Coach Elko has been named to The Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List 🏆

College Station, TX — Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko has officially been named to the 2025 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List, further solidifying his rising status as one of the most respected and transformative leaders in college football. The announcement, made Monday by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, is a recognition of both Elko’s on-field success and his off-field impact — particularly in academic achievement, leadership, and community service.

It’s the latest milestone in a fast-moving Aggie resurgence under Elko, whose no-nonsense leadership, strategic roster construction, and player-first culture have made Texas A&M one of the most talked-about programs in the nation heading into the 2025 season.

The Dodd Trophy, named after legendary Georgia Tech coach Bobby Dodd, is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious coaching honors in college football. Unlike other awards that focus solely on wins and losses, the Dodd Trophy emphasizes a coach’s ability to win the right way — balancing performance with integrity, academics, and positive influence within the community.

To even make the preseason watch list is a statement — and for Mike Elko, it’s validation of the cultural overhaul he’s led in College Station.

“Coach Dodd stood for everything that’s good about this game,” Elko said. “To be associated with that legacy, even just on a watch list, is incredibly humbling. But honestly, it’s a reflection of our staff, our players, and what we’re building here at Texas A&M.”

Elko’s rise hasn’t happened by accident. Since taking over a fractured Aggies program in December 2023, he’s restored toughness, accountability, and clarity. Despite inheriting a team plagued by inconsistency, internal doubt, and transfer departures, he delivered a strong debut season in 2024:

• 9-4 overall record, including a bowl win over North Carolina
• Top-25 defense nationally, especially in red zone and third down stops
• A top-10 transfer portal class, bringing immediate impact across the roster
• Significant GPA improvements and player engagement in community service

More importantly, Elko changed the tone. For a program known for spending big but falling short, his presence has brought stability, substance, and belief.

Part of what makes Elko’s inclusion on the Dodd Trophy list so notable is that it comes amid one of the most aggressive transfer portal strategies in the country. Yet unlike other programs accused of cutting corners or chasing hype, Elko’s method has been praised as sustainable and smart.

“It’s not just about talent,” Elko told local media. “We’re looking for guys who want to grow — as players, as students, as men. We don’t offer spots to people who aren’t willing to buy into the Aggie standard.”

That standard has paid off. A&M’s 2025 roster includes portal additions who are not just stars on the field, but proven team captains, honor roll students, and mentors in the locker room. Several players have spoken out about the structure and guidance Elko’s staff provides, calling it “the most professional environment in college football.”

Elko’s name appears alongside other elite head coaches on the 2025 Dodd Trophy Watch List, including:

• Kirby Smart (Georgia)
• Steve Sarkisian (Texas)
• Kalen DeBoer (Alabama)
• Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame)
• Dan Lanning (Oregon)
• Mike Norvell (Florida State)

But Elko may be the fastest riser on that list — a coach who went from under-the-radar to national relevance in under two seasons.

The Dodd Trophy is awarded annually in December, with a midseason watch list and finalists announced later in the fall.

Elko’s credibility, while strong on its own, received an additional jolt of attention this summer when Texas A&M made headlines by hiring Johnny Manziel as assistant head coach. The legendary former quarterback and 2012 Heisman Trophy winner has returned to College Station with a mission to inspire and mentor the next wave of Aggie greats.

While the move garnered headlines for its boldness, those close to the program say it reflects Elko’s confidence and comfort in his leadership.

“He’s not afraid to bring in big personalities,” said A&M athletic director Trev Alberts. “He embraces people who care about this university and have something to offer. That’s real leadership.”

Part of what makes Elko stand out is his investment in the human side of football. The Aggies have launched new programs under his leadership, including:

• The 12th Man Mentor Initiative, pairing student-athletes with local youth
• Aggies for Aggieland, a volunteer program supporting Texas communities hit by flooding, led in part by current players
• Academic All-American workshops, led by Elko himself, to prepare players for honors beyond the field

Players have responded, with several graduating early and pursuing graduate degrees — a point of pride for a coach who earned his own degree from Penn and built a reputation for brainpower as much as playcalling.

Heading into the 2025 season, expectations are sky-high in College Station. Texas A&M is ranked No. 11 in most preseason polls and projected by many to finish top two in the SEC.

Key games include:

• vs. Notre Dame (Week 1, primetime)
• at LSU
• vs. Texas (renewed rivalry returns)
• at Alabama

With a talented roster, rising star QB Devin Riley, and the dual leadership of Elko and Manziel, the Aggies are primed for their best shot at a College Football Playoff berth in a decade.

Mike Elko’s name on the Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List is more than symbolic — it’s a marker of the real culture change happening in College Station. In an era where flash often overshadows substance, Elko stands out as a coach who wins the right way, builds up people, and commands respect from players and peers alike.

Whether or not he hoists the trophy this December, it’s clear: Texas A&M has found its leader. And college football better take notice.