Head Coach Marcus Freeman begins his third year at the helm of Notre Dame as he takes his Fighting Irish on the road against Texas A&M in a highly anticipated matchup. The Irish boast an exceptionally talented squad led by a veteran defense and a seasoned quarterback in graduate transfer Riley Leonard.

The Aggies are a patchwork collection of skilled athletes assembled by first year coach Mike Elko. Both Elko and Leonard spent the last three seasons at Duke, although that seems like a lifetime ago for both of them. The environment for this contest promises to be hostile for the visitors and sweltering for all participants. Kickoff is at 7:30 pm Eastern time with national television coverage provided by ABC.

Texas A&M is coming off a 7-6 campaign in 2023 which culminated in the ouster of Coach Jimbo Fisher. Elko, a former Defensive Coordinator at the school, was brought back to lead the team and retool the roster. Over 20 players moved on while over 25 others came in during the offseason. Elko’s chief task has been to assimilate this diverse group of players into cohesive offensive, defensive and special teams units.

He sounded an optimistic note this week when asked about his readiness for the Irish. “I think we’ve had a really, really good fall camp,” he said. “Happy with the progress that we’ve made across the board, happy with where our team is from a health standpoint going into the week to get ready for this opener. I think we’ve gotten a lot done in terms of becoming more physical, getting better, improving, but also getting our guys to this week healthy, ready to roll.”

Meanwhile, Freeman’s focus has been on the offensive side of the ball. The line has no seniors, while right tackle Aamil Wagner, right guard Billy Schrauth and center Ashton Craig are juniors. Left tackle will be manned by true freshman Anthonie Knapp. Leonard is working hard in fall camp after missing spring practice due to ankle surgery. His top six wide receivers include three graduate transfers, and there has been precious little time to get acclimated. These areas will improve as the season progresses but the pressure to win this opener is as stifling as the Texas heat.

The battle in the trenches is the most concerning aspect of the game. Texas A&M has arguably the deepest and most talented defensive line in the country. If they consistently overpower the young Irish front, the contest will take an ugly turn.

Freeman’s comments this week demonstrated respect for the opponent but a quiet confidence in his players. “It’s going to be a great challenge,” he said. “Their defensive line is going to present a great challenge no matter if you’re experienced or not. That’s what you’ll see on film over and over. They’ve got a really good defensive line. But the guys that are going to play, they go against our defensive line every day. We feel very confident in the defensive line we have. They’ve shown to have success against really good defensive linemen, and we feel those guys will give us the best chance. That’s why we made that decision (to start young players over more experienced veterans).”

Both teams had successful fall camps in terms of the number and severity of injuries, although they did not emerge unscathed. The Irish lost starting left tackle Charles Jagusah for the season on August 3 with a torn pectoral muscle. More recently, reserve cornerback Chance Tucker tore his ACL and is also out for the year. Texas A&M recently lost perhaps its best running back, Rueben Owens, for the season. The Aggies were already thin at the RB position so Owens’ absence will be felt going forward.

NOTRE DAME’S OFFENSE VS. TEXAS A&M’S DEFENSE

Defensive end Nic Scourton from Purdue is the Aggie’s best incoming transfer. The All-American candidate joins tackle Shemar Turner and end Shemar Stewart to form a menacing front wall. Returnee DJ Hicks is an impact player who will line up inside next to Turner to complete Elko’s four-man alignment. Elko also added Wisconsin graduate Rodas Johnson and UCF graduate Josh Celiscar to the rotation. Depth is obviously a strong suit and the talent level is off the charts.

The Irish offensive line is anchored by Craig and Schrauth in the middle. Wagner has a bit of experience at right tackle but the left side is the main area of concern. Knapp will line up against Scourton, which seems like a colossal mismatch on paper. Notre Dame may need to seek help from its tight ends to double team and neutralize Scourton.

The final area of concern is at left guard, where the year-long position battle between seniors Rocco Spindler and Pat Coogan was won by….sophomore Sam Pendleton. With two young and untested linemen starting next to each other on the Leonard’s blind side, the Irish are truly rolling the dice.

Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock will need to establish the run in order to keep the Aggies from teeing off in third and long situations. The tandem of Jeremiah Love and Jadarian Price are talented backs who are strong enough to break tackles inside and fast enough to go the distance. Look for inside runs behind Craig and Schrauth, as well as RPO keepers by Leonard, who is a fearless and accomplished runner.

Denbrock also provided frank commentary regard his young offensive linemen and the challenge they face. “This is a good group of defensive linemen they’re matched up against,” he said earlier this week. “Are they going to win every battle? No. Are they going to lose every battle? No. We want them sticking their face on people and battling all night long. We’ll take the result.”

Sophomore middle linebacker Taurean York had a strong freshman year and was voted a team captain earlier this month. Others who continue to compete for spots alongside York include Daymion Sanford and transfers Scooby Williams and Solomon DeShields. All three are listed with equal status on Texas A&M’s newly released depth chart.

