Texas A&M falls several spots in USA TODAY's 'too-early' CFB rankings

Texas A&M's spring practice period ended earlier this year, culminating in a low-scoring, but entertaining Maroon & White Game on April 18, providing third-year head coach Mike Elko another preseason scrimmage heading into the summer. Bringing in 17 transfer portal additions and 26 signees from the 2026 recruiting class, the Aggies could improve in several areas. However, losing a record 10 players to the 2026 NFL Draft , including four starting offensive linemen, could result in some growing pains early in the year.

Still, with starting quarterback Marcel Reed back in the fold, paired with an elite wide receiver corps led by junior Mario Craver, and now featuring former Alabama WR Isaiah Horton, Texas A&M's passing attack should be even more dynamic, given Horton's size advantage along the boundary. On defense, losing unanimous All-American edge Cashius Howell, who was drafted in the second round by the Cincinnati Bengals, combined with cornerback Will Lee III, and defensive tackles Albert Regis and Tyler Onyedim, all being selected in the third and fourth rounds, Elko will have to rely on its returning veterans and several transfer additions to get the job done. Overall, the spring game showed a roster with size, physicality, and more depth along both lines of scrimmage, but after senior linebacker Daymion Sanford suffered a lower-body injury that could result in him missing the first half of the regular season, depth at linebacker has become one of the central offseason talking points.

This week, USA TODAY writers Erick Smith and Paul Myerberg released their "too-early" college football post-spring practice rankings, and compared to the final rankings in January, Texas A&M dropped three spots from No. 8 to No. 11.

Both writers, pointing out Marcel Reed's return and three key transfer additions, point out first-year OC Holmon Wiggins taking over the playcalling duties as a significant question mark. "After an easier path last year, the schedule gets more difficult for the Aggies this season. But the return of quarterback Marcel Reed gives them the opportunity to figure out how to win the big games that tripped them up in November.