Texas A&M ranked Top 5 in On3's latest SEC Power Rankings

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Texas A&M enters the 2026 season with plenty of momentum after making the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, as third-year coach Mike Elko will look to make it back to the CFP for the second straight season, which will be a significant challenge given the tough road ahead once SEC play begins this fall.

Before a record ten players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, Elko and his staff added 17 transfer portal additions, including former Alabama star wide receiver Isaiah Horton, who brings more size to a receiver room led by star junior Mario Craver, who reeled in 59 receptions for 917 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 15.5 yards per reception.

Redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed will be back under center, working with new OC Holmon Wiggins and QB coach Joey Lynch after throwing for a career high 3,169 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, but struggled during the Aggies' final two games of the year, especially during the first round CFP loss to Miami.

If Reed can improve in the pocket and continue to make plays with his legs, Texas A&M's revamped defense, now featuring Northwestern transfer edge Anto Saka, former Colorado safety Tawfiq Byards, and Tennessee transfer cornerback Rickey Gibson, should pick up where it left off last season and improve against the run.

This preseason, it's been a mixed bag, where the Aggies will be ranked in the final preseason top 25 is still up for debate, but On3's Chris Low, who wrote several in-depth articles about Mike Elko and S&C coach Tommy Moffitt, placed Texas A&M at No. 5 in his preseason SEC power rankings below Oklahoma (No. 4), Ole Miss (No. 3), Georgia (No. 2) and the Texas Longhorns at No. 1.

"Mike Elko’s teams have been built on toughness and player development, and the 2026 version of the Aggies should be no different. If Marcel Reed can take his game to another level in his third season as the starting quarterback, Texas A&M has all the pieces in place to return to the playoff, especially after reeling in the No. 4-ranked portal class in the country. Reed will be working behind a retooled offensive line, featuring several transfers from SEC schools. Mario Craver is one of the top returning receivers in the league, and on defense, the Aggies have arguably the deepest defensive backfield in the nation. Edge rusher Anto Saka (Northwestern) was a big get in the portal. A big emphasis in 2026 will be defending the run better."

As I stated above, Texas A&M's defense, especially the secondary, should be the Aggies' predominant strength. Marcel Reed and the new offensive line, featuring four new starters, will be the central focus, with the offense coming together and producing consistently, especially late in the year.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M football ranked No. 5 in On3's latest SEC Power Rankings

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