Notre Dame's road trip to College Station to play Texas A&M is easily one of the biggest matchups in college football's first Saturday of action for the 2024 season. Although it's only Week 1, it's never too early to consider the implications of this matchup. The Fighting Irish rank among the top-10 teams in the nation by most preseason predictions, and the Aggies aim to reach the CFB Playoff in coach Mike Elko's debut. With the expanded playoff, and if preseason projections are true, this game could matter late in the year for positioning for one of the at-large spots.
After the failed Jimbo Fisher era, Texas A&M seems to have the right coach in Mike Elko. Talent and resources aren't a problem in College Station, but the program has failed to meet expectations. Elko previously coached the Aggies' defense from 2018-21 and knows what it takes to win here. Additionally, his blue-collar approach and a top-notch staff are the right fits for this program.
Similar to Texas A&M, Notre Dame hopes offseason changes result in enough improvement to become a playoff contender once again. Coach Marcus Freeman upgraded at offensive coordinator after Gerard Parker left to be the head coach at Troy, landing LSU play-caller Mike Denbrock to coordinate the attack. Also, the transfer portal brought impact players at quarterback (Riley Leonard) and receiver (Kris Mitchell and Beaux Collins).
Saturday's matchup is the sixth time Notre Dame and Texas A&M have met on the gridiron. The Fighting Irish own a 3-2 series edge. These two teams have just one previous meeting (2001) in College Station.
Notre Dame at Texas A&M
Location: Kyle Field in College Station, Texas
Kickoff: Saturday, Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Spread: Texas A&M -3
Over/Under: 46.5
Announcers: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, and Holly Rowe
Why Notre Dame Will Win
Defense. The Fighting Irish are bringing one of the best defenses in college football to College Station, as tackle Howard Cross III, linebacker Jack Kiser, cornerback Benjamin Morrison, and safety Xavier Watts are preseason All-Americans by Athlon Sports . Under Freeman and coordinator Al Golden, Notre Dame allowed just 15.9 points a game and surrendered only 4.4 yards a snap last year. This season's group doesn't have a glaring weakness and will challenge a talented Texas A&M offense navigating early transition with a new coordinator and a line that needs to be more consistent.
Although Notre Dame's offense was productive last year, it also left something to be desired at times in games against ranked opponents (only 25.5 points a contest). Denbrock's play-calling and scheme is an upgrade, and the veteran coordinator should get the most out of Leonard in '24. Additionally, Leonard's weapons are restocked with the arrival of three receivers from the portal, along with the return of tight end Mitchell Evans from injury. Kyle Field will be a hostile environment, but Leonard's experience is a valuable x-factor.
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Why Texas A&M Will Win
Notre Dame's offensive line is the biggest weakness among positional units for both teams. Former left tackle Joe Alt was a first-round pick, while Blake Fisher on the other side was a second-round selection. As if that wasn't enough to overcome, projected starting left tackle Charles Jagusah was lost for the season due to injury. True freshman Anthonie Knapp and redshirt freshman Sam Pendleton are set to anchor the left side of the line on Saturday night, which is a tough matchup against a Texas A&M front that includes a pair of standout edge rushers (Purdue transfer Nic Scourton and Shemar Turner) and Shemar Stewart wreaking havoc on the interior, Elko's line should have a huge advantage at home.
New offensive coordinator Collin Klein should also do a better job of maximizing talent, which includes the development of quarterback Conner Weigman. The sophomore was on pace to be one of the SEC's top signal-callers last season before a season-ending injury. Notre Dame's defense won't give up much, but in a game where a couple of offensive plays could be the difference, Weigman and a solid group of receivers can do just enough through the air.
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Final Analysis
With two offenses in transition or navigating personnel question marks, expect the two standout defenses to control Saturday night's game. Notre Dame's offensive line is the biggest weakness in this matchup, and Texas A&M's defensive front eventually takes control in the second half. Look for the Aggies to make a key play late on defense, with Weigman coming through with a couple of clutch throws in the fourth quarter to seal a huge win in Elko's debut.
Prediction: Texas A&M 24, Notre Dame 20
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