Mike Elko Warns Texas A&M Must Clean Up Fast Before Arizona State

Texas A&M football couldn’t have asked for a more dominant final score in its 2026 opener, but Mike Elko isn’t treating a 50-0 win over Missouri State like a finished product.

The No. 8 Aggies held Missouri State to only 67 total yards and four first downs, while Marcel Reed threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Still, Elko made it clear Monday that several issues must be corrected before Arizona State comes to Kyle Field.

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“We learned a lot about where we are and what we need to do to get where we want to go,” Elko said.

The most obvious concern was Texas A&M’s rebuilt offensive line.

Reed was pressured too frequently early, took two sacks and had to use his mobility to escape several other collapsing pockets.

The Aggies eventually settled down and finished with 505 total yards, but Elko knows a slow start could become far more costly against the Sun Devils.

“We did not play to the level or standard that we needed to early in the game,” Elko said. “Everyone is aware of that.”

The same applies to Texas A&M’s eight penalties for 80 yards.

Elko pushed back somewhat on the idea that all eight represented discipline problems, saying several calls were close. But against better competition, even borderline mistakes can swing possessions.

Defensively, there was considerably less to criticize.

Texas A&M recorded its second shutout of the Elko era, with Noah Mikhail making a career-high seven tackles and Ryan Henderson contributing two tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble.

Elko still isn’t ready to declare the defense elite after one game.

“There are bigger challenges coming down the chute,” he said. “This week will be a really, really big test for us.”

That test comes from an Arizona State team coached by Kenny Dillingham, whom Elko called “a really good football coach” leading “a really, really good football team.”

Reed’s progress remains another major positive.

The veteran quarterback completed 21 of 30 passes, and Elko specifically praised his improvement working through reads and progressions.

“I thought there was a lot of progress in him going through progressions and reads,” Elko said.

That combination - a more mature Reed and a defense capable of suffocating opponents - gives Texas A&M plenty to build around.

But Missouri State was the warmup.

Arizona State should tell Elko much more about whether these Aggies are actually ready to contend.