usatoday
Texas A&M's football season is spiraling, and head coach Mike Elko is not holding back. After the Aggies fell to Missouri 27-6 on Saturday, Oct. 10, Elko took aim at the team's fan base, specifically targeting the popular Aggies fan site TexAgs, which he referred to as a 'cesspool.'
The loss dropped Texas A&M to 3-3 overall and 1-3 in SEC play, marking their third defeat in the last four games. The offense continued to struggle, with quarterback Marcel Reed failing to throw for 200 yards for the third straight game.
Elko, in his third year at the helm, distinguished between the general fan base and social media during his postgame remarks. 'There is a difference between the fan base and social media,' he said. 'There's one group that I really don't care much about. (TexAgs editor and co-owner Billy Liucci's) cesspool can go be Billy's cesspool. Our fan base, be with us. Stay behind us.'
He added, 'We are going to build something we told you we were going to build. We are in a really bad spot right now, but we are going to work our way out of it.'
Liucci responded to Elko's comments on X (formerly Twitter), writing, 'Going to show restraint here (for now) and get back to answering questions, but the head coach losing 27-6 then immediately calling out an incredibly large portion of the loyal but also understandably frustrated fan base was a wildly unnecessary misstep.'
Texas A&M's offensive woes have been evident in 2026 without offensive coordinator Collin Klein, who left in the offseason to become Kansas State's head coach. Reed's completion percentage fell below 50% against Missouri, and he has not thrown a touchdown pass in nearly a month, since a scoring strike against Kentucky on Sept. 19.
The Aggies began the season ranked No. 8 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll after reaching the College Football Playoff in 2025. However, with remaining conference games against Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Texas, Texas A&M risks missing a bowl game entirely.
Elko's frustration is palpable, and his comments suggest that the pressure is mounting as the team struggles to meet expectations.
Originally reported by usatoday.