Joel Klatt explains how Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame could help shape 2025 college football season

Last season in College Station brought one of the premier nonconference matchups between Notre Dame and Texas A&M. The two will now run things back in South Bend, scheduled for Sept. 13. Notre Dame has a chance to sweep the home-and-home series with a win in front of their own fans.

More might be at stake than just a point in the win column. FOX’s Joel Klatt believes Notre Dame has an opportunity to almost seal its College Football Playoff fate by beating Texas A&M. He acknowledged the season opener against Miami but feels like the Irish can cruise through the remaining portions of the schedule if they beat the Aggies.

“I think a win against A&M and they’re a playoff team,” Klatt said. “There’s just not a lot on their schedule after this A&M game that would really scare you. I don’t want to disparage but home games against Boise (State) and USC being the toughest of their remaining games… When they play Texas A&M at home, this is the big one. If they can win that game, then they look fine toward the College Football Playoff again.”

What Klatt lays out there can be said about how things unfolded for Notre Dame in 2024. Their massive win against Texas A&M was quickly zapped due to a home loss against Northern Illinois. Even so, Marcus Freeman’s group pushed through, rattling off 10 wins in a row. Getting into the College Football Playoff eventually earned them a spot in the national championship game.

On the flip side, if the Irish were to lose, there might be a narrative that forms. Klatt points out some of the early-season losses Notre Dame has experienced, specifically at home, under Freeman. Northern Illinois, as mentioned. Ohio State came into town and escaped with a win back in 2023. And then another eye-popping loss to an inferior opponent with Marshall during Freeman’s first season in charge.

“One of those in not like the others, obviously,” Klatt said. “But they’ve lost three games in September in their home stadium. So, this is a big one against Texas A&M.”

Freeman is going to want to be a consistent College Football Playoff program. With the field now at 12 and eventually 16, Notre Dame feels as if it will be at the table on an annual basis. Klatt can see a world where the ticket is all but punched due to a Texas A&M win.