This SEC program was a real shot of adrenaline in 2024. They strung together a 7-game winning streak but then stumbled at the end. Still, finishing 8-5 in the head coach’s first season? You can see why he got a pass. But not for long. As Dan Wetzel said, “You might want to beat him. But next year, I think you know the real judgment comes in year three…this guy’s in his second season, let’s deal with it.” Even though there is still time for the 2025 season to lift the curtains, the head coach can feel the heat. That’s when a college football analyst gave them the ‘sleeper’ tag in the SEC. Meanwhile, the program went viral for letting fortunes slip through their fingers.

That’s none other than Mike Elko’s Texas A&M. Well, this off-season was not bad for Elko’s squad. Walking into his second season, he did not leave any stone unturned when it came to making the most of the recruiting trail. Elko hunted down 14 players. Already, their quarterback Marcel Reed’s progress as a pocket passer looked above average during the Maroon & White spring game. Armed with accuracy and touch, his new wide receiver corps possesses more speed and separation that will help him out, especially in the short passing game. And Elko was the one coach who didn’t give up on landing Jonathan Hatton Jr., the four-star RB from San Antonio Steele. That says a lot about his recruiting strategy and how it might pay off. Now, what about the things that are beyond Elko’s control?

The schedule, of course.

On the May 19th episode of ESPN’s College Football podcast, analyst Greg McElroy came up with a serving of some motivational juice. “Texas A&M and head coach Mike Elko, their overunder win total is at 8 ½. They had eight wins last year, and if you look at their schedule…there’s four games you would think are winnable immediately.” What are the games that they must win by hook or crook to make their 9- or 10-win season dreams come true? Their home games against UTSA, Utah State, Samford, and Mississippi State. Now, what about the ones that would give them a tough time? Their four-week road trips to Notre Dame, Arkansas, and Missouri. 

For these games, Mike Elko’s offense must be balanced, while the defense can’t allow explosive plays through the air. In that case, the Aggies need to emulate the 2020 Orange Bowl Championship squad. Only then can they earn a bid to the College Football Playoff. Will that be possible?

As per McElroy, “[TexasA&M] should be sitting pretty this year. And if they could continue to be as good on defense as I anticipate them being and make some progress offensively while staying healthy I think A&M’s one of those teams that not enough people are talking about going into this upcoming season. I think A&M Aggies have a chance to really threaten.” Going by the buzz, Elko is building something ‘scary.’ One of the most significant changes is the running back room.

It is headlined by the return of Le’Veon Moss, coupled with Rueben Owens and Amari Daniels, which will help OC Collin Klein’s run-dependent scheme. However, for now, Elko needs to find an answer to a particular question: ‘Why can Texas A&M not match resources to results?’ 

Mike Elko walks on a financial tightrope 

So, is history repeating itself? A brand-new chart hit social media this week, demonstrating the impact that firing Jimbo Fisher had on the A&M athletic department.

After a disastrous 2022 season that saw the Aggies finish with their first losing record since 2009 and a 6-4 start to the 2023 campaign, Fisher was fired. The after-effect on Elko’s squad has been huge. As per the data from AL.com, the Aggies’ athletic department spent an absurd $27.5 million in severance spending in Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024).

A comparative analysis will give a better picture of the situation. Elko’s squad is at the top of the list. They are followed by Auburn at $10.8 million, Texas at $7.2 million, and Mississippi State at below $5 million. The huge amount dished out by the Aggies went toward Fisher’s $77.5 million buyout, which is by far the largest in college football history. With this, Elko & Co. ran short of money when it came to NIL.

Turns out, the Aggies’ adjusted NIL value during the transfer process sits at $132k. Now, this surely looks pale as compared to their SEC counterparts. For instance, Alabama had a $13 million reserve for the NIL. Maybe that’s why Mike Elko is failing to keep the players close. Only six out of the initial 30 signees are still at College Station until 2024, with 23 leaving after minimal playing time. Elko can’t afford a misstep—he needs to blueprint his success and cash in on every opportunity for growth.