Notre Dame Prepares Home Opener Against Texas A&M After Miami Loss

Notre Dame is preparing for its home opener against Texas A&M, aiming to bounce back from a tough season-opening loss to Miami. Head coach Marcus Freeman plans to expand quarterback CJ Carr's role by opening up the playbook to allow more aggressive passing and fewer restrictions, reflecting confidence in Carr despite his ups and downs in the first game. The Fighting Irish will also emphasize increasing carries for running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, who were underutilized in Week 1 but showed promise with nearly five yards per carry as a duo. Defensively, Notre Dame seeks to improve pressure on the quarterback and force turnovers after only one sack and no turnovers against Miami, with particular attention on containing Texas A&M's dynamic players, including standout rusher Cashius Howell and versatile slot receiver Kevin Concepcion. Meanwhile, key Notre Dame players such as left tackle Anthonie Knapp, wide receiver Jaden Greathouse, and freshman Leonard Moore are expected to deliver stronger performances to help the team control its playoff destiny. Texas A&M, led by coach Mike Elko, enters the game with momentum from a two-game winning streak and a talented offense, posing a significant challenge to the Fighting Irish's efforts to turn their season around.