Texas A&M will face No. 8 Notre Dame on the road in one of my significant matchups of the 2025 season. After falling to the Fighting Irish 23-13 to open the 2024 campaign, which also marked coach Mike Elko’s first game at the helm, this game holds immense meaning for his future with the program.
That may sound dramatic, but outside of Texas A&M’s win over Alabama during quarterback Johnny Manziel’s Heisman-winning 2012 season, the Aggies have failed to live up to expectations, especially on the road against ranked opponents. Texas A&M is currently 0-13 against ranked opponents on the road, with the last win coming in 2014 against Auburn. Against ranked nonconference opponents, the Aggies have not secured a road win since 1979.
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During the 2023 season, Texas A&M traveled to face Miami (FL) in Hard Rock Stadium, only to fall 48-33 in one of the more disappointing showings, which likely contributed to the eventual dismissal of former head coach Jimbo Fisher.
That’s in the past, and while Mike Elko’s first season included road wins over Florida and Mississippi State, those victories didn’t move the needle at the end of the year, as the team finished 1-4, including consecutive losses to Auburn, Texas, and USC in the Las Vegas Bowl. On paper, Texas A&M doesn’t need to defeat Notre Dame to reach the College Football Playoff, while the Irish are 0-1 after falling to Miami to open the year.
However, defeating the blue-blood program in South Bend would not only serve as a momentum boost but also provide the 2025 roster a wealth of added confidence heading into SEC play. Elko, who served as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator during the 2017 season, is well aware of the impact Notre Dame Stadium has on every visiting team.
“It’s different. I don’t know if it plays different. The thing I’ve always said about Notre Dame is that you can feel tradition.”
“You feel the tradition. You feel the history. You feel what that program has meant to college football for so long… It’s a cool place.”
During last season’s defensive battle, Notre Dame star running back Jeremiyah Love’s two touchdowns, combined with three field goals, were enough to leave Kyle Field with a season-defining victory, as those two explosive plays basically ended the Aggies’ chances. On Saturday, Elko hopes to be on the other side of the equation.
“Last year’s game was a really high-quality football game. It was two high-quality teams making a bunch of plays against each other, and I don’t think this one will be much different.”
Texas A&M’s passing game, which has produced seven touchdowns and over 509 yards from starting quarterback Marcel Reed, is now built on speed, quickness, and separation in coverage behind transfer wide receivers KC Concepcion and Mario Craver, who have hauled in six receiving touchdowns in two games, while Craver leads the team with 236 yards, good for second in the SEC.
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However, Texas A&M’s run game, which finally saw senior running back Le’Veon Moss lead the team with 68 yards and a touchdown against Utah State, needs to find its footing early and break out a handful of explosive runs to gain solid field positioning. Defensively, tackling in space, stopping the run, and pressuring quarterback CJ Carr are the keys to success.
It’s time for Mike Elko and his talented roster to prove that Texas A&M football is on the right track, starting in South Bend.
“Hopefully, some of the stages and some of the opportunities we were in last year will help.”
“Those were all opportunities for us to learn and grow. The more you get into the opportunities, you understand the emotions that go into these kinds of games. … It’s going to feel different.”
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M HC Mike Elko ready to show vast improvement vs. Notre Dame
