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Texas A&M, Mike Elko finalizing lucrative contract extension

Barkley-Truaxby: Barkley Truax2 hours agoBarkleyTruax
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Mike Elko and Texas A&M are finalizing a six-year contract extension that would make the Aggies headman one of the top-five highest-paid coaches in the country, On3’s Pete Nakos can confirm. The deal is in its final stages.

The Aggies are currently 9-0 and off to its best start since 1992. Elko is 17-5 as head coach at Texas A&M since taking over ahead of the 2024 season.

Currently ranked No. 3 in the country, Elko’s Aggies sit alone atop the SEC as the only undefeated team overall in the SEC. Alabama is the only other team that hasn’t lost in conference play this season.

To be a top-five paid head coach, that would mean Elko’s salary would surpass that of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian’s $10.8 million contract. Currently, eight coaches in college football early more than $10 million annually.

He’s earning $7 million annually on his current deal. According to Pete Thamel on ESPN’s College GameDay, Elko is expected to make north of $11 per season.

The move to extend Elko comes at a time when the offseason coaching carousel will be as active as ever as bowl season approaches. 11 coaches have lost their jobs in-season, including at 25% (4-16) of schools in the SEC including LSU, Florida, Arkansas and Auburn. Penn State, Virginia Tech, UCLA and Oklahoma State are some of the other power conference openings around the country as well.

Elko, who previously served as Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator under Jimbo Fisher from 2018 through 2021, finished his first season back in College Station with an 8-5 record that included an appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl.

In 2025, Texas A&M appears poised to play for much higher stakes this postseason. Of course, an undefeated regular season would put the Aggies in the SEC title game. Even if they lose that game it could be argued that Texas A&M deserves a first-round bye.

With Elko tied to College Station for the foreseeable future, the Aggies can now focus on their final push to the College Football Playoff. Their next stop along the way is a home stand against South Carolina during Week 12. Kickoff is slated for Noon ET and will air live on ESPN. Texas A&M will round its regular season out against Samford at home and on the road against a potentially top-10 Texas team.