Mike Elko breaks down vision for Texas A&M identity in 2025, moving forward

The first season of the Mike Elko era at Texas A&M got off to a great start following a season-opening loss to eventual College Football Playoff runner-ups Notre Dame, as it won its next seven games (including all five SEC games) to open the season 7-1. The Aggies were the last remaining undefeated team in SEC play until they got drummed at South Carolina 44-20 on Nov. 2.

The blowout loss to the Gamecocks sent A&M and Elko on a bit of a spiral, as it lost three of its final four games (with its lone win being against New Mexico State) to end the season. It almost salvaged the year with a win over USC in the Holiday Bowl, but it surrendered its lead with just under two minutes remaining and was not able to pull off the win.

Now heading into his second season as the head coach in College Station, Elko revealed his vision for the program going forward this week. The Aggies will open the season ranked No. 19 in the preseason AP Poll.

“I think we want the identity of this team to be a team that pours everything they have into each other into playing this game together the right way for Texas A&M University,” Elko said. “I think that’s always kind of been the mantra. That shows up in how hard we play, that shows up in how physical we play, that shows up in the consistency of how we do that every single week. That’s kind of been the standard we’ve tried to create within this program from day one. How you instill it is how we live every day. The things that we talk about in every team meetings, it’s the things we illustrate on film for the positive and the negative. It’s the things that we are just constantly trying to pound into the program.

“I worded it to them this way in the first team meeting; I said one of the biggest challenges is that you’re an age group that across the board see thing as challenging and difficult because that’s what teenagers do. The reality is you’re in the elite 1% of your age group in the world and so there’s a certain responsibility that comes with that to put in the work to take advantage of the blessings and opportunities placed upon you.

“I think that’s the mindset we want to have in this program and so it’s a daily process,” Elko concluded. “I think we’re making progress and doing things we want to do.”

A&M’s season opener against UTSA is scheduled to kickoff at 7:00 PM. The game will be aired on ESPN on Aug. 30.