It was only a matter of time before the coaching carousel rumors hit College Station. Of course, it started with HC Mike Elko. Penn State fires James Franklin, and suddenly everyone’s wondering if the guy who has Texas A&M sitting undefeated at No. 3 might pack up for Happy Valley. Except, plot twist, it’s not the HC the Aggies need to worry about losing. And it’s not just speculation this time.

For Texas A&M’s OC and QB coach Collin Klein, serving as the HC of a college football program has always been in his playbook. Plus, it looks like he’s finally calling that play. On October 28, an X post from Cyclone Larry broke the news. “I can confirm that multiple sources have informed me Colin Klein will be taking the Oklahoma State head coaching job at the conclusion of Texas A&M’s season,” he posted. But when asked about those Oklahoma State rumors, he played it cool.

“It’s been a dream and a goal of mine,” Collin Klein admitted during the Aggies’ bye-week presser. “But it’s about being with the right people at the right time and that’s here, right now.” The timing couldn’t be better. With 12 FBS head coaches already handed pink slips this season, schools are sprinting toward coordinators with proven resumes.

Besides, the 36-year-old fits that bill perfectly. Klein’s offense ranks 14th nationally in scoring (37.8 PPG), 21st in total offense (459.3 YPG), and 26th in rushing (200.1 YPG). QB Marcel Reed, whom he has molded into a confident gunslinger, sits in the top 20 for passing yards and touchdowns.

But if you ask Collin Klein, all that success circles back to one thing – the staff and players who’ve bought into Mike Elko’s system. “Well, Coach Elko said it best a week ago, or whenever that was,” he said about the circulating rumor. “But again, it’s an honor, and it means you’re doing something right. It’s credit to our players and our entire staff here of what we’ve been able to do. Like I said, there’s still a lot of season left and a lot of big things ahead of us.” 

Still, if the reports hold true, “ahead” may soon involve orange and black, not maroon and white. While his future starts to come into focus, Mike Elko’s present is turning into something special.

Mike Elko’s Aggies keep rolling

While the internet debates Collin Klein’s next move, Mike Elko and Texas A&M are busy chasing bigger headlines. The Aggies are 7-0, fresh off a gritty 45-42 SEC win over Arkansas, and sitting atop the standings with Alabama. When asked about the Penn State job last week, the HC brushed off the chatter like a man who’s been through this rodeo before.

“I think it’s absolutely hilarious how you guys cover coaches,” he said. “I think three weeks ago I was getting fired. Now I’m getting hired. You don’t want me to stay but I’m leaving. It’s absolutely hilarious. It’s a waste of brain space to spend any time talking or thinking about any of that stupidity.”

Waste or not, the noise doesn’t die down, especially when your team looks playoff-ready. Mike Elko credits A&M’s rise to one key shift since his arrival: explosive playmakers. “If you look at the teams that win the SEC, the teams that have gone far in the playoffs, they have explosive playmakers on offense that can take a game over,” he said. “Now we have them. We have a lot of them.”

He’s not wrong. Between Rueben Owens II, Jamarion Morrow, and KC Concepcion, the Aggies have enough firepower to light up any defense. With Missouri up next, they’ve got a shot to make another convincing statement.

But if Collin Klein is heading to Stillwater, Mike Elko might soon face a unique challenge: replacing the mind behind his offense.