Marcel Reed Announces Career Decision Before College Football Playoff

Texas A&M did not have much to sweat ahead of the CFP bracket reveal, thanks to a resume that included ranked road wins against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, LSU Tigers and Missouri Tigers.

But one concern that lingered ahead of the playoff quarterfinal was whether or not Reed, who is eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft, would return to Texas A&M next season.

On Monday, Reed announced his final decision to forgo the NFL draft and return to College Station for another season.

"I'm coming back, I'll be back," Reed said in an exclusive interview with Robert Griffin III on his "Outta Pocket" podcast.

The decision to skip the draft was not exactly a surprise. Athlon Sports' Luke Easterling does not have Reed ranked among his top 15 QB prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, despite some of the big names at the position like Alabama Crimson Tide's Ty Simpson and Oklahoma Sooners' John Mateer struggling to convince scouts.

The more interesting layer to Reed's decision for college football fans is his apparent commitment to return to Texas A&M rather than consider a transfer. Per On3, Reed has an estimated $2.1 million NIL value, which ranks No. 13 among all college football players.

If he were to enter the transfer portal, the quarterback could demand one of the biggest offers on the market with two years of eligibility remaining.

"I got offers after my freshman year," Reed told Griffin. "I thought that this was the best place to be. I don't think there's any reason I need to leave Texas A&M."

With his decision made, Reed and the Aggies can focus solely on making the most of their CFP berth this season. Their game against Miami will kick off at noon ET on ABC on Saturday, Dec. 20. If the Aggies win, they will face the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes in the CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31.