This season-opening matchup is as even as it gets
The 2024 versions of Texas A&M and Notre Dame are so similar it’s kind of ridiculous. Defensive-minded head coach? Check. Stellar defensive line? Check. A top notch QB playing behind an iffy offensive line with question marks at receiver? Check, check, and check. Notre Dame is very confident in their secondary, but they have uncertainty at linebacker. You can flip those two for the Aggies.
From a matchup standpoint, everyone knows that the A&M defensive line against the Notre Dame offensive line is an enormous mismatch in favor of A&M, and that Irish QB Riley Leonard is a threat to escape the pocket and chew up yards on the ground. Instead of rehashing those talking points, let’s take a look at three of the other most important matchups that could ultimately determine the game.
A&M’s Interior Offensive Line v. Howard Cross and Rylie Mills
Notre Dame has some nice players at defensive end (RJ Oben will a challenge for A&M’s tackles), but the strength of the unit is at DT with Howard Cross III (a second-team all-american in 2023) and Rylie Mills. The duo combined to generate 71 QB pressures last season and are extremely veteran players (6th and 5th-year seniors respectively). If you ask any quarterback where to worst place to be pressured from is it’s the interior, and Notre Dame has two dudes who excel at that.
On the A&M side, Koli Faaiu and Mark Nabou are still battling to start at center, while Chase Bisontis and Armaj Reed-Adams are locked in at left and right guard respectively. Bisontis and Reed-Adams are both maulers in the run game, while the latter has proven to be a plus pass blocker (just five pressures allowed in nine games at guard last year).
The biggest key here is in pass protection. For A&M to have success on offense, their interior needs to be able to keep Cross and Mills out of Conner Weigman’s face and give him time in the pocket. As far as the running game goes, I think A&M can move these guys off the ball a little bit. Everyone on the A&M interior is 320+ while the only DT on the Irish roster that breaks 300lbs is a 3rd-stringer. Cross and Mills have been susceptible to double teams in the past, so it’s certainly something to watch.
For more information about the battle in the trenches, read this breakdown from Jay Arnold.
Collin Klein v. Notre Dame’s Linebackers
The Irish are replacing two NFL draft picks (Marist Liufau and JD Bertrand) at the inside linebacker spots. True sophomore Drayk Bowen (a former 4-star prospect) takes over at middle linebacker while 6th-year senior Jack Kiser is moving from Rover to the weakside linebacker spot.
Collin Klein is a magician at keeping defenses off balance and deceiving linebackers with different formations, motions, and eye candy. With Bowen making his first start and Kiser playing a new position, watch for Klein to scheme some things up to get them out of position and potentially hit some big plays in the run and the pass game. Pair this with our first key and it could be a big night for the A&M rushing attack.
A&M’s LBs and Safeties v. Notre Dame’s RBs and TEs
The matchup of Notre Dame’s receivers against the A&M DBs is likely a wash and with the ability of A&M’s pass rush, I don’t think Riley Leonard is going to have time to sit in the pocket and take a bunch of deep shots. In addition, Notre Dame’s best playmakers are at RB and TE in Jeremiyah Love and Mitchell Evans.
To counter the fierce pass rush from the Aggies, expect the Irish to try to get the ball to the electric Love in space via the passing game. Love has speed to burn and is tougher to bring down than you might think.
Tight end Mitchell Evans is a tough coverage assignment at 6’5, but is just 10 months removed from an ACL injury. He is expected to play though, so A&M will need to account for him and keep him from moving the chains.
Linebacker Taurean York and safety Bryce Anderson should be up to the task, but A&M needs to get good play out of their counterparts as well to keep the Irish offense in check. Which linebacker will step up? Is Dalton Brooks ready to take the next step? Keep an eye on Trey Jones at safety who, at 6’3, could counter the size advantage of the Irish tight ends.