John Bailey
Week One. College Gameday at College Station. Irish versus Aggies. Two historic programs enter the season with great optimism and slight trepidation as they fight to remain nationally relevant in the era of the College Football Playoff. Sounds like a guaranteed instant classic. Texas A&M, still recovering from the failed Jimbo Fisher experiment, will field a team with seven returning starters and the majority of their defensive depth coming from the transfer portal. Though Mel Tucker’s early Michigan State teams proved a new coach can succeed with a ragtag group of mercenaries, questions remain over the team’s chemistry and cohesiveness.
However, there is little doubt that the Aggies will have a dominant front seven that consistently pressures transfer quarterback Riley Leonard. Though there will certainly be lapses from inexperience, the Notre Dame offensive line should hold strong for the most part. When it does break down, Leonard has proven himself a capable scrambler who makes defenders pay for overpursuing. New offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock will also certainly exercise some clipboard wizardry to mitigate A&M’s defensive front. He will likely run many RPOs, like he did last season with Jayden Daniels at LSU. Quick screens, slants and utilizing running back Jeremiyah Love in the passing game will help offset incoming pressure. This strategy should allow the offense to consistently march down the field and allow Notre Dame’s dominant defense to dictate the game.
Prediction: Notre Dame 21, Texas A&M 17
Noah Cahill
A week-one game rarely carries as much weight as this one does for Notre Dame. With a weak schedule that got weaker after a Florida State upset loss, the Irish can take a massive step toward the College Football Playoff with a win. Doing this in College Station, one of the most hostile environments in the country, will be a tall task, especially with an offensive line that shares six starts between them and is without a single senior. For as much talk there is about Notre Dame’s dominant defense being the key to victory, I believe the performance of this young and unproven line against a strong A&M front will define the outcome of this game. If it can hold up, Notre Dame is the better team.
I see a tense and low-scoring affair, with both teams struggling to move the ball. The Irish defense will do its job, shutting down the Aggies. And despite struggling for most of the game, I see Riley Leonard and Notre Dame’s playmakers doing just enough down the stretch to escape with a victory.
Prediction: Notre Dame 21, Texas A&M 13
Matthew Crow
It doesn’t feel like an overstatement to say that Saturday’s matchup may be the biggest one on Notre Dame’s calendar, as the Irish seek a crucial road victory that would put them in an early driver’s seat for a College Football Playoff bid. The biggest question marks for Notre Dame come offensively, where they start the season with an almost entirely blank slate at the skill positions, on the offensive line and with new offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock.
Playing in enemy territory, I see the Irish getting off to a slow start but remaining within striking distance behind their veteran-laden defense, which should match up well against the Aggies, especially in the trenches. In the second half, Riley Leonard will shake off the rust in his return from injury and showcase his dynamic, dual-threat ability while getting the ball into the hands of Notre Dame’s talented — but largely unproven — playmakers. After trailing for most of the game, the Irish will take control late in the third quarter and never look back, with 100-yard performances from running back Jeremiyah Love and tight end Mitchell Evans and an impressive showing from a young offensive line leading Notre Dame to a primetime win in College Station.
Prediction: Notre Dame 27, Texas A&M 17
Annika Herko
Both teams have something to prove in their first game of the season. Notre Dame will try to show that they deserve that preseason ranking of No. 7, while the Aggies want to show growth from last season, where they went 0-5 against ranked opponents.
The defenses of each time should be the stars of the game. Texas A&M does not want to let safety Xavier Watts or cornerback Benjamin Morrison make a big play, and Notre Dame needs Riley Leonard to have a good game to assure fans that their College Football Playoff hopes are realistic. Expect lots of short passes and screens as each team tries to get in their groove. The weather in College Station will be a factor as well. Thunderstorms could occur in the evening in a high-humidity environment. The team best able to adapt to the volatility of Mother Nature will have a definite advantage.
Prediction: Notre Dame 24, Texas A&M 17
Maddie Ladd
Notre Dame opens the season in a high-stakes, primetime showdown at the notoriously tough Kyle Field, where Texas A&M’s “12th Man” looms large. Both teams are adjusting to significant changes. Notre Dame unveiled new offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, who brings play-calling experience that was missing last year. The Irish also introduce former Duke dual-threat quarterback Riley Leonard, while a revamped wide receiver corps adds speed and experience from the transfer portal. The return of Mitchell Evans will add much-needed depth to the offense.
On defense, Notre Dame boasts a formidable unit led by Riley Mills, preseason All-American Howard Cross III and NFL prospect Benjamin Morrison. Texas A&M, under new head coach Mike Elko, returns a strong defense featuring Purdue transfer Nic Scourton. Despite last season’s 7-6 record, the Aggies were 6-1 at home with their only loss against Alabama. With both teams facing offensive line concerns, expect a gritty defensive battle. Ultimately, the Irish should edge out a 17-10 victory, clearing a key hurdle on their path to the 12-team playoff.
Prediction: Notre Dame 17, Texas A&M 10
Tyler Reidy
I envision this game looking a lot like Notre Dame’s rock fight against Duke. It will be close, low-scoring and swing in favor of the team that makes more winning plays in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame’s defense, its most reliable facet entering the season, will give it a firm chance to start 1-0.
But there appears a higher probability of bad than good happening on the other side of the ball. The Irish haven’t played a season opener without a senior on its offensive line in at least four decades. They project to cut that streak in this series opener. Against a formidable Texas A&M defensive front. In a stadium packed with over 100,000 people. Riley Leonard has a shot at neutralizing it all with his dual-threat potential, but that can’t be expected of him in his Irish debut. A loss won’t derail Notre Dame’s playoff hopes, but it’ll turn the heat up for the remaining 11 games.
Prediction: Notre Dame 17, Texas A&M 20
