Texas A&M Coach Mike Elko Reflects on 2024 Season Collapse Amid Fan Criticism

Texas A&M's 2024 football season started strong with a 7-1 record but ended in disappointment, losing four of their last five games including defeats to South Carolina, Auburn, Texas, and USC in the Las Vegas Bowl. Head coach Mike Elko attributed the late-season collapse to unfamiliar challenges such as back-to-back night road games and the pressure of being "the hunted" team, though many fans dismissed these explanations as excuses. Elko acknowledged that the team struggled to handle these pressures and emphasized the need to improve closing out seasons to transform Texas A&M into a premier program. Despite the tough finish, Elko remains optimistic about the future with 16 returning starters, including quarterback Marcel Reed, while recognizing the upcoming 2025 schedule will be more challenging with road games against Notre Dame, LSU, Missouri, and Texas. The rivalry game against Texas highlighted some contradictions in Elko’s comments, as he described the contest as competitive despite statistical evidence of Texas's dominance. Overall, the Aggies face a critical offseason to address shortcomings and build resilience as they seek to fulfill their College Football Playoff aspirations in 2025.