The 2026 season is here. While some programs are set to breeze through it, some are projected to face significant challenges. According to an analyst, the Texas Aggies are going to have it bad.

“So, Texas A&M's one of them. Naturally, I have to lean that they're going to have a worse record in the regular season this year than they had last year,” he said on his show, Josh Pate’s College Football Show.

Pate incidentally started a prediction series on his show, ranking programs that are going to “better or worse” this year. In a recent episode, he listed reasons why the Aggies are up for a battle in 2026.

“And it’s because they did lose over a dozen starters. Their over-under win total this year is eight and a half. They’ve got a top-five toughest strength of schedules at least from our internal metrics,” Pate said in an episode live-streamed on May 20.

Last season, the Aggies went 7-1 in the SEC and held an 11-2 overall record under head coach Mike Elko. In the 2026 NFL Draft, three Aggies defensive starters, Shemar Stewart, Nic Scourton, and Shemar Turner were picked in the first and second rounds, respectively. 

While hearing these names called on draft night was an achievement for the program, their absence from this year’s schedule is an uphill battle for the Aggies. CBS ranked the Aggies’ 2026 schedule as the sixth-toughest schedule. 

Their toughest games are against LSU, at Alabama, Oklahoma, and at Texas. The Aggies are then hosting Texas and Tennessee in November, and four of their last five games are against teams that were in the AP Top 25. 

This season is also their first-ever attempt at securing the Southeastern Conference championship. While Pate predicts a decline, other analysts see a path to the playoffs.

Could The Aggies Be A Program To Watch Out For?

Writer Timothy Hamm believes that the Texas A&M Aggies are in a unique position. He opined that they are talented enough to reach the playoffs again.

However, they aren't facing the "crushing pressure" that Texas, LSU, Georgia, or Ole Miss is under. Yes, the program lost more than 20 players and notable starters, but gained 17 transfer portal players.

The program brought in 25 of 26 signees from the 2026 recruiting class, "including a program-record 10 NFL Draft picks," as noted by Aggies Round Table.

The Aggies are surrounded by contrasting views, and only they can tell how this season pans out. What are your thoughts?

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar