Texas A&M nears historic season with undefeated record and SEC title hopes
No. 3 Texas A&M is on the cusp of achieving milestones long sought but rarely reached by the Aggies. The team remains undefeated, with a chance to reach the Southeastern Conference title game and make the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.
Quarterback Marcel Reed, a Heisman Trophy contender, has helped fuel the team’s success, and head coach Mike Elko has been rewarded with a major contract extension. Reed expressed excitement about giving back to fans who have waited years for such success. The rapid rise comes just two years after the firing of Jimbo Fisher, who fell short of delivering the school’s first national championship since 1939.
Elko, who took over after a 16-9 record in two years at Duke, told fans at his introductory event that the era of talking about national titles was over: “We are not going to talk about it anymore. We are gonna be about it.” He credited the players for embracing the culture he implemented, following the team’s vision, and putting in the work that has brought them to this point.
Texas A&M has often stumbled when nearing elite status, including last season, when a 7-1 start gave way to three losses in four games. Fans have jokingly referred to this as “Battered Aggies Syndrome,” reflecting years of near-misses and letdowns. Elko and the team, however, focus solely on the present, a mindset reinforced by the letters G-R-I-N-D on a wall in a team meeting room, standing for Grit, Relentless effort, Integrity, Now, and Dependability. Reed emphasized the importance of focusing on “Now” and putting past disappointments behind them.
This season marks the first time the Aggies have won 10 games since Johnny Manziel’s 11-2 Heisman-winning season in 2012, and it is their first 11-0 start since R.C. Slocum’s 12-0 team in 1992. To maintain their perfect record, they will face 16th-ranked Texas in Austin on Friday, a rematch of last season’s defeat. A victory would secure a spot in the SEC title game on December 6 in Atlanta, though a loss could still allow a path depending on other results in the conference.
Elko emphasized the significance of the upcoming rivalry game, noting that the team’s focus is entirely on performing their best against Texas and making the most of this opportunity after years of falling short.
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