When Leonard drops back to pass, Jayden Thomas, Jordan Faison, and Jaden Greathouse are wide receivers whose names are familiar to Irish fans. Also in the rotation are three talented graduate transfers. Beaux Collins has impressed in camp this fall and will start at one of the outside positions. Kris Mitchell and Jayden Harrison are speedsters who will stretch the field. This group will also test the play-by-play announcers who must keep track of two Jaydens, one Jaden and a Jordan.

Tight end is once again a strength for Notre Dame. Mitchell Evans has sufficiently recovered from an ACL tear last October to secure his starting position. He is backed up by a talented and experienced pair in Cooper Flanagan and Eli Raridon. All will see action as a sole tight end or together in multiple personnel packages.

The Aggie secondary is still a work in progress. The sure bets are safety Bryce Anderson and nickel corner Tyreek Chappell. Both were starters on last year’s team. The other safety and two corner spots remain uncertain. Competition among a number of transfers is ongoing. Those in the mix at corner include Will Lee from Kansas and Dezz Ricks from Alabama. Anderson’s partner at safety could be returnee Dalton Brooks, or an incoming transfer such as Trey Jones or Marcus Ratcliffe. The secondary was a migraine headache for Texas A&M in 2023 and may remain that way until deeper into the season.

Elko does not lack talented options at any of the back seven positions but his challenge is to settle on the starting group and get them to play together as a cohesive unit. A dominant front four can certainly cover a lot of mistakes behind them, however, so the Irish line must keep the pass rush at bay and allow Leonard to exploit any weaknesses downfield.

TEXAS A&M’S OFFENSE VS. NOTRE DAME’S DEFENSE

Quarterback Conner Weigman played only four games in 2023 before suffering a season-ending foot injury. The Aggies then struggled home with a 4-5 record. As was the case with Leonard at Notre Dame, Weigman’s activities were limited this spring. All reports indicate he is fully healthy and ready to play on Saturday. Marcel Reed and Javien Henderson continue to battle for the primary backup role.

Weigman completed 69% of his passes last year. His targets include returnees Noah Thomas, Jahdae Walker, and Moose Muhammad. Transfer Cyrus Allen is an explosive player who will line up in the slot. Dropped passes have been an issue in fall camp but this group brings plenty of speed and danger to the table. As is the case with the Irish wideouts, none can be considered a true number one receiver at this point.

The main concern for Aggie offense is the running game. It was ranked 91^st in the country last season, and the loss of Owens makes them weaker on paper. Veteran Le’Veon Moss is a powerful runner who will start and get the bulk of the work. Amari Daniels and EJ Smith, a transfer from Stanford, will provide relief. The task for Elko and Line Coach Adam Cushing is to generate a competent rushing attack by improving the level of play up front, which was only marginal in 2023.

Trey Zuhn, a team captain, returns at left tackle. He is the only secure starter as the other spots have been wide open to competition. As of now, it appears that Chase Bisontis will move from right tackle in 2023 to start at left guard, where he is better suited. Transfer Ar’maj Reed-Adams has been penciled in at right guard. Center remains uncertain as Mark Nabou and transfer Kolinu’u Faaiu battle it out. The same is true at right tackle where Rueben Fatheree and Dametrious Crownover vie for the starting job.

At tight end, Donovan Green has not made it all the way back from ACL surgery last August and is currently listed as a backup to transfer Tre Watson (Fresno State). Watson caught 38 passes in the Mountain West Conference last season and will get the starting nod.

Notre Dame’s deep and experienced defense should create its share of havoc plays against this group. The Irish are deep up front with Howard Cross, Rylie Mills, and Jason Onye leading the way inside. Ends RJ Oben, Jordan Botelho, Josh Burnham, Boubacar Traore, and freshman Bryce Young will rotate to maintain pressure on Weigman.

The Irish lost two veteran linebackers  to the NFL in JD Bertrand and Marist Liufau but the cupboard is hardly bare. The current group features steady holdover Jack Kiser and a wealth of speed and athleticism in Jalen Sneed, Drayk Bowen, Jaiden Ausberry, and freshman phenom Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa.

Notre Dame’s stellar secondary will have its hands full with the speed of the A&M receivers, especially if Weigman has time to throw the ball. Cornerbacks Benjamin Morrison, Christian Gray, Jaden Mickey, and nickel back Jordan Clark are highly skilled and battle hardened. Freshman Leonard Moore is also turning heads in practice and may see action as a reserve.

Safeties Xavier Watts and Adon Shuler have locked down the starting jobs. Backups Rod Heard, Luke Talich, and Kennedy Urlacher can also play. Watts won the Bronco Nagurski Award for the best defensive player in college football last year and is looking to improve his game even further.

Depth at every position is certainly an advantage for this defense. Even more compelling is the fact that they have played together for three years under Coordinator Al Golden and are able to execute their scheme with speed and confidence. Finally, and not to be overshadowed by the Irish offense, Golden’s defense boasts its own pair of Jaidens, a Jalen, two Jordans and a Jason.

