(Collaborated with a news paper for this piece and wanted to save it here digitally rather than just in print)
Reeling from a crushing August 31 loss to the University of Miami, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish now face another daunting challenge as they welcome the Texas A&M Aggies to South Bend this Saturday. However, the Aggies aren’t on the same level as the Miami Hurricanes, who are ranked fifth in the Associated Press Top 25, while the Aggies sit at No. 16. That said, Texas A&M is no slouch, boasting the 27th-ranked offense in the NCAA in yards per game.
It should be noted that the Aggies have achieved this while facing two relatively easy opponents to start the season in UTSA and Utah State; however, they remain a top-25 team and a serious threat to hand the Fighting Irish their second loss of the season.
As the Irish open their home schedule in South Bend, they’ll be expected to come out firing and make a statement in front of their fans. After using one of their two bye weeks last week, fans hope the team doesn’t look rusty or out of sync to start their home slate. With redshirt freshman CJ Carr at quarterback, the Irish aren’t expected to start slow against the Aggies.
The Irish got off to a sluggish start in Week 1 against Miami, which proved costly. A big reason for that was Miami’s new and improved defense, but scoring only seven points through 24 minutes from the nation’s No. 6 team was inexcusable. Carr came alive late, scoring two of his three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including a clutch rushing touchdown that tied the game with just 3:21 remaining. While the Irish ultimately lost after Miami’s Carter Davis nailed a 47-yard field goal with 1:04 left, it’s clear that head coach Marcus Freeman will want a repeat of the offense’s strong performance in the final minutes.
I say “most of the fourth quarter” because, while Carr played well in the last 12 minutes, both the offensive and defensive lines struggled — some might even argue for much of the game. Carr was sacked just twice, but Miami’s pressure, especially on the final drive, ultimately cost Notre Dame the win. Defensively, Chris Ash had the line playing aggressively in the first half, but that intensity faded in the second half until late in the fourth. These issues will need to be corrected by Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff in South Bend.
The Aggies are allowing the 27th-fewest yards per game, demonstrating the strength of their defense, although it’s worth noting that we’re only two weeks into the 2025 season. While the Irish allowed 205 passing yards to Miami in Week 1 — not terrible considering the Hurricanes are ranked fifth — stopping the run remains their true strength. Notre Dame held Miami to just 119 rushing yards, a very respectable performance despite the defense’s lack of aggression for much of the second half.
Offensively, Carr will undoubtedly be the biggest factor on Saturday. Facing a respectable Aggies defense, he’ll need to replicate the 140.5 QBR he posted in Week 1. Texas A&M also boasts a potent offense, scoring over 40 points in each of their first two games. While those games came against teams they were expected to beat, their offensive performance is still strong and not something the Irish can take lightly.
As Texas A&M faces its first ranked opponent of the season, the Aggies will want to perform under the lights in South Bend and make a statement that they belong in the College Football Playoff conversation. For Notre Dame, after their rough loss earlier in the season, they still need to prove they deserve the top-10 ranking they’ve held all year. A win is crucial, as a 0-2 start could nearly eliminate them from playoff contention.
The most likely outcome is a shootout in South Bend, but don’t be surprised if the Irish rise to the occasion and show that they’re serious contenders on their quest to return to the National Championship game this season.
SLOT 