The 2023 season was a minor disaster that meant the end of the disappointing Jimbo Fisher era at Texas A&M. Fisher's first few seasons suggested potential good things ahead, but the whole house of cards finally collapsed in the kind of mess that was common under Dennis Franchione.
Jimbo is gone now, taking millions of dollars with him, and has been replaced by Mike Elko, who was a successful defensive coordinator on Jimbo's staff for awhile. Maybe he can produce better results than Sumlin and Fisher despite his smaller salary.
Mike and his team open the new season at home against Notre Dame tomorrow at 6:30 PM Central on ABC. The Aggies are favored by a field goal against a solid team that finished last season 10-3, and A&M is 2-3 against the Irish overall.
The first game against Notre Dame was easily the best one, a 35-10 win in the 1988 Cotton Bowl. The most recent game was a 24-3 Aggie win at Kyle Field in 2001. Between those defeats, the Irish won two Cotton Bowls (1993-1994) and a 2000 home game.
College Football News is predicting a slugfest between two capable defensive units, and the Aggies covering the spread with a 24-20 victory, getting Elko's tenure as head coach off to a pleasant start.
Updated 8:30 PM Saturday: This game is being dominated by both defenses, special teams (two field goals for each team, tied 6-6 at halftime), and the officials (lots of penalties).
Updated 10:25 PM Saturday: Well, there goes the undefeated national championship season in a boring 23-13 loss to Notre Dame.
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