COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- As Mike Elko settles in at Texas A&M, he's familiar with all of the untapped potential. He saw the promise as the Aggies defensive coordinator on an Orange Bowl-winning team in 2020, and he's seen up close why unlocking that full potential remains tantalizing.
Not only has Texas A&M never reached the College Football Playoff, it has not won a conference title since 1998. It has failed to reach the SEC championship game since joining the conference in 2012.
In the wake of Elko's remarkable revival of Duke in his two seasons there (17-9 after the team went 5-18 in the two years before his arrival), this question looms over College Station: Can Elko's experience with both the power and flaws of Texas A&M help unlock the potential?