Texas A&M Might Recruit Its Way to a Championship Title

While recruitment isn't all about money, money sure does talk even if they're not definitely sure what a future NIL deal could look like for them. These big-name programs with a lot of money to hand out will draw in the most elite recruits compared to other schools.

For Elko's class of 2026, which is the third best in the NCAA, is a testament to that. The Aggies have 25 commitments with three five-stars and 13 four-stars making up the majority of the class.

Now going back a year before the recent developments in NIL, Texas A&M had the No. 10 recruitment class of 2025 with two five-stars and 14 four-stars out of 25 total enrollees. For CBS Sports, this gives the Aggies an 82 percent "Blue-Chip Ratio," the fourth best in the country. Alabama (89 percent), Ohio State (89 percent), and Georgia (84 percent) took the top three spots.

Texas A&M's transfers fall well below that at 63 percent, but Elko's ability to reel in high-performing talent early on without having to rely on the portal is impressive.

"To win the national championship, college football teams need to sign more four- and five-star recruits than two- and three-star players over the previous four recruiting classes," Bud Elliott wrote.

Talent acquisition is important in order to win a national title. With money starting to play a a more prominent role in where recruits take their collegiate careers, talent acquisition and willingness to spend will go hand-in-hand.

The Aggies are already a top spender and the program is expected to make big leaps in 2025-26. Recruits are going to see the production happening at College Station and Elko will draw in more attention from high-ranked high school athletes. Texas A&M can, in a way essentially, buy its way to a College Football Playoff championship.