Press Conference: Elko, No. 20 Aggies host No. 7 Irish on Saturday night

Texas A&M's 2024 season opener is a top-20 showdown with No. 7 Notre Dame under the lights of Kyle Field on Saturday night. Ahead of the highly-anticipated matchup, Mike Elko, Trey Zuhn III and Taurean York addressed the media on Monday afternoon.

The following are live, paraphrased notes from the Monday afternoon media availability:

Mike Elko

• It’s finally here. That’s what I told the guys this morning. We are excited for this week, and we are excited for this opportunity. We have had a really, really good fall camp. Happy with where our team is from a health standpoint. 
   
• Our focus is simple: We want to go out and play our best football on Saturday night.
   
• We will have an electric Saturday night at Kyle Field. I have a lot of respect for Marcus Freeman. I have watched him and his defense. Offensively, they were the seventh-ranked scoring offense last year, and then they got Mike Denbrock, who had the first-ranked scoring offense last year at LSU. It starts with the quarterback, who I have a familiarity with, Riley Leonard, who is a true duel threat quarterback.
   
• As you watch the film, you are watching eight different schools’ films now. Mitchell Evans is a kid I have a lot of respect for. Their offensive line, we expect them to be competitive there. Defensively, they bring back a huge part of that group. Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills anchor the center of the defense. Xavier Watts is a ball hawk. It's a big challenge and a challenge we are excited for. 
   
• I have been on the defensive side of the ball my whole career. The coolness of being the OC, as a younger kid, that’s where I thought it might go, but as I got into coaching, it was defense. 
   
• Facing Riley Leonard is interesting and weird. Not something I want to do but it is what it is. It will be three hours competing against each other and the rest of the year rooting for him.
   
• You go into Week 1, and you aren't talking about uncertainties. You do your best to be flexible with the plans you create. It's about being prepared enough to go in and being flexible. 
   
• I have a lot of respect for the brand Notre Dame is. It’s recognizable. We have tremendous excitement because it’s the No. 7 team in the country.
   
• Notre Dame is one of the programs where there is so much rich tradition in the building. 
   
• They don't give you soft surfaces with the run game. Sometimes, teams play in soft boxes where you have a run angle. Notre Dame won’t give us that. We will have to get creative with the run game.
   
• There will be a moment walking down the tunnel where it hits you. It will be a surreal feeling following the drums down the tunnel. Outside of that, you are just trying to help the guys and have the game plan to be successful. It’s head down and go. But I would be lying if I said it won’t be special walking down the tunnel that first time. 
   
• I would argue Riley Leonard has more of an upper hand than we do because he knows the defense. It’s blended with what coach Jay Bateman brought in. 
   
• The plus of playing a top team is there was a sense of urgency in training camp. It played a huge role in that. The negative of it is its an opener. You will have to come out of the tunnel and execute. You have to play penalty-free football.
   
• The line of scrimmage dictates game flow so much. Offensively, if we can control the line of scrimmage, protect the pocket for Conner Weigman and create run lanes, it makes things easier. In this one, that will play a huge role.
   
• If you look at what we are doing on social media, there have been more posts and creative content going out right now. You have to do that now. Recruiting is still the lifeblood of your program. That’s intentional. With College GameDay coming to campus, that is eyes on your campus. They will see Aggie Park for the first time. You can market substance, and that's what we’re trying to do.
   
• Notre Dame has recruited the O-line really well for a really long time. If they are starting that young, they are probably a future NFL Draft pick. The kids they put out there will be talented. 
   
• Rueben Owens is our only guy out. A couple of knicks and bruises, but nothing holding any guys back. It has been a really successful fall camp from that perspective.
   
• Our wide receiver group is really excited to get out there and see what they can become.