Notre Dame faces must-win matchup against Texas A&M

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame football is trying to shake off a rough start. After losing to ranked Miami in Week One and taking last week off with a bye, the Irish return home for what feels like a must-win game against Texas A&M.

If the Irish fall to 0-2, it would be a major setback for head coach Marcus Freeman. His credibility after last year’s playoff run would take a hit, and the road back to the College Football Playoff would be slim. But history shows Freeman has a knack for getting his team to respond.

In 2022, Notre Dame bounced back from upset losses to Marshall and Stanford by beating No. 4 Clemson. The following year, after a heartbreaking loss to Ohio State, they rallied to outlast Duke on the road. And last season, the Irish strung together 13 straight wins after falling to NIU at home.

Freeman also has a strong record when his team has extra time to prepare. He is 5-0 in the regular season after a bye and 9-1 overall, including bowls and playoff games. His only loss came in his coaching debut at the Fiesta Bowl.

Still, Notre Dame cannot count on another long streak to rescue their season. With only Miami and Texas A&M currently ranked on their schedule, the Irish need quality wins to stay in the playoff conversation.

Offensively, first-year coordinator Mike Denbrock may need to lean more on star running back Jeremiyah Love. Texas A&M gave up 203 rushing yards to UTSA in their opener, showing vulnerability against the run. Love had only 10 carries for 33 yards against Miami, far below the workload expected for a Heisman-level back.

If Love gets more touches and freshman quarterback CJ Carr continues to play well, Notre Dame should be in a position to pull away late. This one may be close early, but the Irish have a chance to grab their first win of the season at home.