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Thursday, October 22, 2026

LIFE & ARTS: MSC Aggie Cinema brings together local film community

SPORTS: Checking in on 10 Aggies who made NFL debut this season

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PUBLICATION NOTICE

Thursday, October 29, 2026

Student-built drone carries twice its weight Innovative drone was 1 of only 6 to finish weighted portion of DARPA’s new Lift Challenge By Josh Li News Reporter

Spencer Halstead - THE BATTALION

Texas A&M President Susan Ballabina, Ph.D., speaks during Texas A&M University’s Sesquicentennial Celebration Opening Ceremony at Rudder Auditorium on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.

‘Beyond 150’: A&M’s 20-year plan President Ballabina lays out university’s shared vision in 4 pillars, 12 initiatives By Poojasai Kona News Reporter Unveiling a new strategic plan on Sept. 28, Texas A&M President Susan Ballabina, Ph.D., laid out the university’s shared vision, “Beyond 150,” which she said will guide the university’s decisions for years to come. As the third student body president and vice president sitting on the plan’s executive committee, industrial engineering senior Duncan Poling and agriculture leadership and development and agricultural economics senior Bryce Fisher said “Beyond 150” will uphold the president’s promise of having the future of A&M “built, as always, by our faculty, staff, students, former students and partners working together.” “Duncan and I got to see, tangibly, the people in the room building this plan weren’t just sitting in their ivory tower,”

Fisher said. “They were thinking of the students and inviting us into the conversation. There were literally moments where we were editing the strategic plan, and they were like, ‘What do you [guys] think about this? What should we do?’” To help visualize the university’s moving parts and reach, A&M created the “Maroon Circle” — A&M’s “operational ecosystem,” which contains A&M affiliates and affiliated A&M System state agencies — to emphasize how the university’s different entities, colleges, agencies and philanthropic organizations all operate under a shared vision and mission. “[The Maroon Circle] asks, ‘How can we continue to weave the fabric of what it means to be a ‘force for good’ through every single one of those organizations?’” Fisher said. “The goal of that visual is we want people to see everything that is considered Texas A&M. We want it to be in one spot so we can continue to align that mission.” As Poling put it, “Beyond 150” is the vision for A&M for the next 20 years, summed up into four pillars and 12 strategic imperatives, which he believes will “continue to elevate Texas A&M as the greatest university

in the world.” These four pillars, according to the university, act as “the North Star for Texas A&M in the years ahead.” The pillars are collaborative vision-driven ecosystem; transformative experiences; discovery; innovation and entrepreneurship and community partnership and engagement. Under these four pillars, the university has set 12 strategic imperatives that Fisher states tackle many different areas. “Someone on the committee said one time that the first three pillars are pushing us forward in where we need to go in areas of education, academics and research, and that fourth one [is] about fostering community and our traditions that keep us rooted in who we are,” Fisher said. “It’s been very clear that growth for the sake of growth is not the goal of this plan, but growth for the sake of excellence and providing every student a well-rounded, holistic approach to being a Fightin’ Texas Aggie is.”

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METRO

Edoardo Vannini — THE BATTALION

Students watch Project Hail Mary at The Commons multipurpose room on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026.

Now presenting: MSC Aggie Cinema Student organization brings love of film to big screen on campus By Jenica Panicker Life & Arts Writer As the lights start to dim, a hush falls over the crowd and the smell of buttery popcorn fills the air. A feeling that moviegoers often anticipate dawns upon them: The movie is about to begin. Whether the bright flashing logo before a new Marvel movie unfurls for superhero fans or the Disney castle lights glow on screen before their newest blockbuster, the movie industry is a familiar one to those far and wide. MSC Aggie Cinema aims to promote this culture of movies to the Texas A&M community through screenings of diverse films, creating a community of like-minded movie lovers and hosting a film festival every spring. MSC Aggie Cinema’s Vice-Chair and civil engineering senior Robert Day said that MSC Aggie Cinema is for anyone and everyone. “MSC Aggie Cinema overall is just a place for everybody to enjoy movies,” Day said. “Movies are my language. They’re how I understand the world. It’s a way I’m able to talk about them, talk about the world and engage with people, and it’s so rewarding to do screenings for students, especially when they’re really good movies.” Day said this is a legacy he now gets to be involved in, from being a general member in the club to becoming an officer. This movement at A&M is not new; in fact, the organization has been promoting the big screen for more than 60 years. To celebrate the milestone, MSC Aggie Cinema created Howdywood as a tribute to the organiza-

