ESPN Names Key Game for Texas A&M Aggies This Season

The Texas A&M Aggies are just a couple of weeks away from beginning the 2024 season and officially kicking off the Mike Elko era .

With a ton to be excited about including the return of the now healthy Conner Weigman at the quarterback position, anticipation in College Station is at an all-time high.

Another factor that drums up excitement for the season is the absolutely massive showdown for the Aggies at home during the first week of the season when they take on top-ten Notre Dame . In an ESPN article naming each team's key game for the season, Max Olson says that despite an always intriguing SEC schedule including the return of the Texas rivalry, the game against the Irish is the most key for Elko.

"You couldn't draw up a more fascinating matchup for Mike Elko's debut at Texas A&M," Olson wrote. "A Fighting Irish team with serious CFP expectations, led by Elko's former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard , is coming to College Station for a prime-time showdown at Kyle Field. That's as good as it gets for a signature victory opportunity to kick off a new era for the Aggies."

It remains to be seen where the advantage lies in the reunion matchup between Elko and Leonard with both coach and quarterback being intimately familiar with the tendencies of one another.

For what it's worth, David Hale in the same article named the August 31 kickoff as the key game of Notre Dame's season as well.

It's safe to say the stakes are going to be high for both sides very early on.