Texas A&M's 2026 season opener vs. Missouri State is less than three weeks away, and after the Aggies' ninth preseason practice, which included the program's first closed scrimmage on Saturday, everything is seemingly coming together for third-year coach Mike Elko and his revamped 2026 roster. Whether it be redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed, nearly every wide receiver on the roster, or Northwestern transfer Edge Anto Saka, the Aggies have made significant progress over the last two weeks, and after Saturday's scrimmage, which included one of Reed's more impressive deep balls to Alabama transfer WR Isaiah Horton, the offense is gaining more steam ahead of the season opener. Still, plenty of questions remain, and SEC analyst Chris Marler released his own three "burning questions" for Texas A&M, centered around the program's four new starters along the offensive line, new OC Holmon Wiggins' lack of play-calling experience, and, for comical relief, Marler hating on A&M's new alternative uniforms that were revealed on Friday. After adding four SEC starting offensive linemen from the transfer portal, OL coach Adam Cushing's development background should be trusted, as four 2025 starters were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, while former South Carolina guard Trovon Baugh and Alabama transfer Wilkin Formby have stood out this preseason. Ignoring Marler's alternative jersey critique, he does have a point regarding A&M's offense, which finished top 5 in the SEC in yards per game and per play, while Wiggins, who served as Collin Klein's co-OC over the last two seasons, is expected to utilize Marcel Reed's dual-threat skill set and roll the veteran QB out much more in RPO and play-action looks.
"Last year’s offensive coordinator Colin Klein left to be the head coach at Kansas State. His offense in 2025 ranked in the top five in the SEC in yards per game (444.5) and yards per play (6.38). It also ranked fourth in scoring with 33.8 points per game. That was the highest in six years. Now it’s Holmon Wiggins’s turn. Wiggins has been an assistant or co-offensive coordinator in the SEC for several seasons at Texas A&M and Alabama, but never the sole leader of the offense. He will have weapons everywhere at his disposal, but he will also have plenty to replace. That includes four starters on the offensive line and a first round draft pick at wide receiver. He does have a resource that few coordinators in America have, and that is a third year starter at quarterback."
Wiggins' background as one of the best wide receiver coaches in the country at both Alabama and Texas A&M led to former Crimson Tide wideout DeVonta Smith winning the 2020 Heisman Trophy, while the Aggies' elite 2026 WR corps is led by Mario Craver, Ashton Bethel-Roman, Isaiah Horton, and former five-star Terry Bussey, who has won preseason camp thus far. Going off of CFB analyst Brooks Austin's recent breakdown of Marcel Reed's play, it's clear as day that the redshirt junior is much more successful when making plays outside the pocket or getting the ball out just seconds into his dropback, and based on what we've heard this preseason, this isn't foreign to Holmon Wiggins. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty. This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: SEC analyst asks three 'burning question' for Texas A&M in 2026