tion’s 60th anniversary and to bring back the historic Texas Film Festival that the organization used to put on. Furthermore, as A&M celebrates its 150th anniversary, MSC Aggie Cinema promotes the stories that make the university special. “But the biggest legacy that I think we’ve seen is that we brought back the film festival,” Day said. “The Texas Film Festival was started by a group of students in Aggie Cinema, I think in the ‘90s by somebody named Paul Dykstra, and now we’re doing the Howdywood Film Festival, which is kind of paying tribute to the Texas Film Festival. … Now, it’s become a three-day weekend event focused on Aggie student filmmakers, giving them the opportunity to [share].” This year, film entries for Howdywood will not only be open to current A&M students, but also A&M alum and students across the state of Texas. Furthermore, the organization hopes to make filmmaker festivals more accessible by having a lower entry fee in comparison to bigger film festivals. “We want Howdywood to be a place for filmmakers in Texas to submit something,” Day said. “And that’s only going to get bigger, and that’s only gonna, you know, keep being the safe haven for filmmakers to see their things happen.” Biology sophomore Ava Tingue, who serves as MSC Aggie Cinema director of classics and talent management and acquisition, stressed why showcasing these films, whether through opportunities such as Howdywood or on the big movie screen, is so important. “The point of making a film is to be able to express things on screen that people feel and have never felt represented by before,” Tingue said. “And they get to see it on screen and be exposed to things that they would have never otherwise be able to see,

Researchers map aardwolf chromosomes Project led by Texas A&M creates ground-breaking detailed chromosome map of hyena family member native to Africa By Sam McMahan News Reporter Researchers at Texas A&M, partnering with the Twin Pine Conservation Institute, or TPCI, have developed the first detailed chromosome map of the aardwolf, a member of the hyena family, laying the foundation for further studies of the species and contributing valuable information to the field of genetics. The research, led by Terje Raudsepp, Ph.D., a professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, revealed the aardwolf ’s complete set of chromosomes, or karyotype, which is currently available for only 1,200 of the roughly 6,000 mammal species. Unlike genome sequencing, which has previously been conducted on the aardwolf, chromosome mapping reveals the relative locations of genes and helps distinguish between chromosomal regions, such as generich euchromatin and gene-poor heterochromatin. This information helps researchers understand and predict how certain traits

are inherited, providing insights that sequencing alone does not directly reveal. The technique is particularly useful for improving breeding methods, which was the catalyst for the partnership between TPCI and A&M. Sheri Sublett, executive director of TPCI and founder of the Zoological Association of America’s Aardwolf Animal Management Program, began sending samples to A&M to genetically assess the animals and make informed breeding decisions to maintain a diverse and healthy population. These samples later helped researchers map the aardwolf ’s chromosomes. “The samples also contributed to the chromosome research, which was an exciting part of our collaboration,” Sublett said. The aardwolf is a particularly interesting subject of research, as its relationship with other members of the hyena family raises questions about its evolutionary history. “It’s fascinating that this small, specialized termite-eater is part of the same family as those large meat-eating hyenas,” Sublett said. “Researchers are still learning how that branch evolved its unusual diet and what that tells us about the history of hyenas.” Sublett noted that studying the species is difficult because aardwolves are nocREAD MORE HERE turnal.

10.22.2026

OPINION

Charles Reagan — THE BATTALION

American Express stage in front of the Austin skyline during Austin City Limits Festival 2025 on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025.

