Five bold predictions for Texas A&M's Week 3 bout with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Texas A&M's date on Saturday night with the Fighting Irish isn't just a chance to avenge the team's 2024 season-opening loss to Marcus Freeman's crew, it's an opportunity to set the tone for the remainder of the 2025 season. The Aggies have looked great in the early parts of the year and there are plenty of reasons to buy into the hype surrounding this team, but seeing it play out against a team that's unquestionably one of the best in the sport will be the first tangible piece of evidence to hold onto moving forward.

So as we all prepare for the biggest game of the season, let's get bold and predict some of the crazier — but realistic — things we can find on the field this weekend.

KC Concepcion goes above 100 yards receiving

One of the most important keys to a victory this Saturday is the Aggies' ability to stretch the ball down the field and give its best playmakers a chance to make game-breaking plays. While Notre Dame has a very talented secondary, they play a ton of man coverage, which means the Aggie wideouts should have plenty of chances to take the top off the defense if they can get behind them.

This performance could certainly come from fellow wideout Mario Craver, but I'm looking at the prize wideout of the transfer portal to have his biggest game on the biggest stage. Concepcion has gone above 100 receiving yards just twice in his career, and having number three this weekend will be massive in paving the way to a Texas A&M victory.

Marcel Reed ties his single game record for rush attempts

If Texas A&M is able to stretch the field early in this game then quarterback Marcel Reed should be able to feast on the ground. Not only will that aerial attack clear out the congestion in the middle of the field, but Notre Dame's man coverage should open plenty of running lanes for Reed to get to the second and third levels of the defense.

Despite Reed being very fresh into his collegiate career, his rushing record is staggering — logging 21 carries against Auburn last season. However, Reed has averaged nearly 12 carries a game in starts since 2024 and this team is not afraid to use his legs in the biggest moments of the year. I believe that between designed runs and scrambles we could certainly see him eclipse the 20-carry mark en route to a fantastic performance Saturday night.

Texas A&M's offensive line allows zero sacks

We have an awesome battle in the trenches this weekend between Notre Dame's defensive line — one of the deepest and more athletic groups in the nation — against Texas A&M's premier offensive line. This matchup could very well be the deciding factor on Saturday, so let's paint the best case scenario for the Aggies in this one.

Notre Dame was terrific last season at getting to the quarterback, averaging 2.5 sacks per game, but was stonewalled by the Miami Hurricanes' offensive line in Week 1 and got to quarterback Carson Beck just once. I feel just as good about the talent up front for A&M as I did with the Hurricanes and, mixing in a much more mobile quarterback wearing the maroon and white, the Aggies' quarterback will be kept upright all day and avoid any negative plays in the passing game.

Taurean York sets a season-high mark for total tackles

The toughest task for the Aggies defense this weekend is halting the impact that Notre Dame's terrific tandem of running backs — Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price — have on the game. Love is probably the best pure runner in the sport, and this tandem is certainly a top three group in the country.

After setting the sport ablaze last season it's been a slow start for the talented duo — rushing for just 78 yards combined in its season-opening loss at Miami. While we'd love to see that trend continue this Saturday that's a lofty expectation to have, which is why the Aggies best run defender needs to step up and have a massive Saturday.

York notched 10 tackles in the Aggies' season opening win over UTSA, the fifth time he's hit that mark in his career. Notre Dame is going to be very intentional on getting this ground game going and forcing the ball into its best players' hands, meaning York is going to have plenty of opportunities to counteract that attack and eclipse double-digit tackles for the second time this season.

Texas A&M wins by 10-plus points

I definitely see a path for the Aggies to get a double-digit victory this Saturday, something that would send the fans down in College Station into a frenzy. If Texas A&M is able to stretch the field offensively and put up points early in the contest, they're also more than capable of reverting back to a run-happy attack in order to sustain long drives and keep Notre Dame's offense off the field.

On the other side of the ball, the Aggies defense could really put Notre Dame's run game in a stranglehold if they're consistent in their approach and, subsequently, put the weight of the world on CJ Carr's shoulders in just his second career start at quarterback. Carr fell victim to three sacks and a turnover in his Week 1 loss at Miami and, if that number was to repeat itself in Week 3, the Fighting Irish could find themselves in quite the hole early on with little room to climb out of it.

How's that all sound for a Texas A&M Saturday?