Texas A&M intends to hire Mike Elko as its next head coach, as first reported by the Houston Chronicle.
An announcement could come as soon as Sunday. ESPN reported Elko intends to inform reach a decision within 24 hours.
Elko spent 2018-21 as Jimbo Fisher's defensive coordinator, leaving to become the head coach at Duke. He is 16-9 in two seasons with the Blue Devils.
That success pushed Elko to the top of the Aggies' list following the Nov. 12 firing of Fisher, but the Aggies initially planned to hire Mark Stoops for the job. That plan was announced and killed on Saturday night, leading the Aggies to circle back to Elko.
Though he wasn't around to coach them, Elko recruited much of A&M's ballyhooed No. 1 recruiting class of 2022, a group that will enter their junior seasons in 2024. With Texas and Oklahoma entering the SEC and the Playoff expanding to 12 teams, the Aggies expect to contend immediately, and an Elko hire indicates A&M can strike while the iron's hot while also investing in a young head coach who has adapted quickly to the position.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.