A head coach knows his team’s potential, inside and out. He feels it first when they fall short of it, even in victory. Just ask Texas A&M’s Mike Elko. His Aggies are the last unbeaten team in the SEC, sitting at 8-0 after a 49-25 beatdown of LSU, a win and a top position 33 years in the making. But for Elko, perfection isn’t a record; it’s a benchmark. So, he wasn’t celebrating too long. A few days after the win, he delivered a firm locker-room message, revealing he wasn’t willing to risk anything.

During Wednesday’s SEC teleconference, Elko made his stance clear: the winning streak must stay alive. That’s why, ahead of the Missouri game, the HC reminded everyone where his team fell short of last week’s win over LSU. “We played a very good second half,” said Elko, “but let’s not forget we were down 18-14 at halftime.”

He gives credit where it’s due, but he’s also honest, which becomes the hallmark of an excellent coach. Elko believes his team can be “a lot” better, according to Texas A&M beat writer Carter Karels. So, where did they make mistakes in the first half?

The first half of LSU vs. Texas A&M was a wild back-and-forth battle. The Aggies struck first, as Marcel Reed burst free for a 41-yard TD run, giving A&M an early jolt of energy. Then LSU fired back, and Garrett Nussmeier connected with Trey’Dez Green to tie it up. Reed answered again, finding KC Concepcion in the corner of the end zone to make it 14-7 late in the first quarter. It looked like the Aggies were in complete control until LSU’s special teams lit a spark.

While the first half told a story of missed chances for the Aggies, the second half was all about redemption. Concepcion electrified the crowd with a 79-yard punt return TD, stretching the lead to 28-18 midway through the third. Moments later, Reed dropped a dime to Jamarion Morrow for a 24-yard score, capping a lightning-quick 50-yard drive. Then came the knockout punch. Nate Boerkircher bulldozed in from a yard out, sealing a 42-18 advantage.

While the second half was pure dominance with offensive firepower, Elko’s squad played well on both sides. The offense ranks 8th nationally, averaging 37.8 points per game, while the defense sits 24th, allowing 4.8 yards per play. But that confidence in the locker room didn’t satisfy Elko, so the reality mirrors what the Sooners experienced even after their 44-0 rout of Kent State.

Still, what’s more concerning for A&M is that its undefeated record could attract attention from other programs looking to poach key coaches.

Mike Elko may feel the threat of losing his OC

The coaching carousel is spinning, and the chatter began with Mike Elko, with fans wondering if the undefeated Aggies coach might attract suitors from the country. But here’s the twist. It’s not Elko who’s on the hot seat for other programs. It’s the Aggies’ OC and QB coach Collin Klein, whose stock is soaring.

For Klein, stepping into a head coaching role has always been on the radar, and now it looks like he’s ready to make that move. On October 28, Cyclone Larry confirmed that multiple sources reported Klein would take the Oklahoma State head coaching job after A&M’s season.

However, Klein played it cool when asked about the rumors, saying, “It’s been a dream and a goal of mine. But it’s about being with the right people at the right time, and that’s here, right now.” Still, the timing couldn’t be more perfect, with 12 FBS head coaching vacancies already this season, while Klein’s credentials back up the hype.

His offense ranks 17th nationally with 459.5 YPG, and Reed, molded under Klein, sits among the top 20 nationally in passing yards and TDs. Yet Klein credits Elko and the players for the success. “It’s an honor, and it means you’re doing something right. Like I said, there’s still a lot of season left and a lot of big things ahead of us,” he said.

Still, if the whispers turn out to be true, the star OC would leave Elko facing a real threat of losing his top assistant.