Review: Austin City Limits Music Festival 2 energetic weekends packed full of mud, dust and music By Wyatt Pickering Associate Opinion Editor Rating: 9/10 When imagining iconic music festivals, examples such as Coachella, Burning Man and Lollapalooza immediately come to mind. What better way to experience music than by larping as an influencer or hippie for one weekend only? But there’s always been one festival I’ve had my eye on. Austin City Limits Music Festival, or ACL, celebrated its 25th anniversary this year as the premier Texas music festival. Taking the main stage at Austin’s Zilker Park, it boasts a large yearly attendance, attracting roughly 450,000 attendees across its two-weekend run. This year’s ACL was quite unusual due to the unique challenges that poor weather conditions brought to Weekend 1. As my own weekend approached, I couldn’t stop imagining the apocalyptic dust clouds my friends and I would be walking into after Zilker Park had already been churned into a fine powder the week before.

Despite the mud, ACL did everything possible to make the experience of Weekend 2 as enjoyable as possible. I especially enjoyed the free bandanas given out at the entrances and artificial turf that made the heavily trafficked areas easier to walk on. Maybe Chilifest could learn something from this. The great aspect of any music festival is its diversity in sets, allowing music enthusiasts to enjoy many genres and performers over the course of the festival. I gravitate toward pop, so my most anticipated performances included Charli xcx, Lorde, Audrey Hobert and The Chainsmokers. One of the main complaints about this year’s lineup was the saturation of EDM acts and the lack of hip-hop, country and rock music. Even if I don’t find myself listening to these genres as much, I can sympathize with fans wanting to see their favorite genres represented on the stage. However, what’s really important is the actual music itself, and this year’s lineup was full of energy and impressive performances. Charli’s performance was easily my favorite set of the weekend. She commanded the stage with her iconic itgirl energy and the best use of dynamic lighting and performance. I cried actual tears during her closing performance of “No One Lasts Forever,” ending with a sobering monologue about identity through art and its relationship to the concept of life

and endurance. As David Cronenberg so beautifully remarks, “Oblivion is freedom.” Another highlight of ACL was an iconic ending to Lorde’s Ultrasound World Tour, where she performed hits new and old in the same city where the tour began a little over a year ago. She brought that emotion with her, barely able to sing the lyrics of her song “Liability,” letting us fans unite by singing the words that she could not bring herself to sing. Hobert solidified herself as one of the best new artists to come out of 2025. Her set was composed entirely of her debut album “Who’s the Clown?” and her infectious enthusiasm and confidence charmed me and anyone else who was listening to her for the first time. Surprisingly, a set that I didn’t expect to enjoy from ACL that I watched from afar belonged to Turnstile. Their mud-soaked mosh pit looked equal parts insane and fun as they brought rocker energy to a festival lineup that seriously needed it. One lowlight of the festival was the occasional misplaced set. Both Rebecca Black — yes, the girl who sang “Friday” and is now a pop star — and Natasha Bedingfield drew a large audience, yet were placed under the small Tito’s Tent, making their sets barely watchable for the people unlucky enough to not be under the cover. I also found the weekend-exclusive performers for both weekends to be

occasionally uneven. Weekend 1 had hyperpop and EDM acts such as the aforementioned Black, underscores and Skrillex, while Weekend 2 only had Kings of Leon and Sienna Spiro to compete with. But ACL isn’t just about the music; it’s about the people. The crowd was a mix of college students, Austin locals, parents with and without their kids and out‑of‑state visitors who severely underestimated Texas heat. There’s something oddly comforting about being surrounded by thousands of sweaty strangers all united by the same goal: having a good time and pretending the dust isn’t that bad. However, the teenagers who were excited to see Lorde could have used a lesson on concert etiquette. By the end of each night, Zilker looked like a battlefield of crushed water bottles, lost sunglasses and people sprawled out on the ground contemplating their life choices. And yet, everyone was smiling. That’s the magic of ACL — no matter how dirty, tired or sunburned you get, you leave feeling like you were part of an experience greater than yourself. So, ACL, all I have to ask is: same time next year? Wyatt Pickering is a Business honors and finance senior and associate opinion editor for The Battalion.

