2023 Record: 7-6 (4-4)

AP Ranking: 20

Head Coach: Mike Elko

It may have cost $76 million, but getting Jimbo Fisher out of College Station may have saved this program. Mike Elko is the savior to be and there’s plenty of reasons to believe that. He helped lead Duke to 16 wins over the past two seasons. Though Riley Leonard is off to Notre Dame, Elko now teams up with Connor Weigman who showed signs of being an NFL-Caliber quarterback last season before going down with an injury. 

Rueben Owens may be hurt, but the running back room is deep and explosive. Amari Daniels and Le’Veon Moss will lead the rushing attack. The offensive line is one of the better units, according to PFF, in run blocking in the country. Elko has all the tools he needs, defenses need to be cautious.

Defense is the issue. It showed no signs of life at times last season and yet was filtered with talent. That is why Elko was brought in, who is one of the best defensive minds in College Football. Nic Scourton was a huge get from Purdue in the portal and should help the pass rush from the edge position. CB Tyreek Chappell, Sr. is a true lockdown corner and those are rare to come by. There is talent on this roster, they just need to find a way to execute.

I love the hire of Elko for Texas A&M and he is the right guy to get them back into the national mix. Every first year head coach has some growing pains, but I think they’re in a spot to overcome that rather quickly. They will find their way to a big upset this season, similar to what Elko did to Clemson a year ago.

Record Prediction: 9-3