Report: Can Texas A&M upset Notre Dame? Paul Finebaum Gets Brutally Honest On His Opinion

No. 20 Texas A&M is attracting a lot of attention as they prepare for their first game under head coach Mike Elko. The Aggies will face No. 7 Notre Dame this Saturday in one of the top matchups of the college football season’s opening week.

Analysts are increasingly predicting that A&M could pull off an upset against a top-10 team in College Station, a sentiment echoed by ESPN’s Paul Finebaum. On ESPN’s “Get Up” Friday morning, he warned that Notre Dame should be on upset alert, noting that the Aggies have a solid chance to kick off the Elko era with a win.

“They’re a top-10 team, and I’m not just saying this because I’m far away; that atmosphere is one of the most intense in college football,” Finebaum observed. “I’ve seen average A&M squads topple elite teams before, including Alabama under Nick Saban two years ago. It could definitely happen again.”

The Aggies are favored by bookmakers, largely because of their home-field advantage and a strong roster boosted by transfers.

A crucial aspect of the game will be how well the newcomers adapt to Elko’s defensive system and the offense directed by coordinator Collin Klein.

For Notre Dame, the challenge of starting the season in a loud venue is heightened by the inexperience of their offensive line. Kyle Field’s boisterous crowd is notorious for causing procedural penalties, especially when opposing offenses struggle to communicate.

Desmond Howard, another ESPN analyst and Heisman Trophy winner, highlighted that crowd noise will be vital at Kyle Field. He pointed out that Notre Dame’s young offensive tackles might face issues like false starts or slow reactions.

While Notre Dame boasts a formidable defense and an exciting new quarterback, there are plenty of reasons to think the Aggies could make a significant statement early in 2024.