Opinion: Slow down, you’re doing fine No grade is worth jeopardizing your physical or mental health By Abby Morris Opinion Writer As we reach the middle of the semester, an oh-so-familiar pain rears its ugly head: burnout. Burnout is a form of chronic stress from extended periods of mental, emotional or physical exhaustion. It’s a common issue students face during or after a tough semester. Symptoms of burnout include persistent fatigue, low motivation, sleep problems and increased physical and emotional exhaustion, which can lead to declining grades, increased absences and difficulty completing assignments. I have experienced burnout multiple times over my four years of college, and it’s dreadful. I have no motivation to do work and find little pleasure in anything. At my lowest points, the thought of doing more work has made me completely break down. I’m not alone — many people close to me, including my sister, partner and friends, have had similar experiences at some point. According to the American Psychological Association, 59% of students have experienced burnout during their academic careers. That’s over half, yet burnout isn’t taken as seriously as it should be. There’s an expectation that college students should feel stress, so burnout is often neglected until it’s too late. This is detrimental to student health. Ignoring burnout can lead to significant health issues ranging from physical — chronic fatigue, insomnia, weakened immune systems and high blood pressure — to emotional — detachment, irritability and a loss of

motivation. We should prioritize taking care of ourselves, and our schools should support us instead of pushing us to keep going. At Texas A&M, I’ve found that the rules revolving around final exams could exacerbate burnout. The official A&M rulebook site proclaims that “students scheduled for three final exams in one day may be eligible to request a change.” You heard it here first, folks. You “may be eligible” — there’s a chance! Student Rule 8.4 further explains that the student is only able to reschedule one of those three exams, still leaving them with two exams in one day. I don’t know if you’ve ever had two exams on the same day, but speaking from personal experience, it’s hellish and I’d never want to go through it again. This is just one example, but this educational structure doesn’t help

students; it really only encourages burnout. Juggling studying for multiple exams in one day is a lot, especially on top of other responsibilities. It feels like many professors assume school is students’ only responsibility when, in reality, most students are balancing extracurriculars, part-time jobs and families — not to mention taking care of their own health and happiness. If colleges truly wanted to support their students, they’d take a hard look at how success is measured when it comes to learning. Oftentimes, our mastery of a subject is dependent on what grade we receive in the class when there’s actually several ways to measure success, such as real-world application and teaching the subject to others. Very rarely do we see options like these in college courses, though. Universities should also take a look at syllabi and coursework. How many classes

assign meaningless busywork or have several assignments due in one week? Is this truly advantageous for our learning? Professors should aim to help students, not hurt them. Thankfully, most professors are understanding, but that doesn’t change the fact that there is a systemic problem of expecting too much from students. Copious amounts of work shouldn’t be the expectation and students shouldn’t have to work themselves to the bone to pass a class. For students experiencing burnout, or on the verge of it, I urge you to take a break. It’s okay if one assignment is turned in late or is not completed to your best effort. This doesn’t mean that you’ve failed, it means you’re prioritizing yourself, which is more important than any grade. Take the time to go for a walk, engage in a hobby you love, stick to a solid sleep schedule and eat a healthy diet. Most importantly, set boundaries for yourself. After a certain time of day, put all work away. Don’t check your email, Canvas or grades. Simply shelve your work for tomorrow. While this might be difficult, this is an extremely effective way to combat burnout. Defining clear limits allows you to reclaim control over your time and preserve your energy. Boundaries help you protect your peace and take care of yourself, which burnt-out people desperately need. It’s not rude or wrong to set boundaries. Most importantly, I want to tell you that you’re doing a good job. If you feel like school is too much, please reach out to someone: a friend, a family member or University Health Services. Take a break; after all, you can’t take care of your schoolwork until you take care of you. Abby Morris is an English honors and political science senior and opinion writer for The Battalion.

