{"id":321369,"date":"2025-08-27T09:55:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T09:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/321369\/"},"modified":"2025-08-27T09:55:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T09:55:15","slug":"am-football-beats-notre-dame-elevates-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/321369\/","title":{"rendered":"A&M football beats Notre Dame, elevates in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

COLLEGE STATION \u2014 It has been 13 years since Texas A&M football<\/a> achieved double-digit wins and 25 seasons since its last conference championship.<\/p>\n

The No. 19 Aggies<\/a> enter the 2025 season with hopes of capturing both.<\/p>\n

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After A&M opens the season with back-to-back games against Group of Five opponents, it has a tough road test versus No. 6 Notre Dame.<\/p>\n

The Aggies will face five of the Associated Press’s Top 25 teams, including away games against No. 1 Texas<\/a> and No. 9 LSU<\/a>. A&M hasn’t played in Austin since 2010 and hasn’t won in Baton Rouge since 1994.<\/p>\n

If A&M wants to contend for its first Southeastern Conference title, it will need to improve on its 8-5 finish in 2024.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s our game-by-game predictions\u00a0for the Aggies’ 2025 season:<\/p>\n

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\"COLLEGE<\/p>\n

COLLEGE STATION, TX – OCTOBER 26: Texas A&M Aggies offensive lineman Ar’maj Reed-Adams (55) hoists Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) high over his head after his second half rushing touchdown during the football game between the LSU Tigers and Texas A&M Aggies on October 26, 2024 at Kyle Field in College Station. (Photo by Ken Murray\/Icon\u00a0Sportswire via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Icon Sportswire\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n

MORE:\u00a0Ashton Bethel-Roman gears up for bigger role, shares offseason gains<\/a><\/p>\n

Texas A&M football game-by-game predictions for 2025<\/p>\n

Week 1: Texas A&M vs UTSA<\/p>\n

UTSA heads into the 2025 season after finishing 7-6 and\u00a0seventh in the American\u00a0Conference. The Roadrunners went 1-6 on the road last season, and a Week 1 meeting at Kyle Field\u00a0against the Aggies certainly won’t help improve that record.<\/p>\n

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The Roadrunner finished eighth in the AAC, allowing 30.1 points per game, and that total feels right for an\u00a0Aggies team with a revamped offense. Expect\u00a0A&M to start strong and cruise to a 1-0 start.<\/p>\n

Final score: A&M 30, UTSA 13.<\/p>\n

Week 2: Texas A&M vs Utah State<\/p>\n

A second consecutive “payout game<\/a>” against a smaller school\u00a0should yield similar results as Week 1.<\/p>\n

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The other Aggies finished eighth in the Mountain West Conference with a 4-8 record. Utah State finished dead last in the conference in scoring defense, allowing a whopping 37 points per game, while its offense did its best to hang on, finishing fourth in scoring (31.9 points per game).<\/p>\n

A&M will dominate offensively and finish the early part of their schedule 2-0, as many expect before the tougher games begin.<\/p>\n

Final score: A&M 40, Utah State 17<\/p>\n

Week 3: Texas A&M at\u00a0No. 6 Notre Dame<\/p>\n

Week 3 offers a\u00a0chance to prove legitimacy for the Aggies. A primetime road game against last year’s national runner-up would look great on A&M’s resume and serve as a resume booster for College Football Playoff candidacy at the end of the season.<\/p>\n

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Notre Dame will be led by perhaps the most dynamic running back in the country in Jeremiyah Love, who will certainly command much of A&M’s defensive attention. But the Fighting Irish face questions at quarterback entering the season as they replace Riley Leonard who is off to the NFL, and the Aggies have revenge on their minds after a 23-13 loss<\/a> in Week 1 of 2024.<\/p>\n

A win here not only gets the Aggies to 3-0 and perhaps inside the top 10 of the national rankings but can also\u00a0be the first piece of evidence that head coach Mike Elko and his staff are moving the program in the right direction and served as vengeance from last year’s Week 1 loss in Kyle Field.<\/p>\n

Final score: A&M 24, Notre Dame 20<\/p>\n

Week 5: Texas A&M vs Auburn<\/p>\n

Last year’s quadruple-overtime loss\u00a0against Auburn was tough<\/a> for A&M\u00a0in Week 13. Now, the Aggies face the Tigers at home early in the season, just after a Week 4 bye.<\/p>\n

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Auburn has added some pieces to its roster: quarterback Jackson Arnold, who comes over from Oklahoma, and wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr., who joins the Tigers from Georgia Tech.<\/p>\n

There are reasons to believe this game may once again be close. Three of the last six meetings between the two programs\u00a0were decided by one score, and they’re tied 7-7 all-time against each other.<\/p>\n

But with more experience at key positions, the\u00a0Aggies should take care of business to start conference play.<\/p>\n

Final score: A&M 31, Auburn 20<\/p>\n

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MORE: Texas A&M football: Tyler Onyedim leans on familiar face for decision to join Aggies<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 6: Texas A&M vs Mississippi State<\/p>\n

The Bulldogs struggled in 2024, finishing\u00a02-10 overall\u00a0and 0-8 in conference play. Despite that, A&M was only able to beat Mississippi State by 10<\/a> last season. The Bulldogs won the first down battle (22 to 17) and finished the day with more total yards (367) than the Aggies (353).<\/p>\n

