Texas A&M football has gone from College Football Playoff participant to SEC disappointment in less than a year.

But one prominent conference analyst believes Mike Elko's Aggies could be headed right back to the postseason spotlight in 2027.

MORE: Texas A&M's Defense Is Improving, But Can It Save Mike Elko's Season?

And the newly expanded 24-team playoff might make that turnaround more realistic than frustrated Texas A&M fans currently believe.

Cousin Shane of That SEC Podcast has identified the Aggies as his pick to return to the College Football Playoff next season, despite a disastrous 2026 campaign that's left Texas A&M fighting just to become bowl eligible.

Which bottom 5 SEC team in 2026 will make the Playoff in 2027:
Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Mississippi State or Auburn?
Shane says Texas A&M
I say Mississippi State@seccousinshane: "Hell, all those teams are in (with 24-team Playoff)"
Full show: https://t.co/uhKPsfxfwJpic.twitter.com/5Fx3vEdpAn

— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) November 12, 2026

The Aggies enter Saturday's home matchup against Tennessee at 4-5 overall and 1-5 in SEC play, a stunning decline for a program that reached its first College Football Playoff last season.

But the ingredients for a rebound aren't necessarily complicated.

Elko needs to fix his offense.

First-year offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins has struggled to replace Collin Klein, who departed for the head coaching position at Kansas State.

Quarterback Marcel Reed has also experienced significant regression, leaving the Aggies without the consistent offensive production needed to compete against quality SEC opponents.

Texas A&M is averaging just 16 points per conference game, the lowest mark in the SEC.

The Aggies' 17-9 loss at South Carolina offered another painful example. Texas A&M gained 457 yards, including 251 passing yards from Reed and 137 rushing yards from Rueben Owens II, but couldn't score a touchdown.

Despite those struggles, Elko isn't making an immediate change.

"Just doing what I believe is the best thing to give us a chance to be successful right now," Elko said Monday while defending his decision to retain Wiggins as play-caller.

Whether that loyalty extends into 2027 remains uncertain.

Defensively, the outlook is considerably more encouraging.

First-year coordinator Lyle Hemphill has helped Texas A&M develop the nation's top red-zone defense, allowing opponents to score on just 61.9 percent of their opportunities.

That improvement gives Elko a foundation to build around while addressing offensive deficiencies through recruiting, coaching changes and the transfer portal.

There's also a major structural advantage arriving next season.

The College Football Playoff officially expands from 12 to 24 teams in 2027, creating 19 at-large opportunities alongside five automatic qualifiers.

A nine-win SEC team could become a serious postseason contender under that format, although selection won't be guaranteed.

For Texas A&M, the path forward begins with difficult decisions about Wiggins, Reed and the program's offensive identity.

Elko has already demonstrated he can build a playoff-caliber team.

MORE: Texas A&M Lands Elite Pitcher Isaac Vidal In Huge Recruiting Win

Now he has to prove he can rebuild one.

And if Cousin Shane's prediction proves accurate, the Aggies' frustrating 2026 collapse could eventually become the turning point tha

Source: Yahoo Sports