Illustration by Pooja Kalwani — THE BATTALION

SPORTS

10.22.2026

Crossing by- Aggie football looks to turn tide lines: A&M Texas A&M in search of first road victory against No. 13 Alabama at Alabama Checking in with The Crimson White on what to expect as Aggies face Crimson Tide By Ian Curtis Senior Enterprise Reporter While Texas A&M football dodged last week’s chaos across college football — 5 of the top 7 teams in the AP Poll all lost — with a 41-0 win over The Citadel, No. 13 Alabama was not so lucky, as it fell 26-10 to then-No. 14 Tennessee in a rivalry matchup. With the Aggies sitting at 4-3 and the Crimson Tide coming off of back-to-back conference losses, both teams enter Saturday’s matchup at Bryant-Denny Stadium in need of momentum. To get an idea of what the 12th Man can expect to see in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, this weekend, I sat down with Fisher Isbell, the sports editor of The Crimson White, Alabama’s student newspaper. Isbell, who began his career in sports journalism by following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who was a sports director at a television station in Mobile, Alabama, said that the past two weeks have left the Crimson Tide searching for answers. “Even though Kalen DeBoer said to not let Georgia beat you twice, very clearly Georgia still beat Alabama twice with the product that was put on the field in Knoxville [Tennessee] last week,” Isbell said. “So I think their backs are against the wall now, and I feel like you can kind of get that sense from [head] coach DeBoer, [offensive coordinator Ryan] Grubb and [defensive coordinator Kane] Wommack, based on Monday’s press conference. I feel like they’re kind of in make-or-break mode, which they were for a lot of last season.”

By Teagan Parker Sports Writer

“There’s going to be a beatdown,” Stephen A. Smith said on ESPN’s First Take in 2021. “A massacre is coming.” The “massacre” in question was Texas A&M football’s hosting of No. 1 Alabama, the defending national champions, on Oct. 9, 2021. After losing its then-freshman starting quarterback Haynes King to an injury in Week 2, A&M pivoted to then-sophomore QB Zach Calzada. Heading into the contest with a 3-2 record, the Aggies were not the favorite in the matchup by any means. Battling for the lead throughout the game, Alabama led 38-31 with three minutes left, and Calzada threw the game-tying pass to then-junior wide receiver Ainais Smith. Tied at 38 with just two seconds on the clock, then-senior kicker Seth Small secured a 28-yard field goal to win the game, 41-38, as the 12th Man flooded the field. This was five years ago and marks the last time A&M beat Alabama in football. Now, the Maroon and White face a similar circumstance. A&M is slated to head to Tus-

caloosa, Alabama, to face No. 13 Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 2:30 p.m. The matchup marks the 17th all-time meeting between the Aggies and Crimson Tide, with the Tide leading the series, 13-3. When discussing A&M football upsets against Alabama, it’s only right to bring up the unforgettable back and forth that occurred on Nov. 10, 2012, and has lived forever in infamy for all Aggies. Then-No. 1-ranked, 9-0 Alabama was dethroned by then-freshman QB Johnny “Football” Manziel, who would later go on to win the Heisman Trophy that same year. A certain pride comes from defeating a program as distinguished as Alabama on its home turf, and A&M will have the opportunity to do this for just the second time in program history. Coming off a shutout win against The Citadel, A&M is in search of its first Southeastern Conference road victory of the season. Conversely, Alabama is looking to end its two-game losing streak after a pair of losses against then-No. 2 Georgia and thenNo. 14 Tennessee. Both teams look to gain their footing in conference play once again. And while the Aggies might not have a Manziel, nothing is stopping a Calzada from emerging from the sidelines, even if it’s a freshman. Showcasing their talents in last week’s contest against The Citadel, the freshman trio of WR Aaron Gregory, running back

Carsyn Baker and RB KJ Edwards all proved that the Crimson Tide shouldn’t dismiss them as threats just yet. Gregory recorded a pair of touchdowns and led the team with 94 receiving yards, while Baker earned 54 rushing yards and Edwards chalked up 116 rushing yards of his own. Head coach Mike Elko continuously expressed his confidence in the young players. “Just to see Aaron Gregory, TK Norman, KJ Edwards, Carsyn Baker, a lot of the young, talented players,” Elko said. “ … Excited with where we’re at coming off the field today, we were able to get done what we wanted to get done.” The Crimson Tide’s remedy to the standout freshman trio comes in the form of sophomore RB Trae’shawn Brown, who recorded a total of 313 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns thus far this season. In addition to Brown, sophomore QB Keelon Russell has put up promising numbers for Alabama, but will be attempting to prove himself after a pair of disappointing performances. Though Russell has thrown for a total of 1,746 yards, 12 passing touchdowns and has a 67.5% completion rate this season. READ MORE HERE

