Breaking down the stakes for Notre Dame in Week 1 vs. Texas A&M
Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M will be one of the biggest matchups of the opening weekend in college football. It might matter some more to the Fighting Irish, though, considering what it could do for their upcoming season.
Tyler Horka of Blue and Gold spoke with Kaiden Smith on the ‘On3 Roundtable’ about Notre Dame’s opener down in College Station. With how much easier the rest of the schedule is afterward, the Aggies provide them with one of their only chances for a headlining win on their resumé. That makes it all the more important for them to secure, especially to being their year with, rather than starting from at 0-1.
“I think more people around these parts in South Bend are just saying the schedule plainly is not good. It’s just not a good schedule,” explained Horka. “That’s what heightens the stakes of this week one matchup because you are playing an SEC team. You are going to their turf like I said earlier in front of 102,000 fans at Kyle Field.”
“The schedule is not that tough for Notre Dame this year. Outside of Texas A&M, it is Florida State as you mentioned. Then USC I think can surprise a lot of people at the end of the year. It’s also a rivalry game. Notre Dame struggles in Los Angeles no matter how good the Trojans are,” Horka listed off. “You’ve got three marquee matchups on your schedule. This is one of them and it comes in the very first game. You really can’t afford, if you’re Notre Dame, to go down there and slip up.”
A win over Texas A&M would then set up the season that Notre Dame is wanting. As Horka pointed out again, there’s opportunities for several wins the rest of the way. That includes their four against non-power conference opponents.
“It’s a massive game,” said Horka. “If you can get any type of victory in that game? Then you’re looking at a couple of MAC teams in Northern Illinois and Miami (OH). Notre Dame is playing two service academies in Navy, which they play every year, and then Army this year as well.”
That’s why it’s imperative for the Irish to get whatever kind of victory that they can down in Aggieland. However, it certainly won’t be easy in any sense, especially in a hostile road environment in the debut of a quality new coach for Texas A&M.
“I’ve said it before – Notre Dame would sign up for a win of any kind. I don’t care if they win at 3-2 in this thing,” said Horka. “Notre Dame would still be happy with that.”
“(Mike) Elko is going to be a very big challenge in everything that he brings to Texas A&M. Then you have all of those external factors. Like I said, the stadium, the heat. It’s not as hot up here in Indiana as it is down there in Texas,” Horka added.
This game is so big that College GameDay will be at Texas A&M before the Irish and Aggies play in primetime on August 31st.
It’s the kind of matchup that could make all the difference in the kind of year that Notre Dame has. That makes it all the more vital for them to get in order for their season to kick off on the right foot from.
“You have to treat this thing like as if it’s one of the biggest games of the season because it is. Then, obviously, you have 11 more after that,” said Horka. “If Notre Dame does win, I think they’ll be riding high and the foundation for a College Football Playoff-type of season would be set.”