ATLANTA (Sep. 16, 2025) - Officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. today announced that Texas A&M head football coach Mike Elko has been selected as The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week Presented by PNC Bank.
The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week award honors a football coach who led his team to a significant victory during the previous week, while also embodying the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity.
Elko helped guide the Aggies to one of the program's most dramatic victories in recent memory on Saturday night, as No. 16 Texas A&M stunned No. 8 Notre Dame, 41-40, in South Bend. Quarterback Marcel Reed connected with tight end Nate Boerkircher on a fourth-and-goal touchdown from 11 yards out with just 13 seconds remaining, and kicker Randy Bond made the decisive PAT to seal the win. The triumph marked the Aggies' first road victory over an AP top-25 opponent since 2014 and their first road win over a ranked non-conference foe since 1979. It was also Elko's third victory over a top-10 opponent during his tenure in College Station.
Texas A&M's offense once again showed an explosive balance, racking up 488 total yards. Reed finished the game with 360 yards and two touchdowns, adding 37 rushing yards to log a career-high 397 total yards of offense. Wide receiver Mario Craver also had a career night, hauling in seven receptions for 207 yards and an 86-yard touchdown, becoming just the eighth Aggie ever to record a 200-yard receiving game. Running back Le'Veon Moss anchored the ground attack with three second-quarter rushing touchdowns.
Defensively, the Aggies made timely plays to keep the game within reach. Safety Marcus Ratcliffe led the unit with eight tackles, while linebacker Scooby Williams recorded Texas A&M's first interception of the season, setting up a Moss touchdown.
"Coach Elko and the Aggies showed remarkable poise on one of the biggest stages in college football," said Jim Terry, Chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation. "To rally on the road against a top-10 opponent with that kind of discipline, resilience and execution is exactly the kind of leadership Coach Dodd would have wanted to recognize."
"This was a signature moment for Texas A&M," said Gary Stokan, Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and President. "Coach Elko has built a program defined by toughness and belief. Pulling out a game like this on the road shows the Aggies are ready to contend on the national stage."
Entering his second season at Texas A&M, Elko has quickly positioned the Aggies as a national contender. In his first year at the helm, the Aggies established a definitive culture and battled for a spot in the SEC Championship Game entering the final week of last season – a first since Texas A&M joined the conference in 2012.
Off the field, Elko has emphasized the importance of academic accountability and community engagement. The Aggies posted a 974 Academic Progress Rate and a 79 Graduation Success Rate last season, which ranked among the best in the SEC. Elko's team also finished with the best cumulative grade point average since records have been kept in College Station.
In the community, Elko has made it a priority for Texas A&M football to embody the university's core values of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service. Under his direction, the Aggies have embraced traditions such as The Big Event, which stands as the largest student-run service project on campus, where his team has achieved a 100 percent participation rate for two straight years. Through this initiative, players join fellow students in serving the local community with tasks ranging from yard work to home repairs, reinforcing the idea that they are not only athletes but also representatives of the Aggie spirit. By engaging with traditions like The Big Event, among others, Elko has strengthened the bond between his program and the Aggie community, ensuring football remains at the heart of Texas A&M's culture.
The Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank – along with the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week Award – celebrates the head coach of a FBS team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary this season, the award was established to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field.
A panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2025 season. The winner of the 2025 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
