Texas A&M football preseason previews: Why A&M upsets ND in week one showdown

There’s a lot riding on week one for both Texas A&M football and Notre Dame. Here’s why the Aggies can send the Irish packing.
Notre Dame wide receiver Micah Gilbert (14) Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the annual Notre Dame Blue-Gold spring football game at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend.
Notre Dame wide receiver Micah Gilbert (14) Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the annual Notre Dame Blue-Gold spring football game at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. / MANDATORY CREDIT GREG SWIERCZ / USA
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Prediction for Texas A&M football vs. Notre Dame

There’s obviously a lot of guesswork going on here, as we haven’t seen any actual football yet be played between these two teams. That said, I feel like there are a lot of questions about Notre Dame that are simply going unaddressed in most discussions about this team.

For example, Riley Leonard’s absence from spring football has not been a huge talking point thus far, nor has Mike Elko’s familiarity with him. I feel like that will play into this game in a huge way, especially with how long Elko and company will have had to gameplan.

This should be a ferocious defensive line filled with highly experienced players, and I’m not sure a retooled Irish OL is ready for what’s coming. In a deafening Kyle Field, every big defensive play will be a millstone around the neck of an opposing offense—this is an Aggie fanbase itching for the return of the wrecking crew.

Of course, the Aggies have their own questions. Is Weigman really that good? Who will emerge at receiver? Can the OL pick up the slack? These are all valid queries.

That said, I think I’m going with the home team here. This is a huge moment for both squads, but I’m putting my faith in Elko and his staff to produce with the talent they’ve inherited—and it is a considerable amount, to be sure. I’ll go with an Aggie win, 34-21, as they pull away late.

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