New Texas A&M black uniforms: Aggies drop teaser to unveil their all-new black jerseys for 2024
The Texas A&M Aggies are about to embark on a new era under coach Mike Elko with high expectations foisted upon the team. During the recently released AP Preseason Top 25 Poll, the Aggies were ranked No. 20.
On Wednesday evening, they teased an alternate all-black jersey for the coming season on X.
The all-black uniforms have been worn by the team twice in recent memory. The first time was in the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in 2012 and in 2015, against the South Carolina Gamecocks, led by standout quarterback Kyler Murray at Kyle Field.
Texas A&M has used alternate uniforms sparingly over the past few years, with the last time coming in 2018 under sacked coach Jimbo Fisher during his first season in charge of the team. The Aggies celebrated the 20th anniversary of their Big 12 title-winning team with the "98 Aggies" alternate uniforms.
Texas A&M embarks on the Mike Elko era
The Texas A&M Aggies under departed coach Jimbo Fisher almost always recruited a top-five class, but the results did not reflect on the gridiron, with the last two seasons producing a disappointing 13-12 record.
Former Duke Blue Devils and current Aggies coach Mike Elko has repeatedly said that he wants to change the culture in College Station and has brought in experienced players via the transfer portal to bolster his roster.
During the SEC media days, Elko stood up for his team, urging the media to not ask his players about the wrongs of the past years and instead focus on the present.
"As we get our guys up and they come up to talk to you if we could stop trying to reference last year, I think that would be great," Elko said. "I think we're nine months removed now. I feel like every kid that comes in front of you gets four questions trying to compare this year to last year. Let's just not do that. I think we're way past that."
Elko also revealed his plan for making sure that the program moves forward in the right direction.
"It goes back to how you go through your offseason," Elko said. "I think you have to be much more intentional nowadays about how you bring people together within your program. ... (you have to) understand that you have a lot of people in that locker room that have never played together."
The Texas A&M Aggies missed out on the final AP Top 25 rankings in three out of the last six seasons and only won three bowl games in that period. Their inclusion in the preseason Top 25 highlights the confidence that pollsters have in new coach Mike Elko's ability to turn around the rot in College Station.