Texas A&M · SECTexas A&M tests its reload with Marcel Reed back
The No. 8 Aggies open against 7-6 Missouri State with four new offensive linemen and Anto Saka replacing SEC sacks leader Cashius Howell.
SEP 5, 2026
The Pate State · Editorial IllustrationCashius Howell sacks, SEC-leading
Texas A&M players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft
Missouri State’s 2025 record
01 · The NewsA&M’s Reload Begins
No. 8 Texas A&M opens its 2026 season Saturday, Sept. 5, against Missouri State, beginning its reload after an 11-2 season with Marcel Reed back at quarterback and Anto Saka expected to replace unanimous All-American edge rusher Cashius Howell.
Reed enters his first full season as the Aggies’ starter after throwing for 3,169 yards, 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2025. Texas A&M also lost 10 players in the 2026 NFL Draft, added four new offensive linemen and handed the offense to new coordinator Holmon Wiggins.
Saka has the clearest replacement job. Howell led the SEC with 11.5 sacks, and Saka now joins a deep defensive line rotation while preparing to face Missouri State’s new starting quarterback, Skyler Locklear.
The less obvious transition is in front of Reed. His return gives Texas A&M continuity at quarterback, but four new linemen and a new play-caller surround him. The Aggies are expected to match last season’s offensive production, though Reed’s return alone does not guarantee it.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET at Texas A&M. The Aggies host Arizona State on Sept. 12, one week after the opener, before facing Kentucky on Sept. 19 and beginning the tougher stretch of their schedule.
Saturday’s game will show whether Texas A&M reloaded around Reed—or simply brought back its most recognizable piece.
02 · The StakesThe Margin for Error
That makes the opener more than a tuneup. A convincing win would support Yahoo Sports’ prediction that Texas A&M finishes 10-2 and reaches the College Football Playoff; a stumble against Missouri State, which went 7-6 last season, would immediately narrow the Aggies’ margin for error.
03 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
The playoff forecast is more aggressive than the ranking makes it look. Yahoo Sports has Texas A&M going 10-2 and reaching the CFP, but Josh Pate’s August preseason bracket does not include the Aggies. That gap puts more weight on the schedule than on Reed’s return: Texas A&M went 7-1 in SEC play during an 11-2 season, and its nine-game league slate reaches LSU on Sept. 26, Missouri on Oct. 10 and Alabama on Oct. 24.
Missouri State, Arizona State and Kentucky visit before LSU, giving the new line and Saka three home games to settle their jobs.
04 · The Open QuestionsQuestions to Be Answered
Will Texas A&M have its offensive line settled before LSU?
The first three games provide the home-game evidence before the Sept. 26 trip to LSU, and the standard is Reed’s 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns from 2025. The clearest tell will be the starting combination and its snap distribution against Missouri State, Arizona State and Kentucky, especially whether the same group remains in place by game four.
05 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching
Can Reed keep the offense on schedule?
His return gives Texas A&M continuity at quarterback, but four new linemen and a new play-caller surround him.
Does Saka replace Howell’s production?
Howell led the SEC with 11.5 sacks, and Saka now joins a deep defensive line rotation.