Texas A&M's
2026 season opener vs. Missouri State is a mere nine days away, and after making his first appearance of the year on the Aggie Football Hour, coach Mike Elko, entering his third year at the helm, is confident, but also relalistic knowing that the new nine-game SEC schedule, which includes road tests vs. LSU, Missouri, Alabama, South Carolina, and Oklahoma, could result in losing three or more games.After finishing 11-2 while making the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history last season, today's chaotic college football landscape, now including the new 5-for-5 rule, and the recent controversy surrounding NFL players opting to return to college have been consistent distractions, but have not taken away the primary
focus on returning to the CFP.
After 16 preseason practices, Texas A&M's 2026 roster, made up of 65% of the 2025 team, 17 transfer portal additions, and the 2026 signing class, nearly every position group has looked the part, but during the first part of Elko's press conference on Thursday, it was revealed that freshman defensive tackle Chace Sims and running back Tiger Riden Jr. will miss the regular season with injuries, while second year OL Nelson McGuire and former five-star wide receiver Jerome Myles are no longer on the roster due to "personal reasons."
Texas A&M isn't the only program that has experienced roster departures this close to the season, as the Texas Longhorns dismissed star linebacker Ty'Anthony Smith due to similar "personal reasons" earlier this week, leaving a hole in the program's starting linebacker rotation.
Here is everything Mike Elko said during Thursday's press conference.
In-season practice officially begins tomorrow
"We'll transition into game prep starting tomorrow, and it's an exciting time. It's an exciting time to get out there, see what we have and what we're able of."
Mike Elko on transfer WR Isaiah Horton
"He's been what we were hoping we were getting in that he's a big, tall, physical receiver. He adds another dimension to the room."
Mike Elko on RB Rueben Owen's progress this preseason
"What you have now is a healthy, mature version of him that is physically ready to take on the rigors of the SEC."
"We're excited for him to be able to go out and finally put out his absolute best, healthiest foot forward into a new season."
Mike Elko on rising sophomore Edge Marco Jones
"You've got a kid now who is big and athletic and fits the profile that you would want, but he has detailed his craft and gotten better fundamentally. He's really excited to show that this year."
Mike Elko and transfer Edge Anto Saka's preseason dominance
"Maturity. You're bringing in a kid who has played a lot of football… He has integrated into that room. He's another physical kid. We have a really strong, deep group of defensive ends, and he's a big piece of it."
Mike Elko on Texas A&M's linebacker rotation
"What we have now is a stronger, deeper group than we had in the spring when we had more guys trying to figure things out."
Mike Elko on the latest SEC ruling
"It reminded me of a really smart guy who stood on the podium and cried for centralized leadership in college sports because it felt like a lot of people were acting in their own interests."
"It's a statement of where we are from a governance standpoint because we are having conversations about the rules regarding roster management on Aug. 27, and we have games tonight."
Texas A&M's strong culture will pave the way for consistent success
"You entertain everything. We are comfortable and confident with the culture that we've built, so for us, it doesn't make sense to go out and recruit a ton of kids in August… That's probably why we never were at the forefront of that, but it's unwise in this day and out to not be aware of what's out there."
Mike Elko on Texas A&M's need to make "winning plays in winning moments"
"We got to continue to be the team that steps up and makes those winning plays in those moments, and that's what we did in those games… That's what we didn't do in the playoff game."
"The more parity sets in, which it clearly is, and the more that the top comes down a little bit and the bottom comes up… It's going to come down to winning plays."
Mike Elko on the state of the Texas A&M's running back room
"(Rueben Owens) and Jamarion (Morrow) have had strong games. We're happy with what (KJ) Edwards and (Carsyn) Baker have done in camp. We feel good about the group we have." "We certainly feel good and believe in what we have."
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 Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Everything Texas A&M HC Mike Elko said during Thursday's presser
