Texas A&M stays pat in ESPN's latest 'Way-Too-Early' Top 25 rankings

Texas A&M's 2026 college football season is just over four months away, while the spring practice schedule is coming to a close after Saturday's annual Maroon & White Spring Game. On the surface, progress has been made regarding several players' development, including starting quarterback Marcel Reed, who is entering his second full season under center.

For head coach Mike Elko, Year 3 is pivotal after leading the Aggies to the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, with the goal of returning to the postseason and establishing the program as a consistent playoff contender. However, the 2026 schedule is tough, including road games against LSU, Missouri, Alabama, South Carolina, and Oklahoma.

Still, Texas A&M's roster, which now features 17 transfer portal additions and 26 signees from the 2026 recruiting class, is more than talented enough to make another postseason run, especially if Marcel Reed finally takes that vaunted "next step," which shouldn't be a significant challenge given the talented wide receiver rotation he'll have at his disposal, now including Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton.

On defense, Texas A&M's secondary is much deeper with Colorado transfer safety Tawfiq Byard and Tennessee transfer cornerback Rickey Gibson now on the roster, as both players will compete for starting jobs among a veteran defensive back room, while the defensive line also features several transfer portal additions, including edge Anto Saka and DL CJ Sims.

With the spring season coming to an end, ESPN released its second "Way-Too-Early Top 25" rankings, and after being ranked 10th, the Aggies did not move. Heading into the official start of the offseason, before fall camp arrives sooner than later.

"The Aggies started 11-0 last season and seemed to be on their way to one of the best seasons in program history until two late losses slowed down momentum. Still, the Aggies seem to be built to last under second-year coach Mike Elko, who went back into the portal to rebuild his roster. Texas A&M had heavy losses on both the offensive and defensive lines. Quarterback Marcel Reed is coming back and needs to be more consistent. He'll benefit from receiver Mario Craver re-signing. Holmon Wiggins takes over the playcalling on offense after Collin Klein left for Kansas State, and Lyle Hemphill is now in charge of the defense."

This is a perfect spot for the Aggies, who have finally proven their worth as a playoff contender after years of unfulfilled promises, as Mike Elko continues to dominate the recruiting trail and build a program that has finally received national respect.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M ranked 10th in ESPN's latest 'Way-Too-Early' Top 25 rankings