As the Aggies opened the year against seventh-ranked Notre Dame, fans and players had plenty to be excited about.
The return of Mike Elko, new jersey combinations for the season and hosting College GameDay on campus all set the stage for an electrifying start.
I was fortunate to be in College Station this past weekend, where the energy and excitement were undeniable. With Kyle Field packed to its fourth-largest attendance in history at 107,315, everything seemed to align for the Aggies to kick off this year with a bang.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned...
Offense: The offensive line was a standout compared to some of their struggles last year, especially for the first game against an elite defense like Notre Dame’s. While there were some pressures, they only allowed one sack, and the communication among the line was on point. We saw a rotation of seven guys who did a solid job overall, and I saw a group that looked confident and ready to take on the challenge. For a group that faced a top-10 defense, they performed admirably.
Le’Veon Moss, Amari Daniels and EJ Smith showed potential in the backfield. The two backs ran the ball well and showed good physicality in the run game. I’m excited to see how we utilize the run game more this year in Collin Klein's offense.
Defense: The defense deserves a lot of credit for their performance. They were put in tough positions due to offensive struggles, but the unit still managed to hold its ground. I have no doubt that the D-line will be one of the best units in the country. Their size, speed, strength and tenacity were all on display in this game.
What was also encouraging was the effort that our linebackers and defensive backs played with. They pursued the ball and made plays all over the field, allowing our team to stay in the game despite offensive struggles.
Notre Dame received the ball with a short field multiple times due to interceptions and turnover on downs, but the defense took on the challenge and limited the damage as best they could, allowing only three points off those turnovers.
The unit was also able to get a huge fourth-down stop to open up the second half. This was a momentum-shifting play that could have turned the game around if the offense had capitalized.
Offense: The loss of Mark Nabou Jr. for the season at center is a huge blow to the offensive line, but I believe that the group has the depth to still be a successful unit. Some young players will need to get ready to be a part of the rotation, but this group has the backbone to be a solid line for the season.
The quarterback play was below the standard of what we’ve come to expect from Conner Weigman. He was 12-of-30 with two interceptions and just 100 yards passing. He struggled to find his rhythm, throwing two uncharacteristic picks — one on an overthrown deep route and another on a poor decision. These mistakes allowed Notre Dame to score, though the defense did well to limit the damage to just three points. Seeing Weigman throwing up during the game and hearing rumors of him being sick make it hard to know if he felt 100 percent out there on Saturday.
Miscommunications were the main issue. The inability to establish a consistent connection in the passing game was evident, and it’s something that will need to be addressed moving forward. I counted at least four plays where receivers, tight ends or running backs had separation, but it looked like Weigman expected them to break at different angles or in different directions. Whether it was a mistake on the receivers’ part or Weigman’s, the offense was not on the same page.
The tight end room also had its faults, especially in the run game. Effective blocking from your tight ends is essential in the run game, and at times, our tight ends struggled to win blocks.
One frustrating moment came after a defensive fourth-down stop in the second half when the Aggies were trying to draw Notre Dame offsides on fourth down. Notre Dame flinched, and we snapped the ball, expecting to get a free five-yard penalty... However, the Irish didn’t jump, and we ended up just throwing the ball away. This prevented us from pinning Notre Dame deep in their territory and gave Notre Dame a short field to work with. This was a missed opportunity that shifted momentum in the Irish's favor.
Another notable play occurred when Moss ran a route on third down just one yard short of the first down marker in the fourth quarter. This small error led to us punting the ball back to Notre Dame, who eventually scored the go-ahead touchdown.
Defense: The defense had a strong overall performance, but they weren’t without fault. The rushing defense is something that will need adjustments, with the biggest misstep happening in the third quarter when they allowed a 47-yard touchdown run. This was the only major breakdown in what was otherwise a solid outing. Maintaining rush lane integrity to pin the quarterback in the pocket and preventing scrambles is also an area that could use some improvement.
Despite the loss, there are plenty of reasons for optimism. This Aggie team is filled with talent and potential, and we saw glimpses of what they can achieve. The offensive line’s performance against a top-tier defense, the resilience of our defense and the leadership of the team all point to a group that can grow from this experience.
The chemistry between Weigman and his receivers will improve with time, and the mistakes we saw are fixable. We can expect this offense to find its rhythm and start having some consistent play, especially with the offensive line trending positively. And we all know this defense has the foundation to be a truly dominant unit as the season progresses.
All of this is to say that the Aggies are in no way out of the fight to do something special this year.
With the new playoff landscape, a top-10 loss does not take us out of the hunt for a playoff appearance. We did everything possible to take ourselves out of this game, but our defense kept us in the fight against a solid Notre Dame team down to the end. Multiple turnovers, mistakes that ended offensive drives and the inability of our wide receivers to connect with Weigman will not be something we see throughout the entire season.
This team will get better as the year goes on, and Elko will get everything straightened out.
As a former player, I know that the game against McNeese will be one to take out all the frustration. This next game will set the tone for how our team plays for the rest of the year. I expect our boys to come out hot and put up a dominant performance that reignites the excitement for what can be achieved.
This is just the beginning, and I’m beyond excited to see where we end up.
Gig ’Em, and BTHO McNeese!