Russell, runs and pressure While Alabama saw a significant roster turnover after last season’s run to the Rose Bowl, sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell — who saw limited action as a backup as a true freshman in 2025 — has shown equal parts promise and panic, Isbell said. “When Keelon’s been at his best, he’s probably one of the best in the country, but at his worst he’s made a lot of really clumsy mistakes,” Isbell said. “ … He really didn’t settle in in Knoxville at all. He looked rattled for about 45 to 50 minutes of that game.” Isbell said that A&M’s defensive focus should be on bringing pressure and forcing Russell into mistakes. “Aggie fans should understand that Keelon Russell is a really, really talented player,” Isbell said. “But if you’re able to force him into making mistakes, Texas A&M could very easily win this football game. But I do think after such a difficult two weeks, they’re going to really emphasize protecting him.” Isbell also said that Alabama needs to rely on its running game — although freshman running back EJ Crowell is dealing with a lingering injury and his status for the A&M game has not yet been determined — to help Russell settle in. That point is particularly relevant given Alabama’s attrition at wide receiver. Junior wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams missed the Tennessee game after undergoing knee surgery. “Ryan Grubb notices it now, that when you go into those kinds of games, you need to rely on your running game to get your quarterback comfortable,” Isbell said. “And Keelon looked really comfortable when they did that a couple times, particularly against Kentucky in the second half.” Defense and wild card Defensively, Isbell said that he’ll be watching to see if Alabama can utilize more of its physicality, something that he says has been lacking this season, especially against Tennessee. “They allowed Tennessee to kind of just rack up these five-to-seven-yard completions on the RPOs and screens,” Isbell said. “And then on a couple occasions they broke contain, and those turned into 20-to-25yard gains. So I think both units just need to play more physical and more aggressive. That was a talking point coming into the season.” According to Isbell, the Crimson Tide’s defense — which has recorded just two sacks in the past two weeks and ranks 11th in the SEC in passing yards per game — has struggled in terms of giving up explosive plays to opposing offenses. “This year compared to last season, this defense has regressed in a few key areas, in particular with explosive plays,” Isbell said. “ … They’ve been doing a lot more of three- and four-man rushes, and haven’t really been bringing the pressure a ton. When they have, it’s been extremely effective.”

Photos by Jayden Iorizzo — THE BATTALION

Clockwise from top: Defensive end Jesse Chukwu (98) and defensive tackle DJ Sanders (88) run out of the tunnel during Texas A&M football’s game against The Citadel at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. Defensive end Bryce Perry-Wright (16) pushes against his opponent during Texas A&M football’s game against The Citadel at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. Wide receiver Aaron Gregory (3) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter of Texas A&M football’s game against The Citadel at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. Quarterback Marcel Reed (10) runs the ball down the sideline while The Citadel linebacker Zyion Brown (2) attempts to tackle him during Texas A&M football’s game against The Citadel at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. Running back KJ Edwards (0) runs the ball toward the endzone during Texas A&M football’s game against The Citadel at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026.

SPORTS

10.22.2026

New faces in new places A&M women’s basketball reloads roster with blend of transfer portal additions, high school recruits By Matthew Coughlin Sports Writer CJ Smith — THE BATTALION

CJ Smith — THE BATTALION

Adriano Espinosa — THE BATTALION

Clockwise from top: Cornerback Will Lee III (4) reacts during Texas A&M football’s game against Miami in the College Football Playoff at Kyle Field on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. Tight end Nate Boerkircher (87) signals first down during Texas A&M football’s game against Miami in the College Football Playoff at Kyle Field on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. Wide receiver KC Concepcion (7) jams out before Texas A&M football’s game against Miami in the College Football Playoff at Kyle Field on Saturday, Dec 20, 2025. Defensive tackle Albert Regis (17) gestures for noise during Texas A&M football’s game vs. South Carolina at Kyle Field on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. Defensive end Cashius Howell (9) reacts to a sack during Texas A&M’s game against Auburn at Kyle Field on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.

