CBS Sports reveals Texas A&M's 2026 'best- and worst-case scenarios'

Texas A&M's 2026 college football season is getting closer by the day, as the spring football season will end after Saturday's annual Maroon & White Spring Game, placing a bow on what has been a successful official start and end to the offseason. Yes, the offseason will continue into the fall camp, but this will be the last time players take the field until mid-August. Entering his third season at the helm, coach Mike Elko added 17 players from the transfer portal and 26 signees from the 2026 recruiting class, paired with a returning roster led by starting quarterback Marcel Reed , who will return for his third season and second full starting season under center.

However, losing 20-plus players to the transfer portal and the 2026 NFL Draft will likely result in some early growing pains, but in today's chaotic environment, nearly every Power 4 program will introduce a relatively new roster. While national predictions regarding the Aggies' chances of making it back to the College Football Playoff are varied, Texas A&M's mix of veteran experience and blue-chip recruiting talent on both sides of the ball should result in another successful season with nine or more wins to contend for a playoff spot. This week, CBS Sports ' Brad Crawford released his "best- and worst-case scenarios" for every preseason top 25 team, including Texas A&M at No.

6. The best case? Marcel Reed will take the final step towards reaching his full potential in the pocket, while the newly formed roster will actually improve in several areas.

10-2, 7-2. Unlike last season's march to 11 straight wins prior to a loss at Texas, Mike Elko's team will not benefit from a soft slate in SEC play. There's LSU, Alabama and Oklahoma on the road and the Aggies haven't yet figured out the Longhorns under the current regime.