CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford Gives Bold Prediction That Aggies Will Go Unranked in 2025

Jul 18, 2025 5:05 PM EDT

SEC title contention is the bare minimum for Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko in 2025. In 2024, the Aggies missed the SEC Conference Championship Game by one win, but Elko has a lot of faith in his team to go far in the upcoming season.

According to CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford, though, his bold predictions for each SEC team have Texas A&M missing the cut entirely.

Texas A&M football linebacker Sam Mathews. — Source: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

“Elko’s team finishes the season unranked,” Crawford wrote as his bold Aggie prediction.

He continued, saying that despite there being optimism in the locker room and College Station, Texas A&M has a few holes to fill and a tough schedule ahead.

Shemar Stewart, Nic Scourton, and Shemar Turner are three defensemen that were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft that Elko needs to replace. The wide receiver room upgrades are unproven, and in order to be in SEC title contention, KC Concepcion and Mario Craver need to hit the ground running.

As for the Aggies’ schedule, Notre Dame, Florida, LSU, South Carolina, and Texas can very likely all be Top 20 ranked teams in 2025. Specifically in the SEC, Texas, LSU, South Carolina, and Florida could give Texas A&M a run for its money.

There are high expectations, even in Year 2 of Elko at College Station. The Aggies are currently +1500 on FanDuel to win the SEC, which for Elko’s standards, isn’t enough. If things take a major downturn during the season, Texas A&M can tumble out of the Top 25, never mind making it to SEC Championship Game.