If we go 7-5 with this squad- it's time to blow it up again.

Reed is the weak link........8-4

Typical off-season discussion. I have more concerns on defense than offense. I hope the assertion that this could be the best defense since Elko's return pans out. Nevertheless, I'm expecting 10 wins minimum until further notice.

Updated with injuries from Elko press conference 03/17/26.

- replacing 4 OL starters.
- Reed still QB1
- Owens still RB1

That isn't a recipe for success.

T264 said:

---

If we go 7-5 with this squad- it's time to blow it up again.

---

Riiiiight, because starting from scratch every three years is THE recipe for success. Some real Einsteins in here.

We had our chance last year and blew it.

Now we regress back to the average with a much tougher schedule

Way too many "F, RSF, and So" in that OL for me to feel comfortable, with last year's best gone.

lil_frog8 said:

---

Those saying Reed is a weak link are saying they don't trust our coaching staff to develop players. Reed made a huge jump last season and if he makes a similar amount of improvement we win it all. If he makes a marginal improvement we keep the same record if he stays the same or regresses we finish 8-4. Time will tell.

---

Skill and talent development is not exactly a linear progression. It's possible that our coaches could provide the best coaching in the world but Reed just kinda sucks as a passer and can't stop throwing interceptions in the worst possible moments.

Maroon Dawn said:

---

We had our chance last year and blew it.

Now we regress back to the average with a much tougher schedule

---

Careful, a lot of people here can't accept rational thought. If you predict anything less than 12 - 0 and a playoff run then you're a potbanger.

NoahAg said:

---

Maroon Dawn said:

---

We had our chance last year and blew it.

Now we regress back to the average with a much tougher schedule

---

Careful, a lot of people here can't accept rational thought. If you predict anything less than 12 - 0 and a playoff run then you're a potbanger.

---

I think 8-9 wins are possible depending on how all the questions on offense shakes out and yes it sucks to complain about 8-9 wins but 8-9 wins gets you no hardware and no playoff.

Last year was our shot to make real noise and we blew it.

Maroon Dawn said:

---

NoahAg said:

---

Maroon Dawn said:

---

We had our chance last year and blew it.

Now we regress back to the average with a much tougher schedule

---

Careful, a lot of people here can't accept rational thought. If you predict anything less than 12 - 0 and a playoff run then you're a potbanger.

---

I think 8-9 wins are possible depending on how all the questions on offense shakes out and yes it sucks to complain about 8-9 wins but 8-9 wins gets you no hardware and no playoff.

Last year was our shot to make real noise and we blew it.

---

Going into week 3 (the ND game), ESPN had A&M projected to go 7-5.

https://aggieswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/aggies/football/2025/09/08/texas-aggies-football-record-projection-week-2-fpi/86035551007/

Instead, they went 11-1 during the regular season, and a subsequent loss in the CFP.

I think we made pretty good real noise.

True. 11-1 FAR surpassed my expectations. It's also true that we benefitted from a favorable schedule and wet the bed when it mattered most. 2026 won't be any easier, schedule wise.

I just hope we have a good FG kicker. That probably gets us a win last year. Also, Brooks should be much higher at S.

I'm in. Playoff bound. Round 2 at least.

Those LBs…

Teslag said:

---

The last 18 years has zero bearing on today. None.

---

The last ANY years has zero bearing on today..........just like this season will have zero bearing on the 2027 season. This has always been true, but especially now in the NIL/Portal era.

8-4

10-2

what ever to enter the play off

zooguy96 said:

---

- replacing 4 OL starters.
- Reed still QB1
- Owens still RB1

That isn't a recipe for success.

---

Yea, OLine is the biggest unknown. Even if talented that's a lot of new parts on the OLine. Owens has his good qualities but he's a RB1b, not a true dog. Reed is not at the top of my concern list.

How about Brandon Arrington at nickel if others step up at corner. If he can get to about 195-200 lbs at 6-2, that's close to Antonio Johnson his freshman year. By mid year he could be ready to lock it down. That would keep Brooks, Byard and Ratcliff as the safeties. With Ricks and 1 more corner stepping up, that would be a stout secondary.

We are having to rebuild both lines. If that is not really successful this will be a mediocre year.

7-5 maybe 8-4. Depends on OL play

Ags by 90 every game!

lil_frog8 said:

---

Those saying Reed is a weak link are saying they don't trust our coaching staff to develop players. Reed made a huge jump last season and if he makes a similar amount of improvement we win it all. If he makes a marginal improvement we keep the same record if he stays the same or regresses we finish 8-4. Time will tell.

---

I initially thought he made some improvements until both the t.u, and Miami games happened. Now I believe he simply benefited from the added players at WR.

Dr. Tinkle said:

---

8-4…had our chances with a soft schedule. It's go time now

---

Just stop already. Nobody has any clue how hard or easy our schedule will be this year.

Everyone thought our schedule was going to be tough and all the 6-6 and 7-5 predictions were flowing preseason when there were 5 teams ranked ahead of us in the polls. Then, we end up getting criticized for how soft our schedule was.

Invariably, some teams on our schedule will be as good or better than expected and some will be worse or as bad as expected. Of course, the bottom line is, the better you are, the easier your schedule will be.

Looking at this team, I have the same exact concern that I had last year heading into the season and that is the DL. Hope they surprise me. We've got to figure out how to stop the run.

Blonde Coffee Beans said:

---

lil_frog8 said:

---

Those saying Reed is a weak link are saying they don't trust our coaching staff to develop players. Reed made a huge jump last season and if he makes a similar amount of improvement we win it all. If he makes a marginal improvement we keep the same record if he stays the same or regresses we finish 8-4. Time will tell.

---

I initially thought he made some improvements until both the t.u, and Miami games happened. Now I believe he simply benefited from the added players at WR.

---

He definitely made improvements but the tu defenae was great and Miami he looked bad in horrible conditions. I still question why we theew the ball so much that game.

Reed still needs to grow some but he did make improvements.

JohnClark929 said:

---

Looks good and although OL is a big question mark, I'm drinking kool aide.

Also do you think Byard could be our starter at NB?

---

No. It'll be Chad Kroeger.

You left out two freshmen special teams players: kicker Asher Murray and punter Waylon Peters. Both should be rated 5 stars. There's interesting information about Peters on the internet.

NoahAg said:

---

True. 11-1 FAR surpassed my expectations. It's also true that we benefitted from a favorable schedule and wet the bed when it mattered most. 2026 won't be any easier, schedule wise.

---

The favorable schedule excuse is BS because at the start of the year the sentiment was the opposite. tu nd mu uf au lsu…all ranked and this place was rich with the usual BAS. You play the schedule they make for you.

Elko needs to beat Texas.

Any word on the extent of the injuries to Bethel Roman and Bussey?