After guiding Texas A&M to an impressive 11-win season, offensive coordinator Collin Klein left the program to become Kansas State’s head coach. Though he helped quarterback Marcel Reed and the Aggies enter the playoffs, HC Mike Elko still faces a long stretch of elite competition before the 2025 season comes to a close.

On Monday, Elko revealed that the program is in no hurry to find a replacement for Klein. Currently, they are focusing both their time and energy on making the 2025 season a complete success, with the possibility of advancing to the national championship game.

“We are in a good place with the OC search. We will get through the season,” HC Mike Elko said on Dec. 7.  “We are in a good place with knowing what direction we want to go. ”

For now, Klein has officially accepted the Kansas State gig but will continue to guide the Aggies throughout the postseason.

At College Station, Klein’s announcement at Kansas State was met with equal enthusiasm. Instead of a bitter feeling, Coach Elko was proud of Collin’s achievement and success.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity for someone on our staff to take the next step in their career,” Elko said Wednesday afternoon, “And I do everything I can to support and help those endeavors.”

For Texas A&M, the 2025 season couldn’t get any better. With the biggest comeback in Aggies’ history, the roster went from a 7-5 record in 2022 to an 11-win season. En route to a 12-win undefeated streak, but QB Arch Manning’s Texas Longhorns handed them their first defeat of the season in the season finale.

Nevertheless, Collin Klein’s contributions led the Aggies to their first playoff appearance in school history. Over the weeks, the offense averaged 454.4 total yards per game with QB Marcel Reed contesting for the Heisman. As a Heisman finalist (2012) himself, Coach Collin is molding another QB for the prestigious honor.

Armed with his offensive weapons in WR KC Concepcion and Mario Craver, Macel Reed threw 25 touchdowns for almost 3,000 yards. Overall, the roster further added 28 scores in ground attack. Back in October, Tights End coach Christian Ellsworth spoke highly of his fellow coach.

“As an offensive coordinator, he’s just an incredible leader,” Ellsworth said, according to Texas A&M Aggies on SI. “He’s gonna have everyone on the same page. He cares about people, and when you know you’re cared about, you tend to work harder and want to do more and be successful doing it.”

Presently, the Aggies’ offense ranks top five in the SEC. Surely, Mike Elko does not want to do away with it anytime soon. On Dec. 20, the Aggies host the Miami Hurricanes at Kyle Field, Collin will be juggling duties for both Kansas State and Texas A&M.

Mike Elko confident in Collin Klein’s abilities against Miami

On Dec. 20, Collin Klein will have plenty on his plate. Already immersed in his new responsibilities as Kansas State’s head coach, he’ll also be tasked with overseeing the Aggies’ offense. But Elko remains confident in his former OC’s playcalling.

“I’ve got a ton of confidence in Collin in who he is as a man and who he is as a competitor,” he said.

Miami has a strong arm in Carson Beck, backed by strong offensive weapons in WR Malachi Toney and RB Mark Fletcher Jr. Similarly, the defense poses a significant threat.

“Miami has probably the best DE combo (Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain Jr. )we have seen since I have been here. These two kids can destroy a game. They haven’t given up over 20 points in a month and a half.”

Klein will be present to lead the Aggies further in the playoffs, but as Elko put it, it’s not a one-man show. But there are talented coaches, guiding Aggies throughout the season.

With a 6-6 record, the Wildcats had been eligible for a bowl appearance. However, owing to a new head coach in transition and a roster plagued with injuries, they opted out of it.