Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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38 SEPT. 13, 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED GAME PREVIEW: TEXAS A&M have a chance to win in South Bend. Ash inherited a talented Notre Dame defense and proven as- sistant coaches in the offseason, so that doesn't seem likely. Elko may need to play a bigger role in aiding de- fensive coordinator Jay Batemen after last season, because Elko's defensive prowess predates his time as Notre Dame's defensive coordinator in 2017. His return to Notre Dame Stadium might not come with a warm welcome. Advantage: Notre Dame INTANGIBLES Notre Dame Stadium should be rocking in the home opener for the Irish. It's not going to be close to the atmosphere at Kyle Field last season, but Notre Dame's fan base is looking forward to sup- porting Freeman's program in person once again. It can't be forgotten that the two worst losses of Freeman's tenure came in Notre Dame Stadium to Marshall in 2023 and Northern Illinois in 2024. The Irish won't be caught overlooking a Texas A&M team they're familiar with from last year. And a well-timed off week following the Miami game should also play in Notre Dame's favor. The lessons learned from last season should still resonate with Notre Dame's players. They know how to handle setbacks and rise to the occasion. If there's a reason to doubt this Notre Dame team, it's not in this realm. Advantage: Notre Dame Todd D. Burlage: Notre Dame 24, Texas A&M 20 The Aggies limped to the finish line last season, losing four of their final five games to finish 8-5. But they return 15 starters (7 offense, 8 defense) on a team that is expected to make a big performance jump as head coach Mike Elko enters his second season on the job. A disruptive pass rush and the dual-threat abilities of redshirt sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed will be the calling cards for the Aggies this season. But neither will be enough to upset the Irish at home. Steve Downey: Notre Dame 26, Texas A&M 10 CBS Sports tabbed Texas A&M No. 1 on its list of the most overrated pro- grams of the past decade. It's hard to argue with that, especially after the Aggies finished 1-4 to negate a 7-1 start in 2024. Texas A&M has lost its last 13 matchups with top-25 teams in true road games dating back to 2014, and they won't snap that streak in South Bend. Both teams lost key players on the defensive line, but the Irish are better equipped to con- trol this game in the trenches and notch another win over A&M. Eric Hansen: Notre Dame 30, Texas A&M 20 The battle of former Notre Dame defensive coordinators will produce the highest combined score in the seven-game history of the series, albeit with a relatively low bar to clear. But defense will be the difference in who leaves Notre Dame Stadium victorious, in the end. The Irish, gunning for their third straight national statistical title in pass- efficiency defense, will slow Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed's roll, while the Aggies won't have enough answers to keep Irish running back Jeremiyah Love and his sidekicks from taking over the game. Tyler Horka: Notre Dame 27, Texas A&M 17 The Fighting Irish can use the same script to defeat the Aggies that they did a year ago; great defense and opportunistic offense. A couple key kicks could be critical again as well. With both teams still figuring themselves out this early into the season, I don't expect too many offensive fireworks. Notre Dame will have more of them, though, just like they did in College Station in the 2024 season opener. And just like on that day, Notre Dame will once again win the football game, too. Tyler James: Notre Dame 27, Texas A&M 17 The Aggies had their chance to beat Notre Dame in last season's opener at Kyle Field. It's not going to get easier in Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish will focus on slowing down talented running back Le'Veon Moss out of the backfield for a second year in a row and limiting quarterback Marcel Reed as a running threat. Meanwhile, the Irish's secondary should be able to handle the passing game threats. Notre Dame should find repeated success running the football against A&M, though head coach Mike Elko may have a defensive wrinkle that could cause a slower start for the Irish. Kyle Kelly: Notre Dame 24, Texas A&M 14 Last year in College Station, Notre Dame proved to be the better-prepared and most conditioned team, helping the Irish kick off the 2024 season with a win. Now, the Irish get the Aggies on their home turf. Yes, Notre Dame has had some home game hiccups in the past under Marcus Freeman. However, I am betting on Freeman to have his guys ready to take down Mike Elko's squad for a second season in a row. Jack Soble: Notre Dame 31, Texas A&M 20 I don't think CJ Carr is going to light the world on fire in his second start against a complex Mike Elko defense. I do think, however, that Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price will go absolutely ballistic. Watch last year's Texas A&M-South Carolina highlights; the Aggies' back seven struggled with tack- ling down the stretch and many of the players responsible are back. Carr will do just enough to hold off A&M's own strong run game, and much like last year in College Station, Notre Dame will kick a late field goal to seal it. Senior cornerback Will Lee III was tabbed as a preseason second-team All-SEC selection after nothing 42 tackles, 10 passes broken up and 2 interceptions in 2024. PHOTO COURTESY TEXAS A&M ATHLETICS Staff Predictions