Texas A&M's 2026 season opener vs. Missouri State is a little over five weeks away, while the Aggies' preseason will kick off early next month. It's been a busy but quiet offseason for coach Mike Elko, who is entering his third season at the helm after leading the Aggies to the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.
Accomplishing several key goals, including a record 10 players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, Elko signed his six-year extension just weeks before the end of the 2025 season, which was a smart move given his status as one of the top football minds, while Penn State reportedly looked to poach the New Jersey native before ultimately hiring Iowa State coach Matt Campbell.
Retaining 65% of the 2025 roster paired
with 17 transfer portal additions and the 2026 signing class, Texas A&M's 2026 roster isn't lacking talent, especially with redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed returning under center for his second full starting season after throwing for a career-high 3,169 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions last season.
On paper, Alabama's secondary can be compared to Texas A&M's deep cornerback and safety rotation, now featuring transfer CB Rickey Gibson and former Colorado safety Tawfiq Byard, while the Aggies' defensive line will be led by senior DT DJ Hicks and Northwestern transfer edge Anto Saka, who is already a favorite among NFL scouts.
Texas A&M is not viewed as an overwhelming favorite to make it back to the CFP, mainly due to tough road games vs. LSU, Missouri, South Carolina, Alabama, and Oklahoma, as well as hosting Texas at home. Still, A&M's roster is more than talented enough to compete with every opponent on the schedule, while the new 9-game SEC slate will affect all 16 teams in different ways.
CBS Sports CFB writer Brad Crawford listed his list of the most overhyped, overlooked, undervalued, and underrated SEC programs, placing Texas A&M in the undervalued section, which sounds about right given all the points I laid out above.
Bottom line, if Marcel Reed is given time in the pocket from his four new offensive line starters, the addition of Alabama transfer WR Isaiah Horton, paired with junior Mario Craver, provides the junior signal caller one of the best receiving duos in the country, while Mike Elko's calling defensive plays for the second straight season should provide comfort for every Aggie fan.
SEC summer agenda ...
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) July 29, 2026
Most overhyped team: Florida
Most overlooked team: Vanderbilt
Most undervalued team: Texas A&M
Most underrated team: Missouri
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: CBS Sports writer lists Texas A&M has the most 'undervalued' SEC team
