Texas A\&M started 5-0 in SEC play in 2024 but stumbledlate. The Aggies vow to rebound strong in 2025 with renewed focus and leadership.
Texas A&M football entered the fall of 2024 as a team on a mission. With a deep roster, a disciplined staff under new head coach Mike Elko and the full backing of the 12th Man, the Aggies stormed out of the gates to a 5-0 start in SEC play and a 7-1 overall record. Hype swirled in College Station. The playoff dream felt real.
But what followed was a sobering reality check.
A 1-4 finish down the stretch—marred by injuries, inconsistency, and narrow losses—turned a potentially historic season into one of disappointment and frustration. The Aggies missed the SEC title game and watched yet another postseason come and go without a marquee win.
Now, with the 2025 season on the horizon, Texas A&M is determined not just to bounce back—but to finish what they started.
“We’re not hiding from what happened,” said Elko during SEC Media Days in July. “We were one of the best teams in the country through October. But great teams finish. That’s what 2025 is all about—finishing.”
A Tale of Two Seasons
The 2024 Aggies were a dominant force in the first half of the season. Wins over Arkansas, Auburn, and LSU highlighted their early SEC dominance, and quarterback Connor Weigman looked poised for a breakout season. The defense, powered by one of the deepest front sevens in the nation, led the conference in sacks through eight weeks.
But things unraveled fast.
Weigman went down with a shoulder injury against Ole Miss in Week 9. The offense sputtered. The defense grew fatigued. A late loss to Mississippi State on a last-second field goal, followed by a deflating collapse against Alabama, effectively ended Texas A&M’s championship hopes.
They finished the season 8-5 overall, dropping four of their last five contests.
“It was a gut punch,” said linebacker Taurean York. “We were right there. But we learned something valuable: talent doesn’t win championships. Consistency and resilience do.”
The 2025 Rebuild: Culture First, Then Execution
Elko and his staff wasted no time in diagnosing the issues. The first step: culture realignment. Rather than overhaul the roster with transfers or chase short-term hype, Texas A&M turned inward.
Leadership councils were formed. Player-only meetings became weekly. Accountability metrics were implemented for offseason training. Every workout, meeting, and rep became part of a bigger mission: sustaining success over an entire season.
“We got humbled,” said defensive tackle Walter Nolen, who returns as a preseason All-American. “But we also got hungry. Now we’re not just playing to win—we’re playing with purpose.”
The Aggies retained a core group of upperclassmen who opted to forgo the NFL Draft in favor of chasing something greater. Nolen, York, safety Bryce Anderson, and receiver Evan Stewart headline a returning class with unfinished business.
“We came back to change the story,” said Stewart. “We’re not leaving without a ring.”
A New Era of Player Development
One of the offseason’s biggest stories was the hiring of former NFL veteran and Aggie legend Von Miller as a special assistant to player development and edge rushers. His presence, along with the involvement of several other program icons, has created a new energy around the locker room.
Miller’s focus? Teaching the next generation how to prepare like pros.
“You can’t just flip a switch in November,” Miller said. “Championship teams are built in March, April, and July. I’m here to show them how it’s done—day by day.”
Strength and conditioning also underwent an overhaul. Elko brought in Chris Doyle, a longtime performance coach with experience at Iowa and in the NFL, to prioritize injury prevention and fourth-quarter stamina.
That physical edge is already showing in preseason practices, where coaches have noted increased tempo and recovery times.
The Offense: New System, Same Firepower
With Weigman back healthy, the offense has a new look—and a new play-caller.
Bobby Petrino was replaced by Kasey Dunn, formerly of Oklahoma State, who brings a fast-tempo, spread-heavy attack designed to maximize A&M’s speed at wide receiver and tight end.
“We’re going to attack,” Dunn said. “We have too much speed, too much talent to play conservatively. We’re pushing the pace and forcing defenses to adjust.”
Weigman, entering his fourth year, has grown as a leader. Coaches rave about his film study, vocal command in the huddle, and his relationship with Stewart and fellow receiver Noah Thomas.
The offensive line, a weak point late last year, returns four starters and adds two high-impact transfers. One of them, Zion Nelson from Miami, brings much-needed experience and versatility.
At running back, Rueben Owens is expected to take the next leap. After flashing elite burst in limited touches last season, Owens now becomes the lead back in an offense designed to get him into space.
The Defense: Deep, Experienced, and Angry
If the offense is retooled, the defense is reloaded.
The 2025 unit may be Texas A&M’s best defense in a decade. With Walter Nolen anchoring the middle, Fadil Diggs and Shemar Turner on the edge, and York leading the linebacker corps, the front seven is menacing. Behind them, Anderson and Deuce Harmon form one of the SEC’s top safety duos.
Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman is entering his second year and has emphasized creating turnovers—a missing element in 2024. Texas A&M finished bottom-third in the SEC in takeaways last year. That’s expected to change.
“We’ve got the talent to dominate,” said Bateman. “Now it’s about execution and hunger. We’re not just playing defense—we’re hunting.”
The team has adopted the motto “Finish Every Rep”—a daily reminder of how close they came to glory last year, and how painful unfinished business can be.
The Schedule: A Balanced Path
The 2025 schedule is challenging but manageable.
Texas A&M opens with a non-conference home game against Arizona State, followed by SMU and UAB. Their SEC slate includes road games at Tennessee, Florida, and LSU, but they get Georgia and Ole Miss at home—potential game-changers.
Perhaps most critically, Alabama rotates off the schedule in 2025, and A&M avoids a late-season gauntlet. The calendar sets up for momentum-building in the middle stretch, with key games in October that could define their SEC title hopes.
“We control our destiny,” said Elko. “If we stay focused, there’s not a game on that schedule we can’t win.”
The 12th Man Factor
A renewed sense of belief is surging through College Station. The 12th Man has endured ups and downs for decades, but support for this 2025 squad feels different—more personal.
Season ticket sales are at a five-year high. NIL collectives have strengthened. Former players are actively mentoring current ones. It feels like an all-hands-on-deck movement to finally push A&M across the threshold.
“We don’t want hype. We want hardware,” said senior linebacker Chris Russell Jr. “And we’ve got the army behind us to get it done.”
Kyle Field is expected to be electric, especially for the highly anticipated October 18th showdown with Georgia, a potential SEC title preview.
Final Word: No More Excuses
Texas A&M has lived in the “almost” tier for too long. Almost in the playoff. Almost in the title hunt. Almost the powerhouse they’ve promised to be.
2025 offers no more excuses. No more hiding behind talent. No more falling short.
“We’re done talking,” said Elko. “It’s time to finish.”
From the ashes of a promising but painful 2024 campaign rises a team galvanized by its scars, united in its goals, and finally ready to fulfill its vast potential.
