Mike Elko on goal for Texas A&M program: 'No one will be able to stop us'

The Texas A&M Aggies have long since been a team with championship aspirations throughout their program’s history. Now, head coach Mike Elko is doing what he can to get them back to that level.

Elko made his goals for Texas A&M clear at the recent Houston Coach’s Night. There, he shared that once the Aggies reach their full capability, nobody is going to be able to stop them.

“I think this is really important,” Mike Elko said. “Our goal is to build the best program we are capable of being… When we do that, it won’t matter who we play or who is in the SEC. No one will be able to stop us.”

Mike Elko is going into his second season as the head coach at Texas A&M. They went 8-5 in his first season in replacement of Jimbo Fisher. Those high aspirations had long since been on the program during Fisher’s tenure, too. That includes the now infamous blank plaque Fisher was given where the date of the championship simply needed to be filled in. Elko was an assistant under Fisher for three seasons as well, so he understands how quickly the pressure can build.

There’s plenty of reason to think that Texas A&M can become a dominant team in both the SEC and college football as a whole. As NIL and the House Settlement become more amplified, the Aggies are typically seen as a school that both has money available and is willing to spend it. That, along with an expanded College Football Playoff, opens up more spots and more room for error.

At the same time, Texas A&M doesn’t have the history of success that it would have expected. The Aggies haven’t won a conference title since 1998. They’ve never won one, or even won their division, while in the SEC. Meanwhile, the team’s last national championship was in 1939.

Elko initially left Texas A&M to become the Duke head coach in 2022 and he quickly made the Blue Devils formidable in the ACC. Now, the hope is clearly for a major step forward in 2025 at Texas A&M.

The 2025 season starts on August 30th when the Aggies host the UTSA Roadrunners. SEC play will then kickoff on September 27th against the Auburn Tigers. Other notable games include a road trip to play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, hosting the South Carolina Gamecocks, and traveling to play the Texas Longhorns.