Texas A&M opened fall camp in College Station on Aug. 1, beginning a season that starts from the highest point in the program's history and with most of that team gone.
The Aggies finished 11-2 last year and went 7-1 in the SEC, tied for the conference's best regular-season record. It was the first time Texas A&M reached the College Football Playoff.
The run ended at home. Miami won 10-3 at Kyle Field in the first round, a scoreline that says most of what needs saying about how that night went.
What has to be rebuilt
Head coach Mike Elko has described this as the program's most challenging season, and the roster math explains why. Texas A&M is replacing 10 NFL draft picks and 30 seniors.
The rebuild leans on the transfer portal, with 19 transfers on the roster. Elko has framed the goal as doubling down on last season rather than treating it as a ceiling.
The most important piece stayed. Marcel Reed returns at quarterback for his junior season, which removes the variable that usually decides whether a team in this position holds its level or slides.
The schedule sets up gently
Texas A&M plays 13 games and opens with three straight at Kyle Field: Missouri State, Arizona State and Kentucky.
