I don’t know what to think at this point

I mean, about other stuff, sure. But about the mess this football team has created? I’m absolutely stunned.

I thought this was a nine or 10-win team. Maybe not a CFP team, but competitive. And the personnel remains there, but something is dangerously off.

I was worried about the offensive line before the season started. That fear has been proven right, because they’ve stunk out loud. I initially liked the changes last weekend, because I thought they could be more physical at the point of attack with Wilkin Formby at guard and Lamont Rogers at right tackle. But a slow group got slower. And LSU ate them alive.

Marcel Reed has taken a massive step back, as is obvious. He’s not only playing like he doesn’t trust himself, he’s playing scared. He’s running from ghosts, and he’s showing no discipline at all. Running backwards out of the pocket is a panic move that experienced quarterbacks should not make. We heard all offseason about how he’d worked on his mechanics, and they were more consistent in camp. They’re a disaster now. Nuke LaLoosh has a better idea of where the ball’s going.

There’s no excuse for the defense. These are quality players who are playing like crap. The safeties were supposed to be elite, and Marcus Ratcliffe and Dalton Brooks have been awful. Dezz Ricks has been good so far, though LSU got after him some, but the other corner has been a sieve. Here’s who I think has played well on defense: DJ Hicks, Landon Rink, Ray Coney at times, Jordan Shaw, Bravion Rogers and Ricks. That’s it.

I didn’t think this team would miss the leadership of Trey Zuhn, Ar’maj Reed-Adams and Taurean York this much, but even with a bunch of captains, this team doesn’t seem to handle adversity well at all. Last year, adversity was handled as a matter of routine. Look at the LSU game last year — the second quarter was a disaster, with two interceptions, a safety and an easy touchdown for LSU. A halftime deficit. No problem. The Aggies demolished them in the third quarter. South Carolina was as big a problem as there could be, and they stared it down and rallied.

Not this year. If they get behind, there’s a sense of panic. They press. They make mistakes because they’re trying too hard. They’re not playing relaxed and letting their instincts handle things. It’s like what’s gotten to Reed has gotten to the rest of the team. Bad things snowball, and the third quarter, which A&M dominated last year, has been a nightmare.

The only advice I can give them is to take a chill pill. That’s about the only thing I can think of they can do without an assist from the coaching staff.

Speaking of the coaching staff

You don’t go in full reverse on both sides of the ball like this without help — or a lack of it. And the biggest changes from last year have been the coordinators. I can’t say either’s doing their job right now.

I like what Holmon Wiggins is calling. I like what he’s trying to do. It’s just not what this group is designed for. My buddy Patrick Lewis told me the other night that Wiggins is trying to call Alabama’s old offense with Collin Klein’s personnel. And there’s a lot of truth to that. I don’t know if they don’t get the system, if it’s just a bad fit or what, but something isn’t working. In fact, nothing’s working.

The Aggies, who were one of the most explosive offenses in America last year, are now one of the absolute worst. A system that worked well for Reed is now one that is, to use an Alabama term, rat poison. We keep hearing about how they’re going to do things to help Reed, but it’s not happening.

And, frankly, I thought the playcalling against LSU — yeah, after what I said above I’m going to say this — seemed scared. They were deathly afraid of the pass rush, so they threw a ton of quick outs to the receivers. No screens; very little use of the tight end. And LSU adjusted and shut it off.

Can’t coach scared and you can’t play scared.

And I have no idea what to say about the defense, except they’re not getting a lot of help from the other side of the ball. But we’re seeing the same problems — lack of “eye discipline”, overrunning plays, completely blowing coverages — over and over. And there is zero excuse for that. This defense starts eight seniors. They’ve played a lot of football. But they’ve looked like a JV team at times. Yes, it’s hard to do things when you’re thrown out there after a blown fourth down or an interception. But doing your basic job is not a lot to ask.

