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It’s a familiar situation in College Station. Another loaded recruiting class, another preseason burst of optimism, and another set of questions for fans. Is this the year Texas A&M change the SEC middle-tier narrative? The Aggies have lived in the league’s upper middle class for too long. In 12 full SEC seasons, they’ve won seven, eight, or nine games 10 times, excluding the 2020 COVID season and the 2012’s Johnny Manziel 11-2 season mania. But consistency and national championship-level football is still a mythic quest in Kyle Field. 

Per On3 Rivals’ 2026 recruiting rankings as of July 12, Texas A&M sits at No. 2 in the SEC under Mike Elko’s second year. The Aggies boast a total of 24 commits, comprising one 5-star, 19 4-stars, and four 3-stars. SEC champion Georgia tops the ranking with a total of 29 commits including two 5-stars, 21 4-stars, and five 3-stars. Even among all conferences, they still hold the No. 3 spot with USC coming in to snag the No. 1 spot. 

Despite the recruiting momentum, the question remains if top-tier recruiting can lead to top-tier results on the field. But let’s not shortchange what Mike Elko’s doing. The 2026 class is stacked with talent including 15 players from the ESPN 300. They’ve got a Swift Army knife in 5-star ATH Brandon Arrington, elite DL Bryce Perry-Wright, and a speedster in 4-star KJ Edwards. National recruiting analyst Craig Haubert even praised Texas A&M and its HC for poaching elite talents from SEC territories like Georgia, Florida, and California. “Mike Elko has quickly proved he can identify and recruit at a high level,” he said. 

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Mike Elko was also able to flip Ohio CB Victor Singleton from Illinois and uncover Utah QB Helaman Casuga. This isn’t your typical top 10 but top-heavy class. It’s balanced, strategic, and built for the long haul. But here’s the punch to the gut and that is the 2025 projections. In the 2025 SEC preseason rankings, LockedOn ranked Mike Elko’s team at No. 9 behind Georgia, Texas, Alabama, LSU, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and Florida. And they’re not the only ones skeptical about Texas A&M heading into the season. 

Texas A&M needs a new identity

On3’s Brett McMurphy has Texas A&M pegged at eight wins again in 2025. That would mark their eleventh season finishing between 7-9 wins since joining the SEC. Circa Sports gives them the same win total as Auburn, who’s losing the 2026 recruiting momentum. But the Aggies’ 2025 schedule doesn’t do them favors either. Road trips to Notre Dame, LSU, and Texas all but guarantee scars. They could steal one, but sweeping them is wishful thinking.

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What’s your perspective on:

Can Texas A&M finally break the SEC middle-tier curse, or is it just more false hope?

Have an interesting take?

Mike Elko’s got the horses again, but the question is, can he win the big races? Even last season, they finished fourth in the SEC in recruitment with 25 commits. But the 2026 class feels different because it’s strategic rather than splashy, with calculated flips and a footprint that spans coast to coast. And yet, the cold truth remains. Until Texas A&M wins big games in November, until they beat LSU, shock Georgia, or silence Texas in their own house, they’ll stay a middle-tier team with blue-chip gloss.

If the current momentum continues, Signing Day in December might mark a program-defining moment. But unless that talent translates into 10+ wins, playoff contention, and SEC Championship appearances, we’ll be back here next summer asking the same question.

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Can Texas A&M finally break the SEC middle-tier curse, or is it just more false hope?

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