10 Aggies take on football’s biggest stage

Mid-season updates on 5 impactful Aggies as they make shift from Saturdays to Sundays By Kynlee Joyner Managing Editor In 1976, Texas A&M football said goodbye to many key players as 10 Aggies made their departure for the NFL. Ranking as the largest recruiting class out of A&M, the record would stand for five decades. However, exactly 50 years later, A&M hit this target once again at the 2026 NFL Draft. Following last season, 13 Aggies looked to retire their maroon jersey and don a new one. Ten players heard their names called, tying Alabama at No. 1 for the most recruits in the Southeastern Conference, falling only behind Ohio State, which secured positions for 11 players, tying at No. 2 in the nation. Out of the 10 departures, five have had a presence on the field so far this season. As Week 7 approaches, here are updates on A&M’s most recent graduates. KC Concepcion, Cleveland Browns wide receiver 22 receptions, 186 yards Before the 2026 NFL Draft, KC Concepcion had a story to tell. Growing up with a speech impediment and a challenging childhood, Concepcion said football became a place where those worries didn’t follow him. “There are a lot of great receivers in this year’s draft,” Concepcion wrote in his “Letter to NFL GMs” on April 16. “But I promise you this: Everything I’ve been through didn’t just shape me … it’s still in me. Every rep, every route, every time I refuse to quit … that’s where it comes from. Draft me and you get all of that. I’ll put it up against anybody in this class. Any day. Any field. You’re getting someone who has been through it. Someone who knows how to keep going when things get hard. Because things have always been hard. But I’m still here.” This letter did just what Concepcion intended, speaking to the Cleveland Browns who selected him in the first round as the

24th overall pick. In his first six games with the Browns, Concepcion, who was with the Aggies for only one season, had 22 receptions for 186 yards. The rookie had a head-to-head hit in Week 5 against the New York Jets, which kept him on the ground for longer than Browns fans were hoping for. Despite the scare, Concepcion returned in Week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens, recording four catches. Even with his recent successes, Concepcion still stands as WR5 on the roster, with hopes that he will continue to prove himself in contested catches in the weeks to come. Will Lee III, Carolina Panthers cornerback 17 tackles, seven assists

Will Lee III, the No. 129 overall pick, traded out maroon for blue this season. Lee secured the CB3 position on the roster, totaling 24 tackles on the season. Lee’s presence on the field has been gradual, but his Week 6 performance against the Philadelphia Eagles has brought his name to the forefront. Against the Eagles, Lee had six solo tackles and three pass deflections, including one standout touch in particular on a deep ball by Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee. Despite a slow breakout to the season, Lee has had a consistent field presence, averaging 4.8 tackles per game, with his highest at six in matchups versus the Eagles and Browns. Lee’s next chance to prove himself will come Sunday, Oct. 25, at home when the Panthers face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Nate Boerkircher, Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Six receptions, 52 yards, one touchdown Aggies may remember this name from A&M’s early 2025 matchup against Notre Dame, when he made the game-winning touchdown with only 13 seconds left. In the second round of the draft as pick No. 56, Nate Boerkircher joined the Jacksonville Jaguars. Boerkircher has appeared in four games this season, totaling 52 yards on six receptions. In Week 6, the rookie recorded 20 yards, but the 12th Man looks to Week 4 for his biggest field accomplishment. Against the Houston Texans, Boerkircher became

the first Aggie rookie this season to score a touchdown. Despite the loss, Boerkircher made the highlight reel with his one-handed touchdown catch, showing that the Jaguars can trust him as both a receiver and blocker. Albert Regis, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Two assists Joining Boerkircher on the Panthers only one round later was Albert Regis as the 81st overall pick. His presence on the field has been limited, recording only two tackles across two games, but together Boerkircher and Regis are riding high at the top of the AFC South Division with a 4-2 record. The two will take the weekend off, returning to action at home against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1. Cashius Howell, Cincinnati Bengals defensive end One tackle, two assists Last but not least to take to the field has been Cashius Howell, who joined the Cincinnati Bengals as the 41st overall pick. Despite a break in Week 6, Howell has appeared in 3 of 5 games this season, totaling one solo tackle and two assists. Although having a major production of sacks at A&M — totalling 11.5 on the season — the 2025 SEC Defensive Player of the Year has not found that same groove in the big leagues, only recording three QB hits so far this season, with no sacks added to the stat sheet. Howell will return to action this Sunday against the Ravens, looking to add more tackles to his record and, hopefully, his first sack of the season. “I’m definitely happy with the things that I’ve done up to this point, but obviously, like I said, there’s a next step to be taken, and I feel like that comes with watching film, just doing the extra things that’ll just allow you to play faster,” Howell said in an interview with The Conversation’s Geoff Hobson on Oct. 16. “Just get a key on a snap to where you can just get off and play faster, get on the rush, get on the edge faster, and I just feel like if I continue to keep staying down and continue to keep trying to do the best that I can and do the most that I can to help me see the defense and see the offense, then I feel like it’ll play out in my favor.”

