The Texas A&M Aggies have always been a team that receives pre-season hype. They recruit as well as anyone in the country, and on paper, they consistently have one of the best rosters in college football.
Despite the hype, A&M has struggled to live up to it, something they are hoping to change under second-year head coach Mike Elko. The Aggies are going to win at least nine games in 2025 to be in contention for the College Football Playoff, and one analyst believes that there’s a distinct game on their schedule that could make or break Texas A&M’s season.
Analyst Says the Notre Dame Game Will Be the ‘Decider’ of Texas A&M’s Season
In Elko’s first season as Texas A&M’s head coach, the Aggies went 7-5 but were competitive with a lot of the top programs in the country.
They are looking to build off the success of Elko’s first year, but to do so, they must make it through a gauntlet of a schedule in 2025.
The Aggies will have to face some of the top programs in the SEC, like Texas, LSU, Florida, and South Carolina. But before Texas A&M even gets to conference play, they will travel on the road to take on Notre Dame in week three.
Dan Crain, a host of the “Crain and Company” podcast, believes that the matchup with Notre Dame will be the most pivotal game of the Aggies’ season.
“That Notre Dame game to me is the one that could ultimately be the decider,” Crain said. “If you do go on the road and beat Notre Dame, that obviously makes that 10-win mark more achievable.
“But if Notre Dame does what we think they’re going to do… that 9-3 mark with a win on the road in South Bend… could get you into the college football playoff.”
Crain’s take isn’t wrong, as Notre Dame is coming off a season where they went to the national championship. Having to face a team of that caliber so early in the season will set the tone for what’s to come for the Aggies.
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Texas A&M held its own against Notre Dame last season when it took on the Fighting Irish at home. The game was close throughout, and the Aggies looked competitive, but in the end, Notre Dame ended up winning 23-13.
But the Aggies can’t keep on just making their matchups with the top programs in the nation competitive. They must start winning them if they ever want to get over the hump and become one of the best teams in the country.
A win over Notre Dame would show the college football world that A&M is the real deal, and as Craig mentions, will greatly help them down the line.
