Everyone knows what is on the table this weekend as the Aggies travel to South Bend to take on a top ten Notre Dame squad. These teams meet for the second straight year after playing at Kyle Field week one in 2024. This game is in week three, but we don’t know much more about either of these teams going in than we did for last year’s season opener.
What I do know is that Texas A&M can win this football game if they play to the level they are capable of. Let’s look at three keys to this game.
Limit explosive runs
Perhaps
the most obvious key to the game and an absolute must-have is at least containing Irish running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. While it may not have felt like it at the moment, A&M actually held Notre Dame to their season-low rushing success rate at 29.4% (they were typically well over 40%). It was the explosive runs that eventually doomed A&M.
That may make Aggie fans shudder after watching the Aggie defense give up a 75-yard touchdown run to UTSA and a 30-yard run to Utah State. That’s worrisome, no doubt, but those plays were due more to mental lapses instead of physical limitations. Against a team like Notre Dame, A&M can’t afford mental lapses, they need to play sound football for four quarters.
Another stat of importance: A&M missed 19 tackles against Notre Dame last year. After missing 13 against UTSA, they only missed 3 last week against Utah State. Sure tackling is of the utmost importance for the A&M linebackers and safeties.
Receiver separation
In last year’s edition of this game, a stingy Notre Dame secondary was able to absolutely suffocate the A&M receivers and Conner Weigman had one of his worst performances in an A&M uniform. This also allowed them to dedicate resources to stopping Le’veon Moss and the running game.
There is not a position on the Aggie roster that is more improved than wide receiver. The 2025 group is more explosive than any in recent memory, but they won’t have a more difficult challenge the rest of the year than they will this weekend. Notre Dame corners Leonard Moore (preseason first-team All-American) and Christian Gray are both high-end NFL draft prospects. However, as good as they are, Miami had guys running open all night. Can A&M do the same?
Another success rate stat: Notre Dame’s success rate allowed on passing plays against Miami was 54.8%. Aside from the title game against Ohio State, that would have been the highest they allowed by a WIDE margin in 2024. It’s possible this group has taken a step back.
Physical up front
The Aggie offensive line is as veteran a group as you will find and boasts plenty of talent and cohesion. They have rotated and played several different combinations over the first two games, so it will be nice to see the five true starters play a full game together. They have performed well so far, but I think there is another level of physicality they can achieve and an opponent like Notre Dame is one they should be fired up for.
If there is a weakness on the Irish defense, it’s the interior defensive line. Howard Cross and Rylie Mills were an outstanding duo the past two seasons, but both are in the NFL now. The guys they have there now are upperclassmen, but they just aren’t at the talent level of the guys that left. They also lack size, which is something this A&M O-line can take advantage of.
Final thoughts
It goes without saying that A&M needs QB Marcel Reed to keep progressing and play well. His running ability is something that has to be a part of the game plan to truly stress the Notre Dame defense to the max. It will be interesting to see what wrinkles Collin Klein has in store for this game.
Buckle up, Ags. This should be a fun one.