As the meeting shifts to College Station, A&M looks prime to start the season 5-0 for the first time since 2020.<\/p>\n

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Final score: A&M 30, Mississippi State 17<\/p>\n

Week 7: Texas A&M vs No. 15 Florida<\/p>\n

A&M managed to beat Florida<\/a> in The Swamp last season, but\u00a02025 is likely to be more challenging. This midseason matchup\u00a0could be a key pivotal game for the Aggies.<\/p>\n

There’s a lot of excitement around the Gators this season,\u00a0due to the rise of second-year quarterback DJ Lagway. The Willis native has been listed as a preseason Early Campbell Tyler Rose Award and Maxwell Award watch list after finishing with 1,915 passing yards, 12 touchdown passes and nine interceptions in 12 games. The former five-star recruit played limited snaps against A&M last year, finishing with 54 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.<\/p>\n

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The Aggies should find a way to keep their undefeated season rolling and hit the halfway mark of their year 6-0.<\/p>\n

Final score: A&M 27, Florida 24<\/p>\n

Week 8: Texas A&M at Arkansas<\/p>\n

Recently, the Aggies and Razorbacks have had exciting matchups.\u00a0A&M has won<\/a> 12 of the last 13\u00a0matchups, but seven of those games were decided by just one score.<\/p>\n

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The rivalry, which dates back to 1927, reverts to a home-and-home series with the Aggies visiting Fayetteville for the first time since 2013.<\/p>\n

Rabid Razorback fans will be a factor, but the Aggies will rely on their elite rushing attack against the conference’s No. 5 rushing defense. They squeaked\u00a0out a tough road win en route to their first 7-0 start since 1998.<\/p>\n

Final score: A&M 20, Arkansas 17<\/p>\n

Week 9: Texas A&M at No. 9 LSU<\/p>\n

This is where the winning streak for A&M comes to an end. The Aggies haven’t beaten the Tigers in Baton Rouge in over 30 years, and with LSU potentially having its best team since the Joe Burrow era, it might be too much for A&M to handle in Week 9.<\/p>\n

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Quarterback Marcel Reed had the best moment of his young career last year against LSU, where he rushed for three second-half touchdowns to help lift A&M to victory. But this time, the Tigers will be prepared for the elusive signal-caller and hand the Aggies their first loss of the year.<\/p>\n

Final score: LSU 27, A&M 20<\/p>\n

Week 11: Texas A&M at Missouri<\/p>\n

Although the\u00a0Aggies will likely enter their Week 11\u00a0matchup as the more talented team, it’s hard to imagine the 41-10 thrashing A&M pulled off at home last season happening again<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The Aggies must go to Columbia this time, with revenge assuredly fresh on\u00a0the Tigers’ minds.<\/p>\n

A&M will weather the early storm from an\u00a0amped crowd, and get back on track following the\u00a0LSU loss\u00a0before the bye week.<\/p>\n

Final score: A&M 30, Missouri 23<\/p>\n

MORE:\u00a0\u00a0Effort, TE and WR stand out in 3rd week of practice<\/a><\/p>\n

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Week 12: Texas A&M vs No. 13 South Carolina<\/p>\n

This is a game the Aggies will almost assuredly have circled on their calendar. Last season, the Gamecocks ran all over them en route to a 44-20<\/a>\u00a0stomping that set off a 1-4 finish to A&M’s season.<\/p>\n

South Carolina is led by quarterback LaNorris Sellers, a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate,\u00a0after throwing for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns, adding seven more touchdowns on the ground.<\/p>\n

Much like Florida in Week 7, this is a game that could change\u00a0the 2025 Aggies’ trajectory. A win may establish Elko and his team as genuine contenders.<\/p>\n

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Final score: A&M 24, South Carolina 21<\/p>\n

Week 13: Texas A&M\u00a0vs\u00a0Samford<\/p>\n

There isn’t much to it in Week 13. A&M should handle business against a late-season inferior opponent before it heads to Austin to take on its bitter rival. For context, A&M played New Mexico State\u00a0in a similiar spot on the 2024 schedule, and won 38-3<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Final score: A&M 37, Samford 10<\/p>\n

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Week 14: Texas A&M at No. 1 Texas Longhorns<\/p>\n

In this hypothetical scenario, this game would likely\u00a0be for a spot in the SEC championship game, much like in 2024<\/a>. The Aggies enter the matchup with one loss, and it’s fair to say the case could be similar for the Longhorns, which enter the season as the No. 1-ranked team in both major polls.<\/p>\n

However, Texas is too much for A&M again, and the Longhorns hand the Aggies their second loss.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Still, it’ll be a close game, and\u00a0the Aggies will be squarely\u00a0within the CFP conversation either way. But instead of sealing their destiny, they’ll have to wait for the committee’s selections on Dec. 2.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Final score: Texas 20, A&M 16<\/p>\n

TEXAS A&M 2025 RECORD PREDICTION:\u00a010-2.<\/p>\n

Reach Texas A&M beat reporter Tony Catalina via email at Anthony.Catalina@statesman.com. Follow the American-Statesman on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0X<\/a> for more. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Access\u00a0all of our best content<\/a>\u00a0with\u00a0this tremendous offer<\/a><\/p>\n

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