SPECIAL TEAMS

A trend for many teams in college football is to use the transfer portal for kicking specialists rather than awarding scholarships to untested high schoolers. Notre Dame has adopted this philosophy and used it again during the offseason. Kicker Mitch Jeter joined the Irish after a successful career at South Carolina, while 6’6”, 220-pound punter James Rendell left his native Australia to work in South Bend. Early reports indicate both are performing well in practice. Such success does not always translate into live action but both are mature 20-somethings rather than 18-year-old freshmen.

Faison and Greathouse will return punts for the Irish while the staff named Harrison, Price and Love for kickoff return duty. Price had an electrifying 100-yard scoring return against USC last season. The overall depth on the squad should bode well for the competency of this year’s special teams.

Returning Texas A&M kicker Randy Bond has been accurate but his accuracy suffers after 40 yards. Bond hit 75% of his attempts last season while suffering four blocks. Sophomore punter Tyler White did not play as a freshman. He has a strong leg but consistency is an ongoing concern.

The loss of Owens to injury removed the Aggies’ primary option in the return game. The job may go to highly touted freshman Terry Bussey. Muhammad and Moss are the most likely alternatives.

SUMMARY

Both offenses are attempting to integrate unfamiliar faces against a formidable defense. Leonard and Weigman are attempting to shake off rust and bounce back from foot injuries that plagued them through the spring. Rebuilt offensive lines will get a baptism of fire against a formidable defensive front without benefit of a less stressful opening game.

Defensively, the goal for each team is to dominate the line of scrimmage and force the opponent to make unwanted adjustments. The team that can establish a respectable running game and stay away from repeated third and long situations will have an advantage. Also, the quarterback who can escape pressure and deliver positive yards will become a difference maker. Leonard would seem to have an advantage in this realm.

Expect both passers to get the ball out quickly and give their skilled athletes a chance to break a big play. Missed tackles in space could become very costly. If the Irish are able to have success on the ground, they can call play-action passes on first or second down to push the ball downfield. Conversely, the level of crowd noise and pocket pressure will be extreme on third and long, so more conservative play calls are likely.

Mistakes and blown assignments are expected in an opening game. The Irish are at a disadvantage because they are the road team but there are no acceptable excuses. Freeman has spent considerable time and energy during the offseason working on the preparation for this type of challenge. The game plans on both sides of the ball need to make the opponent adjust to what the Irish are doing rather than react and scramble. Last year’s performances in this regard were dismal against Louisville, Clemson, and Elko’s Duke team. That same level will not work against the Aggies.

Here are a few questions that will shed light on the outcome:

• Can Notre Dame maintain its poise in a hot and hostile environment?
• Which team will have the fewest penalties and turnovers?
• Which team will be able to run the ball most effectively?
• Will Leonard or Weigman best handle the pressure?
• Which team will tackle best, particularly in the secondary?
• Will the Irish special teams deliver a game-changing play?
• Can Notre Dame’s new wide receivers make a positive impact?
• Which coaching staff will win the battle of planning and adjustments?

PREDICTION

Opening games are typically difficult to forecast, especially with the amount of turnover among players and coaches in today’s game. It seems safe to predict a low scoring struggle where yards and points are grudgingly surrendered. Scores attributed to turnovers or special teams are unforeseeable but often decide contests such as this one. With those disclaimers, I believe the Aggie’s strength along the defensive front is offset by the deep and solid position groups across all three levels of the Irish defense. The fact that they have played together in the same system for three years will also makes life difficult for Weigman and company.

The offenses are fairly evenly matched. Leonard is a better runner, which may tip the scales in Notre Dame’s favor because it gives Texas A&M another element to worry about. Both offensive lines have issues and unknowns, as do the wide receivers. The Irish have an advantage at running back and tight end. They should also have the better of special teams, as it is difficult for a new coach (Elko) with unpracticed players to get that phase operating smoothly by opening night.

The elephant in the room is the environment at Kyle Field. As much as Notre Dame has prepared for this venue, it is regarded as the toughest place to play as a visitor in college football for good reason. We won’t know how the Irish will react until we see it. Recent experiences in similar situations during the Kelly era have left permanent scars on Notre Dame fans who have watched their team melt down in stupefying fashion.

That brings us to coaching. Elko outcoached Gerad Parker last season but did not have the horses to hold off the Irish in the fourth quarter. This year, talent is not an issue for A&M but Mike Denbrock is a much more formidable opponent. The Aggies have a talented Offensive Coordinator in Colin Klein but Notre Dame counters with the savvy veteran Golden. Again, these elements appear to be relatively even, so in my mind the final result becomes a referendum on the growth and leadership ability of Freeman as he enters Year 3 of his tenure.

The importance of this game to the program and to Freeman’s career cannot be overstated. It is a watershed moment given the stakes and Notre Dame’s place in the future as the sport evolves. The Irish cannot keep losing elite recruits to the top programs until they start beating them. It will not be easy to win this battle but the visitors have the ability and motivation to get the job done.

NOTRE DAME 20  TEXAS A&M 16

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