Texas A&M is set to be a big player in the College Football Playoff discussion once again this fall, and their quest to get back there begins tomorrow night against the Missouri State Bears. Though this isn't a big-name matchup for the opener, there's still plenty to watch for on the A&M side that fans can analyze going forward.
Despite a no. 8 ranking in the initial AP Poll, the Aggies are being somewhat slept on by many when it comes to predicting Playoff participation. There's not a lot of buzz about the Aggies' talent at the moment, but that can all change in a flash.
Here are three things the Aggies can show this weekend that will have them considered as major playoff contenders going forward.
How Texas A&M can show vs. Missouri State they are CFP threats again in 2026
Marcel Reed shows the growth Aggie fans have been hearing about
Aggie fans have known all offseason that the biggest factor for their potential return to the College Football Playoff is the man wearing no. 10 in the maroon. Marcel Reed took a big leap from his first year starting on and off to his second year when he was the full-time starter, but another leap is still needed for him to make the Aggies a true contender.
From the reports fans have been hearing in the offseason, it sounds like Marcel has taken that leap in a big way. Not only has he bulked up under Tommy Moffitt's strength and conditioning program, but he has understood and embraced the exact areas where he needs to improve.
That improvement has even caught the eye of a guy like Todd McShay, who praised Marcel's performance at the Manning Passing Academy. That should tell Aggie fans something significant about what kind of step Reed has taken— and if he puts it on display this weekend, it will show just why the Aggies can deliver on Playoff hopes this fall.
New additions demonstrate Mike Elko's portal strategy hit again
After losing so much to the draft, the Aggies are going to need some contributors to step up from the transfer portal ranks— and Elko has brought in just the guys to do that. How about four former SEC starters on the offensive line to replace the four starters that left Texas A&M for the NFL?
If that doesn't move you, then how about one of the highest-graded returning linebackers in the conference in Ray Coney? Still not good enough? Then maybe one of the freakiest athletes in the country, Anto Saka, coming off of the edge for this Aggie defense can get your attention.
Whether Saka, S Tawfiq Byard, DT CJ Mims, WR Isaiah Horton, or any other of the new additions, the nation will soon understand just how adeptly Mike Elko and this staff addressed their needs via the portal. There are quite a few new names in the maroon and white that will be ready to make some noise this fall en route to Playoff contention, and we'll get our first in-game preview tomorrow.
Defense utterly suffocates Missouri State's efforts
The defense for the Aggies held up pretty well last season for the most part, but there were a few instances where the cracks were obvious. A&M was routinely throwing everything they had at the line of scrimmage to defend the run, so when runners got past that first level, it was often a big time explosive play.
With a much more versatile defensive line this season, the Aggies should be able to use safer schemes to stymy opposing offenses. Combine that with a secondary that will be among the best in the nation, and this may well be Mike Elko's best defense since he's been in College Station.
Missouri State is going to come out swinging, hoping to make a statement in game one of the Casey Woods era— and he's shown himself to be a potent offensive mind. If the Aggies are indeed able to shut them down completely on defense, it will be another point in their favor when it comes to Playoff contention.
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