Riley Leonard reflects on the 'game within the game' he experienced facing Mike Elko

In one of the biggest games of Week 1, transfer quarterback Riley Leonard led Notre Dame to win on the road against Texas A&M. In the process, he spoiled head coach Mike Elko‘s first game with the Aggies.

That matchup between Leonard and Elko was a unique one, with Leonard playing quarterback for Elko at Duke last season. With that, the two had plenty of knowledge about one another and it created what Leonard described as a game within the game.

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“I feel like there was a game within the game when playing him,” Riley Leonard said. “Obviously, the third-down packages are always big and he got me a few times with the protections. He drew up some really good stuff. So, I’ll have to go back and watch it.”

Riley Leonard initially went to Duke as a three-star recruit in the Class of 2021, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. The next year, in 2022, Mike Elko became the Blue Devils head coach and he would go on to have plenty of success with Leonard at quarterback, going 16-9.

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The two’s relationship at Duke ended after the 2023 season. Leonard was injured and struggled to see the field at the end of the season and ultimately decided to transfer to Notre Dame. Elko, meanwhile, left to become the head coach at Texas A&M following the season.

“But, yeah, there was the game within the game and the targeting penalty,” Leonard said. “It’s funny. It’s funny because we’re playing Notre Dame versus A&M, but there’s obviously a rivalry there, so to speak, with me and Coach. It’s all love at the end of the day, but we’re both very competitive.”

In the end, Leonard got the better of his old coach. In the 23-13 win, he completed 18 out of 30 passes for 158 yards. He also rushed for 63 yards on the ground in the win.

Riley Leonard on his Notre Dame debut

Following the game, Riley Leonard praised the Texas A&M atmosphere, explaining it’s everything he hoped for in his Notre Dame debut.

“Unreal crowd. This place is something every kid dreams of,” Leonard said.

“You just look up and you can’t even see the end of the stands. It’s an incredible place to be and God bless this football team. I can’t even put into words right now. These guys worked their tail off and I know I’m the one in the mic right now, but if anybody won the game, I shouldn’t be. Credit to those guys. They played great.”