman Tyler Odyedim. However, starting quarterback Marcel Reed will need to improve as a pocket passer. Still, the one narrative that needs to be shut down is the notion that the redshirt sophomore's vast importance to the Aggies is crucial to their success, which is not the case given the program's strengths along the offensive line, as well as the depth at running back. Still, quarterback play will remain the "most important" position in the game that dictates success, so prepare for more back takes regarding Reed's play this summer. This weekend, That SEC Podcast continued its offseason preview of all 16 conference teams, focusing this time on Texas A&M's three "must-win" matchups. The first is the road game against Texas, followed by home games against Florida and Auburn. For Texas A&M to make it to the expanded College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, winning two out of three against Texas, Florida, and Auburn is mandatory; a nine or ten-win total will likely be enough to earn a bid. The Texas Longhorns will be led by sophomore QB Arch Manning and defensive standouts, linebacker Anthony Hill and defensive end Collin Simmons, paired with an elite secondary. Meanwhile, Florida QB DJ Lagway and Auburn wide receivers Cam Coleman and Erik Singelton Jr. will pose problems for every defense they face. TexAgs co-owner Billy Liucci provided an interesting take, noting that, while all three games are crucial to making the postseason, A&M's Week 3 road trip against Notre Dame should also be included. "I'll go with 2-1. But my three would be ND, Auburn, Florida. Win those and I think the Ags would be 9-3 or better." Liucci's logic is based on scheduling, as early success and wins against Auburn and Florida, paired with at least seven other wins, would likely secure a playoff berth. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
2026 4-star ATH commits to Tennessee over Texas A&M
While head coach Mike Elko and company have been hot on the recruiting trail as of late, the program saw a four-star wide receiver prospect commit to the Tennessee Volunteers over the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday. It was down to the Aggies and the Vols, but when it came time for the final decision to be made, Legend Bey locked in his commitment to become Josh Heupel's 13th member of Tennessee's 2026 class. Bey spent most of his high school football career at the quarterback position, where he threw for 1,444 passing yards and 41 touchdowns. Per 247 Sports Player Recruiting Rankings, Bey is the No. 23 ATH and No. 49 player in the state of Texas. He also ranks as the No. 451 player in the country in the 2026 cycle. He received 36 total offers, including those from Ohio State, West Virginia, Duke, Texas A&M, Tennessee, and Oklahoma State. His elite speed and potential at wideout are why Bey will likely move from his normal position as a signal-caller to catching passes in Neyland Stadium for the Vols in 2026. Crystal ball predictions from 247 Sports had Elko and company with the highest probability of landing his commitment. Still, Heupel's spread offense spoke volumes to Bey in his transition to wide receiver. The speedy track and field star is highly touted for his ability to accelerate and find holes in opposing defenses quickly. His strong arm also makes him a dangerous threat for Heupel to use, with Bey already in talks to throw the ball around some in the Vols' offense. Following the last two days of multiple 2026 commits announcing their future destinations, the Aggies fell from No. 2 to No. 4 in 247 Sports Team Recruiting Rankings. Elko and crew have landed 21 hard commits for the upcoming class, including two five-star and 12 four-star prospects. After months on the trail trying to land Bey, the announcement from the track and field star is disappointing news for Texas A&M and the Aggie fans. There are more athletes on the radar that fans in Aggieland should keep their eyes on, however. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
USA Today
25-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texas A&M football lands massive commitment from four-star offensive tackle
Let's have a day up front 🙌Welcome to Aggieland, @zadenkrempin 👍 The massive day continues for the big guys up front, as Texas A&M offensive line coach Adam Cushing landed a commitment from the program's second four-star linemen of the 2026 recruiting cycle. Head coach Mike Elko hit the gold mine in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, as 6-foot-5 and 280-pound offensive tackle Zaden Krempin pinned College Station as his next stomping ground on Wednesday afternoon. The standout lineman from Prosper High School has formulated a reputation for being one of the most dominant players in the country, and he will now look to further establish himself with the Aggies. On tape, it does not take long to find Krempin among the carnage on the offensive line. Chances are that you will likely witness him driving opposing players into the dirt, which has become a standard for the No. 19 IOL in the country, per 247 Sports Player Rankings. His athleticism and technical ability are two of his strongest attributes that make him one of the most dangerous offensive linemen in his class. Krempin received offers from 53 schools, including the likes of storied and elite programs like Michigan, Texas, LSU and Alabama, just to name a few. Above all those, he chose Elko and the Texas A&M Aggies. Many believed he narrowed his choices down to the Wolverines, Longhorns and Tigers, but it was Cushing and company that got the nod for the second offensive linemen commitment of the day. His announcement to stay in Texas and play for the Maroon and White marks the 21st commit of the 2026 cycle for Elko. While the program currently ranks as the No. 2 recruiting class according to media outlets like On3 Sports and 247 Sports, the continuous onslaught of commitments could very well propel Texas A&M to the No. 1 spot in the rankings soon. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