And, again, the scheme is confounding. This is supposed to be an aggressive defense, but we still really haven’t seen it. Coach Elko said today that this is not a four-game issue, just LSU. Sorry, they have four sacks total. Lyle Hemphill boasted about this being an aggressive defense with a four-man rush. When I heard that, I cringed. That’s not how this defense has rolled since Elko has been in town, either as a defensive coordinator or head coach. And it can’t keep going like it is now.

Elko took a big gamble promoting from within this offseason. We’re only a third of the way through the season and a lot can happen, but right now, the returns are, bluntly, bleak.

Live by the 3…

In the basketball notebook, I took a look at how the 2026-27 Aggie basketball team looks on paper (lawsuits permitting). We know Bucky McMillan loves to shot 3’s, and he’s got some guys who look like they can do it.

I’m going to skip guys like Jamie Vinson in this exercise, but I’m going to post the 3-point shooting percentage of players currently on the Aggie roster. See what you think.

Player	2025-26 3-point percentage
Mackenzie Mgbako	34.3% (7 games)
Rylan Griffen	40.4%
Zach Clemence	40%
PJ Haggerty	35.1%
Jordan Pope	37.2%
Jalen Shelley	28.7% (take it to the rack, young man!)
Jalen Reece	30%
Lukas Walls	45.5% (I get you the ball YOU SHOOT IT!)
Tyshawn Archie	36.9%

Last year’s team shot 35.9% from 3. That’s pretty solid. But five of these players beat that. Mgbako shot the 3 well in the Bahamas. Haggerty hit 36.4% of his 3’s two seasons ago. So this team has the potential to be able to put up a lot of successful 3-point attempts. Of course, some guys will have to adjust to SEC defenses, but if you can shoot, you can shoot.

And, if you need your moment of cringe, the Aggies shot 30.7% from 3 in their last season under that other guy.

The Bottom 10

No, as tempted as I was, A&M is not in it.

10. Utah State (1-3). But one group of Aggies is. They got whipped by Utah and gave Washington a game. So that’s ok. But to get stomped by Troy? You’re in.

9. Rice (1-3). I know they’re a brilliant academic institution. But the forward pass can still be used.

8. Illinois (2-2). Already fired their defensive coordinator. He was there for four games total. Yes, I know what you’re going to say and stop it.

7. Maryland (2-2). .500 is not bad. Ask the basketball coach. He’ll give you a dissertation on it. But 54-3? At home? To UCLA? Mike Locksley is now in the running with said basketball coach for the most hated head coach in College Park.

6. Western Kentucky (1-3). Hey, they won a game! No, I don’t know who Mercyhurst is either.

5. Rutgers (1-3). Also won a game! Oh. I do know who Howard is.

4. UTEP (1-3): You do not want to be outscored 2:1. You definitely don’t want to have that ratio after four games. UTEP is within four points of being there (146-75).

3. Charlotte (0-4). Another week, another drubbing.

2. Northern Illinois (0-4). Last year, Georgia State was the worst team in the Bottom 10. They just beat NIU 35-14.

1. Bowling Green (0-4). Not even arguable that they aren’t the worst. They haven’t been outscored 2:1. Not 3:1. It’s almost 5:1! They’ve scored 33 points and given up 145. But, they only lost to South Florida 14-6, so that’s progress.

Our Sponsor

Owned by two Texas Aggie lettermen, Crystal Creek Partners specializes in commercial and residential real estate properties in the College Station area. Their properties are all custom newer construction in prime locations, including homes in The Estates of College Station and Commercial Spaces in South College Station’s Tower Point and Tower Center. If you’re looking for a single-family home for 4 students or flexible space for your growing business, reach out to Crystal Creek Partners to learn more.Crystal Creek Partners is looking to expand their property portfolio in the College Station area to include additional student rentals and VRBO properties. If you are interested in selling a property, we’d love to talk.

Doug Brown, an owner in Crystal Creek Partners, is also an acclaimed real estate agent with Compass Realty specializing in The Woodlands, Tomball, Magnolia, and Montgomery markets. He is also well versed in the Bryan/College Station market if you are looking to find the perfect game day second home or investment property.For more information, Email doug@tammyhendricksteam.com.