If you’re a Texas A&M basketball fan, buckle up — this offseason has been anything but boring.
First came the news that Buzz Williams was leaving for Maryland. Then came the transfer portal chaos, with players jumping ship left and right. And now? It looks like the Aggies are quietly backing out of one of next season’s biggest college basketball tournaments.
The 2025 Players Era Festival — a major early-season showcase that was supposed to feature A&M — no longer lists the Aggies on its website. They were on it last month, but now… gone. And wouldn’t you know it? Maryland, led by none other than Buzz Williams, is reportedly stepping in to take their spot. That’s according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, who always seems to be in the know about these things.
So, what gives?
It’s hard not to read between the lines here. With Williams out the door, A&M has brought in Bucky McMillan from Samford — a rising star with a flashy, up-tempo system and a reputation for building strong team culture. It’s a bold move, and one that could pay off long term. But in the short term, it’s clear the program is hitting the reset button. That probably means skipping the national spotlight for now and focusing on rebuilding from the inside out.
And honestly? That might not be the worst idea.
The transfer portal exodus hit hard, and McMillan hasn’t had much time to settle in, let alone build a roster that can compete at a high level out of the gate. Jumping into a loaded tournament like the Players Era Festival — likely packed with blue bloods and Top 25 buzz teams — might’ve been more harmful than helpful.
Still, it’s a little bittersweet. This tournament would’ve been a great chance for fans to see what the new era of Aggie basketball could look like on a big stage. Instead, we’ll have to wait — and hope that McMillan can get things rolling quickly enough to bring A&M back into the national conversation soon.
One thing’s for sure: the 2025-26 season is shaping up to be one of the most fascinating in recent A&M hoops history. New coach. New players. New identity. And a fanbase watching closely.
Stay tuned, folks. This ride is just getting started.
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