When people talk about the favorites to win the 2026 national championship, names like Texas, Georgia, Ohio State and Oregon are usually near the top of the list.
But there is another SEC team that could have a legitimate shot at making a championship run.
The Texas A&M Aggies could be one of college football’s biggest title sleepers.
After breaking through with an 11-2 record and making the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history in 2025, Texas A&M enters 2026 with much higher expectations. The Aggies are ranked No. 8 in the preseason AP Poll, but they could ultimately prove to be even better than that ranking suggests.
Marcel Reed Could Be the Difference
The biggest reason to believe in Texas A&M is quarterback Marcel Reed.
Reed returns for another season as the Aggies’ starter after gaining valuable experience during last year’s playoff run. He enters 2026 with 5,407 career passing yards and 41 passing touchdowns, along with more than 1,000 career rushing yards.
Reed has also landed on multiple major preseason award watch lists, including the Maxwell, Walter Camp, Manning and Davey O’Brien awards.
If he takes another major step forward, Texas A&M could have one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the SEC.
The Aggies Have Playmakers
Reed also has plenty of weapons around him.
Wide receiver Mario Craver is coming off a breakout 2025 season in which he recorded 59 receptions for 917 yards and four touchdowns. He also earned All-SEC honors and was a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
Texas A&M also returns running back Reuben Owens and has several young players who could take major steps forward.
The offense doesn’t need to completely reinvent itself. It simply needs to become more consistent in the biggest moments.
Mike Elko Has the Aggies Trending Up
Another major reason to believe in Texas A&M is head coach Mike Elko.
Through his first two seasons, Elko has guided the Aggies to a 19-7 record, including an 11-2 mark in 2025. That season produced the program’s first College Football Playoff appearance and its first 10-plus-win campaign since 2012.
Elko has already shown that he can build a competitive team in the SEC.
Now he’s trying to turn Texas A&M from a program with potential into a legitimate championship contender.
The SEC Schedule Is the Biggest Challenge
Of course, winning the national championship won’t be easy.
Texas A&M still has to navigate one of the toughest conferences in college football. The Aggies’ schedule includes games against LSU, Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas, among others. The regular-season finale against Texas on November 27 could have enormous implications.
That’s where the Aggies will have to prove they’re more than just a good team.
They’ll have to beat great teams.
Don’t Sleep on Texas A&M
Texas A&M may not receive the same amount of national attention as some of the SEC’s traditional powers, but that could make the Aggies one of the most dangerous teams in the country.
They have an experienced quarterback, explosive playmakers, a talented roster and a head coach who has already taken the program to the College Football Playoff.
The biggest question is whether they can take the next step.
If Marcel Reed becomes a legitimate star and Texas A&M finds a way to survive the SEC gauntlet, the Aggies could go from last year’s playoff newcomer to this year’s national championship contender.
Don’t be surprised if Texas A&M is playing for a title in January.
