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Sep 27, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Mike Elko reacts during the third quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Texas A&M Strengthens Playoff Push With 38–17 Road Win, Mike Elko Sends Strong Message

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics
By Ajayi Olamilekan | Last updated Nov 9, 2025 9:56 AM ET

Texas A&M had just dismantled Missouri 38-17 in their latest road test. But the Aggies’ head coach, Mike Elko, wasn’t interested in celebrating past accomplishments, he told ABC immediately after the victory. “We’re gonna go finish this thing the right way this year,”

Remember how last season ended for the Aggies. The program collapsed down the stretch in 2024, dropping four back-to-back games against Power Four opponents after a 7-1 start. The mess was inherited by Elko when he took over, and he’s spent this season building the team not to buckle under pressure.

The third-ranked Aggies now sit at a perfect 6-0 in SEC play for the first time since 1998, their best start since 1992, and they’ve done it by winning three road games against ranked opponents like Notre Dame, LSU, and now Missouri, separating them from pretenders, as this win pushed them closer to clinching a spot in both the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff.

Reporter Brent Zwerneman captured Elko’s postgame comments on X formerly Twitter, noting “No. 3 Texas A&M should be No. 2 on Tuesday night following 38-17 win at No. 22 Missouri (should be) A&M coach Mike Elko to ABC: ‘We’re gonna go finish this thing the right way this year.’”

Elko Sealed A&M’s Path to Atlanta

Nov 8, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Matt Zollers (5) throws a pass to tight end Jordon Harris (86) during the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Missouri freshman Matt Zollers, in what happened to be his first career start, struggled heavily, completing only just 7 of 22 passes for 77 yards. Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz acknowledged after the match that he was let down by the coaching staff: “We let him down as coaches tonight with the protection plan.”

No. 3 Texas A&M should be No. 2 on Tuesday night following 38-17 win at No. 22 Missouri (should be).
A&M coach Mike Elko to ABC: “We’re gonna go finish this thing the right way this year” pic.twitter.com/zJ4iK66vpL

— Brent Zwerneman (@BrentZwerneman) November 9, 2025

The game turned decisively when he fumbled late in the first half after a blitz by Daymion Sanford, with Dalton Brooks recovering and setting up a touchdown that gave Texas A&M a 14-0 halftime control.

Elko spoke about his program’s potential with clarity that comes from knowing exactly what he inherited and where he’s taking the program to. “From a CEO perspective, I believe this is what this program is capable of. This is why we’re here. We believe the ceiling of this program is really high,” he told reporters. “This is what everyone has been talking about.”

What’s next? Texas A&M hosts South Carolina this Saturday before welcoming Samford, then travels to Austin on the Friday after Thanksgiving to face Texas in a rivalry game with playoff implications.

The Aggies already own quality wins, but the regular season finale against the Longhorns could be the determinant for seeding and, of course, a home-field advantage in the postseason.

Elko’s side has responded by building depth and toughness that holds up even until week 11. He has dominated in South Bend, Baton Rouge, and Columbia.

His side has protected leads and closed out fourth quarters. Though the work isn’t done yet, but obviously, the foundation he has laid feels solid in a way it didn’t look 12 months back.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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