Ny’Ceara Pryor and Fatmata Janneh’s exits leave Texas A&M women’s basketball without its top-two scorers from the 202526 season. Without Pryor, the Aggies lost their primary ball handler, who averaged a team-high 16.3 points and 7.0 assists last year. As for Janneh, she entered the transfer portal following a season-ending knee injury against Auburn in the first round of the Southeastern Conference women’s basketball tournament on March 4 that kept her from participating in postseason play. Nevertheless, head coach Joni Taylor and the Aggies used both the transfer portal and recruiting class to replenish their depleted roster. “I think we want to have a mix of freshmen and transfers,” Taylor said in a press conference on Oct. 14. “It’s important for us to recruit high school players; some of the high school players we watch are the most talented players in the country. We have to have a mix on our roster.” In an effort to find a new source of scoring, A&M brought in a pair of top-50 ranked high school recruits by ESPN to fill the void left by Pryor and Janneh. Rieyan DeSouze joins Taylor’s roster from DeSoto as the No. 1 guard in Texas in the 2026 class, according to A&M Athletics. Similarly, Jayda Porter committed to the Aggies from Columbia, Missouri, posting a dominant line of 24.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game during the 2024-25 season. In the transfer portal, Taylor lured several new faces to College Station, including Alabama transfer senior F Essence Cody, who was poised to be a key leader for the Aggies after playing three seasons for the Crimson Tide, averaging over 10 points per game. “This year, I get to watch the game I love from a different seat,” Cody wrote in a letter to the 12th Man. “I plan to soak up every single moment and lead from the sidelines. When I step onto the court again next season, I will bring everything that this year teaches me, plus the newest member of the 12th Man.” The Aggies brought in Tennessee transfer junior G Kaniya Boyd, who amassed 855 minutes over 59 games in Rocky Top, Tennessee. The Las Vegas native saw the court as a freshman, averaging 1.3 steals in 17.3 minutes per game and brings plenty of March Madness experience, with the Lady Vols having reached the Round of 16 in the Division I Women’s Basketball Championship in 2025. The Fightin’ Farmers added to their frontcourt with the addition of Georgia transfer senior F Miyah Verse. The Dayton, Ohio native averaged 4.8 rebounds in over 15.4 minutes per game over the course of her past two seasons in Athens, Georgia. Verse adds a proven ability to finish at the rim, converting 52.6% of field goals over the two-year span. A&M landed an impact addition in LSU transfer graduate G Kailyn Gilbert, who spent two seasons at Arizona before a pair of SEC campaigns in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Gilbert missed all but five games last season; her best year came in 2023-24, averaging 15.1 points and 5.3 rebounds, alongside an efficient 40% three-point shooting and 77.1% from the charity line. Taylor is also relying on the internal development of sophomore G Chaney Spencer and sophomore F Anita Franchini. “Chaney had a great summer,” Taylor said. “She came in, she works really hard. … She’s our fire. She shows up every single day and leads the way in terms of effort and energy.” Taylor also discussed the progress Franchini had made over the offseason facing tough competition. “Anita had a chance to represent her national team this summer,” Taylor said. “What a great opportunity for her to return home and put on that jersey representing her country. She grew, she got better, she got stronger. While she wasn’t with us over the summer, she came back in great shape, with a different mentality.” The Aggies will begin their season against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Monday, Nov. 2, at Reed Arena with tip-off set for 7 p.m.

Jackson Stanley — THE BATTALION

Head coach Joni Taylor reacts to a referee’s call during Texas A&M’s game against Kansas State at Reed Arena on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024.

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Dr. Doctor joins a race

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10.22.2026

‘And he’s wide open!’

Comic by Trey Bohne — THE BATTALION