Mike Elko fires jab at Lane Kiffin over night kickoff time complaint

When Texas A&M comes out of its bye this week, the Aggies will play another night game at Kyle Field when New Mexico State comes to town. It’s the fourth home primetime game for Mike Elko’s group, and that number could become five if the Texas matchup gets the night slot.

Elko expressed his appreciation for the amount of home games Texas A&M is playing under the lights this year. In the process, he also took a friendly jab at Lane Kiffin.

Kiffin previously called out the SEC for giving LSU so many night games in Death Valley, comparing the amount of times Ole Miss plays in the early window. Elko had some fun with those comments and joked he’d trade with Kiffin next season.

“Another night game at Kyle Field,” Elko said at the end of his radio show Wednesday night. “We appreciate those. Apparently, that’s all we play anymore. … We get them all and Lane wants more, so that’s okay. Him and I, we’ll swap next year or something.”

After Saturday’s game, Texas A&M could have one more night game at Kyle Field on its schedule. The season finale against Texas – which marks the return of the storied rivalry now that the two teams are in the SEC – is a “flex” game. It will either be at 3:30 p.m. ET or 7 p.m. ET, depending on the ABC designation. That information should come out ahead of the Auburn game.

Texas A&M is looking to bounce back from its first conference loss of the year against South Carolina prior to the bye week. The Aggies are still in the mix in the SEC race, though, as one of three teams with one loss in league play. As a result, they’re also in the College Football Playoff discussion.

Despite the idle week, Texas A&M dropped one spot to No. 15 in the second CFP rankings, released Tuesday. The Aggies were one of the first teams out of the projected 12-team bracket, but the Texas game could present an opportunity for Mike Elko’s group to sneak back in the picture.