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Texas A&M Football Week 1 Opponent Preview: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The Texas A&M Aggies are eyeing an upset of the Irish on Saturday.

Matt Galatzan

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (13) who is hurt, dresses and throws some pre-game passes with fellow quarterbacks Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the annual Notre Dame Blue-Gold spring football game at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend.
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (13) who is hurt, dresses and throws some pre-game passes with fellow quarterbacks Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the annual Notre Dame Blue-Gold spring football game at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. / MANDATORY CREDIT GREG SWIERCZ / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Its finally here.

The No. 20 Texas A&M Aggies will get their first real test of the season as they open up the 2024 season and the Mike Elko era with a non-conference matchup against the No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Kyle Field on Saturday.

It's the first meeting between the two programs since 2001, a 24-3 Aggies win at Kyle Field. But the Irish hold the overall series lead 3-2. The first three meetings were in 1988, 1993, and 1994 in the Cotton Bowl.

The Irish made some significant moves in the transfer portal this offseason, including bringing in former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard, who started under Aggies coach Mike Elko for the Blue Devils last season.

While Week 1 poses a big litmus test for the Aggies, it does the same for the Irish.

That said, Mike Elko would love nothing more than to get his first season started off with a win over the No. 7 Irish on his home field.

Leonard
Duke QB Riley Leonard (13) passed against the U of L defense during their game at the L&N Stadium in Louisville, Ky. on Oct. 28, 2023. / Sam Upshaw Jr./Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH

2023 Record: 9-3

Head coach: Marcus Freeman

Returning Offensive Leaders:

Passing: QB Riley Leonard (Duke Transfer)

2023 stats: 95 of 165 (57.6%) for 1,102 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions in seven games.

Rushing: RB Jeremiyah Love

2023 stats: 71 carries for 385 (5.42 ypc) yards and one touchdown.

Receiving: WR Kris Mitchell (FIU Transfer)

2023 stats: 64 receptions for 1,118 yards and six touchdowns (17.5 ypc)

Returning Defensive Leaders:

Tackles: LB Jack Kister - 62

Interceptions: S Xavier Watts - 7

Sacks: DE RJ Oben (Duke Transfer) - 5

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Matt Galatzan
MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Texas Longhorns In SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI and a long-time member of the Football Writer’s Association of America. He graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry in 2014 covering the Dallas Mavericks with the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com for 247Sports. He then moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of the Longhorns and Aggies sites a year later. Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki, ex Longhorns Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, FOX News and former ESPN host Will Cain, as well as countless other recruits and former players for each of the teams he has covered. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan.

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