Texas A&M's 2026 season remains at a crossroads as the Aggies come off a 41-0 shutout win over The Citadel, now sit at 4-3 and 1-3 in the SEC, and head to Tuscaloosa for the first time since 2022 to face No. 13 Alabama.
With the Crimson Tide coming off back-to-back losses to Georgia and Tennessee, it's hard to see the Aggies pulling off a win in one of the toughest SEC environments.
However, it's been one of the most chaotic SEC football seasons in recent memory after Texas, Georgia, and Alabama all lost on the same day for the first time since 1996, while the Aggies' final five opponents, starting with Alabama, followed by South Carolina on the road, Tennessee at home, Oklahoma on the road, and Texas at home, all feel winnable on paper, only if Texas A&M's offensive line and starting quarterback Marcel Reed were playing better.
Looking past the 2026 season, last week's news that the College Football Playoff format, currently set at 12 teams, is on pace to expand to 24 berths resulted in more negative than positive reactions from fans and media members alike, noting the potential lack of competitive football late in the season if a CFP spot is already secured.
Until a deal is made, however, this is all based on speculation, but like every Power Four coach was likely asked today, Texas A&M's Mike Elko also provided his wisdom on the subject during Monday's press conference, which is always sought after, no matter how much the Aggies are struggling this season.
"So much of college football is about those really meaningful games, and it doesn't take much to draw conclusions about what those games will look like. … You worry about where this thing could go as you see what Week 17 in the NFL is like."
No one, or at least a slim minority, wants college football to look like the NFL, and Mike Elko, along with nearly every SEC head coach, has consistently opposed the expansion, even though this could result in longer coaching tenures for coaches like Elko, given Texas A&M's financial advantage with the ability to rebuild rosters through recruiting and the transfer portal year after year, and ultimately earn what would be one of seven SEC berths.
Mike Elko on 24-team College Football Playoff:
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) October 20, 2026
"I hope we are doing right by valuing the regular season.
"The thing that makes this sport really special is its regular season.
"How important the games are during the regular season.
"I hope we don't lose that." pic.twitter.com/uDJQstWIw7
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Mike Elko shares concerns about the CFP's likely 24-team expansion