ESPN's Laura Rutledge shares thoughts on Texas A&M at SECMD25

On Tuesday's edition of TexAgs Live, ESPN host and sideline reporter Laura Rutledge joined us at 2025 SEC Media Days to discuss Texas A&M in 2025. Rutledge spoke about quarterback Marcel Reed as a redshirt sophomore, Mike Elko taking over defensive playcalling and more.

Key notes from Laura Rutledge interview

• It's great to be with you. As much as it may be work and long hours, I love this event. It's a Super Bowl for all of us.
   
• I don't think enough people are talking about A&M. I don't want to overdo it. I get superstitious, and my best friends are A&M fans. They get mad at me if I over hype them. I'm an honorary A&M fan. Gig ‘Em! But I think they will be very good. Marcel Reed is coming back with experience under his belt. He’s getting flashes and moments of experience. He's got that time and has experience from last season. Mike Elko is taking over the defensive playcalling. It's his bread and butter. He's such a good coach and impresses me in every way. A&M fans say, “We have to win,” and it's the story. There's been lots of money spent, and how we see it translates... To me, it will be better. I do think getting revenge against Notre Dame, and there are the key parts. I think they are capable of being a team that people are overlooking right now.
   
• The offensive line will be better. On paper, it's better. That’s key, too. Every year, quarterbacks get hurt, and we have hope. If that part of it works, if Reed stays healthy, they will be a force to be reckoned with and a team people don't want to see. When you look at the SEC schedule, it's a gauntlet. No one looks at it and feels good about it. A&M is a team with an atmosphere. The way the home schedule is, it favors them, but they have to be healthy. The other thing is defensively being better and the play-calling personnel. There are some really good players. There hasn't been a lack of talent, and that’s a trigger phrase for A&M fans because they say, “We know.”
   
• Last year, we had mysterious hiccups. People look at the expanded playoffs and say we can afford a couple of losses and still get into the championship and playoffs. That may shift because we didn't see the SEC get rewarded for strength of schedule like we thought we would. I think we could see a couple of 9-3 teams and another team looking to end up in the playoffs because tier wins are better. That will be interesting. We saw three last year and more this year, maybe four. Four from the SEC, four from the Big Ten and the rest filled out with conference championships. To me, it’s an incredibly strong league. I think the key is the quarterbacks who are excellent across the board. There aren't many question marks at the quarterback positions, even when it comes to guys that transfer in with experience at other places.
   
• Who will disappoint? That's a great question. I would have said Tennessee, but now their expectations are low with Nico Iamaleava departing. I was thinking of Georgia. I think Texas, unfortunately for A&M, will be good. My top three are Texas, Georgia and Alabama. Alabama may be better than we're thinking. Compared to their standards, last year was a down year.
   
• What if Georgia with Gunner Stockton isn't what they want to be? They are loaded and have big names. They have a tough schedule, and to your point, they may be 9-3. They play Alabama, and maybe they don't live up to expectations. Their expectation is a national championship. If they fall short of that, which is possible, but they say it's a quarterback battle. I don't think you bring him to media days if he's not in a position to win the job. Maybe he doesn't live up to what they think and falls short.