For years, the Texas A&M Aggies have been haunted by the dreaded “eight-win” narrative. This label has stuck, no matter how much promise the preseason brings. Even with new leadership under Mike Elko last season, the jokes returned after the Aggies finished the 2024 season at 8-5.
But lost in the noise was a key detail: Elko’s debut campaign included wins over two top-10 opponents. That’s no small feat for a coach just getting started. With that in mind, could 2025 finally be the year Texas A&M rewrites the script?
Can Mike Elko Break Texas A&M’s 8-Win Curse in 2025?
Texas A&M has spent the past decade in a frustrating loop: promising starts, solid recruiting classes, and growing hype, only to land, yet again, at eight wins. Currently sitting in another strong recruiting phase, this year’s Aggies under second-year head coach Mike Elko feel different.
On a recent episode of “That SEC Football Podcast,” analysts Mike and Cousin Shane believe A&M might finally break free from the eight-win curse. But it all depends on the brilliance of QB1 Marcel Reed.
“There’s a handful of quarterbacks in this league that I feel have extremely high ceilings: this is one of them. It’s the flow we’re worried about, where’s that at? You know, is it four, eight wins? We need it to be nine, ten wins. We need to have a quarterback down here that they’ve not had,” Shane said.
“I mean, Texas A&M has had these guys come through, and we’ve created storylines. Since Johnny Manziel, we’ve just not had that guy come here and take us to the next level. Is Reed the guy? I don’t know. He has the potential, but he’s got a lot to prove this season with Texas A&M.”
When evaluating Texas A&M’s outlook for 2025, it all comes down to Reed. If he delivers, this team is a legitimate College Football Playoff threat. That belief isn’t limited to fans; it’s in the coaching staff, too. With plenty of resources, the Aggies could have easily pursued a quarterback in the transfer portal. Instead, they’ve gone all-in on Reed.
His 8-5 record as a starter in 2024 came against opponents with a combined 59-46 record. The teams he beat (Florida, Bowling Green, Arkansas, and New Mexico State) finished just under .500, while the squads he lost to had a stronger showing.
Reed wasn’t supposed to be the guy in 2024, but after Conner Weigman went down early, he stepped in and kept the team afloat. His defining moment came on October 26, when he engineered a comeback win over LSU at Kyle Field.
The redshirt sophomore completed 147 of 240 passes for 1,864 yards and 15 touchdowns with six interceptions in 2024. He also rushed for 547 yards and seven touchdowns on 116 carries, demonstrating the dual-threat ability that makes him so dangerous.
Head coach Elko is betting that the experience Reed gained in 2024, plus a full offseason as the undisputed starter, will unlock his full potential. Texas A&M faces a brutal schedule this season, with tough road tests at LSU, Arkansas, and Missouri and a heated rivalry against Texas. But one game stands out: Week 3 at South Bend.
Last year, the Aggies fell short against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in their season opener, losing 23-13 at Kyle Field in a game that could have set a different tone for their campaign. Now, they have a chance to flip the script on the road, with playoff hopes again on the line.
The 2024 season showed flashes of what this program can achieve under Elko’s leadership. Despite the disappointing finish in the Las Vegas Bowl, where they led USC 24-7 before falling 35-31, the Aggies proved they can compete with elite competition.
Their wins over No. 9 Missouri (41-10) and No. 8 LSU (38-23) at Kyle Field demonstrated the program’s upward trajectory. With a full recruiting class in place and Reed returning as the established starter, the pieces are aligning for Texas A&M to finally break through the eight-win ceiling that has defined their recent history.
The question remains: Can Elko and Reed deliver on the program’s championship aspirations, or will the familiar narrative continue in 2025?
