Texas A&M enters the bye week at 4-4 and 1-4 in SEC play after falling to Alabama 31-20 on the road, a game in which the Aggies led 20-17 just minutes before the fourth quarter. Starting quarterback Marcel Reed played his best football in the first half, throwing two interceptions, including a pick-six, but couldn't replicate that success when Alabama responded late.
This loss further proved that third-year coach Mike Elko, under significant pressure to keep Texas A&M from ending the season at 4-8, needs to make changes to his coaching staff and roster before or after the season, possibly including first-year defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill.
Again, this is all speculation, and given his choice to elevate from within, I could see OC Holmon
Wiggins and Hemphill returning next season. However, if the offense and defense keep facing the same issues, a complete overhaul could be in order. On Sunday, Baylor fired long-time head coach Dave Aranda, who is widely considered one of the top defensive minds.
If Elko opts to dismiss Hemphill and bring in a veteran defensive mind, the first move should be to spend more to land Dave Aranda. From 2013 to 2019, as Wisconsin's and LSU's defensive coordinator, Aranda never finished worse than 32nd, including a 2nd-ranked defense in 2015 and a 5th-ranked defense in 2016 with the Tigers.
Mike Elko and Dave Aranda run similar schemes built around match coverage and simulated pressures, but Aranda is more comfortable with a 3-4 alignment. Either way, replacing both coordinators with proven commodities could be the reason the Aggies turn things around in 2027.
BREAKING: Baylor has fired head football coach Dave Aranda, @PeteNakos reports.https://t.co/qowpm4ryz2 pic.twitter.com/yvRaZabTjD
— On3 (@On3) October 25, 2026
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Should Mike Elko target Dave Aranda for Texas A&M?
