I feel like labeling it a rebuilding year with so many elite seniors does them a disservice. This was supposed to be the last year of the Connors, Simonson, Williams, and so many other massive contributors so the idea that this team wouldn’t be a competitive playoff team seems disrespectful.

I'm not saying we were not going to compete in the Big Sky Conference. Maybe not necessarily a "rebuilding year" in the traditional sense of starting from scratch, but rather a season of navigating transitions, building chemistry with new talent (including transfers). We lost our best quarterback ever by the numbers and our best running back ever, along with some key starters on defense. No disrespect intended. These are just facts.

+1

At the start of 2025 year it looked like both Nava and Simonson would not be back, all starters on defensive line graduating, two DBs transferring to FBS, loss of standout linebacker to graduation, loss of record setting qb, loss of all american running back and loss of three prominent wide receivers. It looked like it was going to be a rebuilding year.

the pieces that remained, especially when nava and simonson decided to come back, were more than enough to remain competitive. I feel like using the term “rebuilding” shows a lack of faith in the depth of the team and in the coaches ability to recruit out of the transfer portal.

True! A lot of heavily recruited guys have put a lot of time in and are fired up to get their chance.

My 12 Days of Christmas/2026 Aggie Football wish list:

12,000 fans (per game)
11 guys who can cover kickoffs
10+ win season
9 Ladies of Davis dance routines
8 Men and Maids-a-milking for the cows across LaRue from the stadium
7 points in the red zone (rather than field goal attempts)
6 yards per carry (for Fish)
$50 million in renovations and improvements
4 NCAA playoff victories (1st round bye excluded)
A 300# D-Tackle (and an Edge rusher)
2 Connors brothers
1 Nasty Left Tackle from the Transfer Portal for Pinnick

This is great!

What's the take on the rising kicker(s) we have in the program? We utilize a kickoff "specialist" and a pat/field goal kicker. What about punter? I thought he was pretty solid this year. Snappers? Anyone have any scoop on these races heading into the off-season?

Also, did I hear Plough say at a presser that spring football will be in April next year?

I do remember him saying he liked how Hawkins managed Spring ball so that players could do internships and travel to broaden their education.

I can answer the last one -> it will be in April again.

April makes sense to me. Next question: portal opens in early January I think, is there time to get transfers enrolled in time for spring ball?

I don’t think transfers are allowed to participate in spring ball, but that may have been with the later portal dates. Maybe it was just the grad transfers who couldn’t since they can only enroll in the fall?

Transfers can participate grad transfers as well. Ty Richardson did last Spring.

thanks. I thought I heard that the most of the grad transfers didn’t but maybe because they didn’t finish their degree until end of spring.

Most didn’t. The fact that Ty Richardson did stuck in my memory because he graduated two years from high achool and was here in time for spring balll during what would normally be his sophomore year.. Quite an accomplishment.
just to be sure I just listened to Plough’s post spring game interview where he mentioned Ty Richardson as a standout from Spring practice.

It only makes sense to allow them to participate. I remember mid-year juco guys can practice, so I guess a grad transfer that has graduated should be afforded the same opportunity. We are talking about NCAA rules though...