August 31, 2024: Texas A&M Football vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Talk about starting off with a bang! The Aggies will kick off the year with one of the top non-conference matchups of the entire season when the Fighting Irish roll into town. This is a game that will doubtless make any list of "most anticipated games" leading up to next season.
This is also a game replete with storylines, as you might expect when two programs with so much tradition get together. This will be only the 5th ever matchup between these two squads, and the first since Texas A&M football triumphed, 24-3, over the Irish in College Station in 2001.
Both of the big storylines here involve new Aggie head man Mike Elko. Dedicated fans will remember that the Aggie head coach called South Bend home for two years as the DC for the Irish before Jimbo Fisher brought him to College Station in the same role. This will not only be a rematch against an old team for Coach Elko, but a chance for revenge following a late-game touchdown that put the Irish over the top against Elko's Blue Devils last year.
Another storyline here? Former Duke QB Riley Leonard is the presumed starter for the Irish after recently declaring his intent to transfer to South Bend. After being coached by Elko in his final game in Durham, Leonard will take the field facing off against Elko and the Aggies. This one is sure to be high drama.