Honestly, the 2025 Texas A&M football season was a fever dream that ended in a cold sweat. One minute you're 11-0 and staring at a national title shot under Mike Elko; the next, the wheels are wobbly, and you're dropping a heartbreaker to Texas before getting bounced by Miami in the College Football Playoff.
If you ask any regular at the Dixie Chicken what went wrong, they won't talk about coaching. They'll talk about the training room. Texas A&M football injuries became the invisible opponent that finally caught up to a roster that, for three months, looked absolutely bulletproof.
It wasn’t just that guys were getting hurt. It was who was getting hurt and when.
The Le'Veon Moss Factor: A Season-Altering Ankle
The most devastating blow was undoubtedly Le'Veon Moss. Look, Moss wasn't just a running back; he was the heartbeat of that offense. When he went down with a left ankle injury against Florida on October 11, the vibe changed instantly.
He eventually had to go under the knife. Surgery.
That kept him out of the final six regular-season games. Think about that. The Aggies had to navigate the hardest part of their schedule without their bell-cow back. While Marcel Reed did a heroic job keeping the ship upright—passing for over 3,500 yards and accounting for 31 total touchdowns—the lack of a consistent run game made the Aggies one-dimensional when it mattered most.
By the time the Lone Star Showdown against Texas rolled around, the rushing attack was a shell of its former self. A&M averaged just over 100 yards on the ground in their final three Power Four games. You can't beat the Longhorns or the Hurricanes in the playoffs by being soft in the trenches.
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Moss actually tried to make a comeback for the Miami game. He was seen in pads, taking reps, and Elko even told the media to "get their cameras ready." But let’s be real: he wasn't 100%. He lacked that twitchy explosiveness that made him a Second Team All-SEC selection.
The No-Fly Zone Lost Its Captain
Then you've got the defensive side. Bryce Anderson, the star safety, had a year that would make anyone's head spin. He took a brutal hit in the early-season win over Notre Dame—a game that basically put A&M on the map in 2025.
It was a head injury. Serious stuff.
Anderson missed two games immediately, tried to gut it out, but then missed the final five games of the regular season. For a secondary that was already thin, losing a multi-year starter like Anderson was like trying to fly a plane with one engine. It's probably the biggest reason why A&M's pass defense, which looked elite in September, started giving up chunk plays in November.
The crazy part? Anderson actually entered the transfer portal on January 2, 2026.
Aggie fans were panicking. But in a wild turn of events, he withdrew his name just a few days ago. He’s coming back for his final year of eligibility in 2026 because he was able to redshirt after missing so much time. Basically, a silver lining in a very dark injury cloud.
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Explosiveness on Ice: Mario Craver
You also have to look at the wideouts. Mario Craver, the sophomore speedster who transferred from Mississippi State, was supposed to be the "home run" threat.
He suffered a lower-body injury at Missouri.
After that, he just wasn't the same. He missed the Samford game entirely and was clearly limited against Texas. When a guy relies on "blazing speed" (his words), even a 10% drop in health makes him just another receiver. He managed to return for the CFP game against Miami at "full speed," but the chemistry with Reed had understandably cooled off after weeks of missed practice.
Key Players Who Missed Significant Time in 2025
- Le'Veon Moss (RB): Missed 6 games (Ankle/Surgery).
- Bryce Anderson (S): Missed 7 total games (Head).
- Scooby Williams (LB): Battled a lingering ankle issue that started at Notre Dame; missed multiple chunks of the season.
- Mario Craver (WR): Limited for the final month of the season (Lower Body).
Why the Depth Didn't Quite Hold
Mike Elko has done a phenomenal job building culture. The "12th Man" mentality is real. But injuries at the elite level of the SEC expose depth issues that even the best coaches can't hide.
When Scooby Williams was healthy, the linebacking corps was stout. When he was out, the second level of the defense struggled to fill gaps against teams like Texas.
The offensive line also took a beating. While Trey Zuhn III played like a first-round pick at left tackle, the interior was shuffled constantly. Against Miami, the Aggies allowed a season-high seven sacks. You don't give up seven sacks because you're bad at football; you give them up because your communication is off and your bodies are failing.
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Moving Forward: The 2026 Outlook
So, where does that leave us?
The transfer portal is currently a revolving door in College Station. Elko has already snagged 17 transfers this cycle, including safety Tawfiq Byard from Colorado and defensive back Rickey Gibson III from Tennessee. He's clearly trying to patch the holes that injuries exposed in the secondary.
The biggest "win" of the offseason so far isn't a recruit, though. It's the health of the returning starters. Having a healthy Bryce Anderson and a fully recovered Le'Veon Moss (if he stays for 2026) changes the ceiling of this team.
If you're looking for the "lesson" of the 2025 Texas A&M football injuries saga, it’s this: depth is a luxury until it’s a necessity. A&M had the talent to be 11-0, but they didn't have the healthy bodies to finish the job.
What to Watch This Spring
- Rehab Progress: Watch the spring game specifically for Le'Veon Moss. If he's cutting with confidence, the offense is back.
- Portal Additions: Elko is prioritizing the secondary. If more veteran DBs sign, it’s a sign he doesn't want to rely on luck again.
- The New Staff: Joey Lynch and John Perry just got promoted to QB and WR coaches. Their first job is keeping their star athletes on the field through better conditioning and rotation.
If you're following the Aggies this offseason, keep a close eye on the 12th Man's "Availability Report." It's the only stat that truly mattered at the end of last year.
Next Steps for Fans: Check the official 12thMan.com roster updates in March to see which players are cleared for full-contact spring drills. Tracking the return of redshirted stars like Anderson will give the best indication of whether A&M can replicate that 11-0 start in 2026.