Texas A&M Aggies
· 2026-07-02
Texas A&M Aggies kick off their 2026 season against Missouri State Bears on September 5, 2026.
The Aggies' 2026 schedule is one of the toughest in the country, with road tests against LSU, Missouri, South Carolina, Alabama, and Oklahoma.
Mike Elko, the Aggies' third-year coach, has landed 17 transfer portal additions to bolster the team.
The Aggies will rely on rising sophomore edge Mario Jones and Northwestern transfer Anto Saka to replace unanimous All-American edge Cashius Howell.
Starting quarterback Marcel Reed and junior wide receiver Mario Craver will lead the team's offense.
ESPN's Bill Connelly has named two of Texas A&M's most important matchups as two of his five best SEC games this fall, including the LSU road battle on September 26.
The Aggies will also host Texas for the first time since the 2024 season, a game that will be crucial in determining their chances of making it back to the College Football Playoff.
The Aggies have yet to defeat their bitter rivals Texas since they entered the SEC.
And with Texas playing eight games against Top 20 opponents, including the Aggies, both teams will be desperate for a victory.
But the Aggies have a strong roster, with nearly 70% of the 2025 roster returning.
So they will look to build on their 4-1 road record from last season, which included a blowout win over LSU in Death Valley.
The Aggies' win over LSU was impressive, but the Tigers' average performance after Brian Kelly was fired made the Aggies' loss to Texas even more telling.
New defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill will look to develop NFL-level talent, including Mario Jones and Anto Saka.
The Aggies will play three consecutive home games against Missouri State, Arizona State, and Kentucky before facing LSU in Baton Rouge.
Then they will host Arkansas and finish with a road game at Missouri, hoping to reach 6-0 before the toughest stretch of the schedule.