COLLEGE STATION – The honeymoon ended for Mike Elko and the Aggie faithful Saturday night when Texas A&M (0-1) dropped the season opener to Notre Dame, 23-13, in front of the fourth-largest crowd in Kyle Field history. 

Elko began his tenure by playing the hits. White helmets returned. The end zones were painted maroon. The team ran out with “Power” blaring. Johnny Manziel was the guest picker on ESPN College Gameday and Von Miller was in the house. Miller was likely proud of the defense, though a vaunted defensive didn’t account for a single sack against a Fighting Irish front that started three sophomores and two freshmen. 

Manziel was likely horrified, however. The offense mustered only one touchdown drive and 246 yards of total offense. Quarterback Conner Weigman threw for 100 yards – only one more than Notre Dame (1-0) had in penalties. He completed just 12 of 30 passes and threw two interceptions to zero touchdowns in his first start since suffering a season-ending leg injury against Auburn on Sept. 23 of 2023. Weigman puked midgame, but never missed a snap.

“We got to go back to the tape to find out (how) to put him in better situations to get him comfortable,” Elko said postgame. “He was not in rhythm, and there was nothing easy. We kept trying. Just couldn’t get there.”

The 40 percent completion rate against Notre Dame was the second-worst performance for Weigman in his three-year career at Texas A&M. He completed 39 percent of his passes (14 of 36) in a 2022 loss to Auburn. He completed 59.4 percent of his 281 passing attempts entering 2024 and was at a 68.9 percent clip on 119 attempts last season. 

Only one Aggie – Jahdae Walker – caught more than two passes. He led the team with six catches for 31 yards. The longest pass play for Texas A&M in the loss was 18 yards, and that was to a tight end. Noah Thomas finished with one catch for 10 yards. Cyrus Allen caught two passes and was the only wide receiver other than Walker or Thomas to record a reception. 

The offensive line didn’t help Weigman and the offense. The unit up front was the biggest question mark for the Aggies entering 2024. The transfer portal can help fix secondaries and running back rooms, but the trenches require an organic and patient approach. Any hope that simply sliding Chase Bisontis to guard or adding a couple of interior transfers like Armaj Reed-Adams and Koli Faaiu could erase the backslide up front the last few seasons was awoken from that dream in Week 1. 

“We beat ourselves, mentally and physically,” left tackle Trey Zuhn said. “We learned we have glimpses where we are a good football team, but we need to show we can strain every play, every drive to be successful.” 

The Aggies averaged 3.8 yards rushing on 38 attempts. Moss led the team with 70 yards rushing on 20 carries. Amari Daniels ran the ball five times for 20 yards. Weigman’s 26 yards and seven carries were second on the team in both categories. The Fighting Irish only managed one sack, but the pressure was constant. Weigman struggled with it, overthrowing an open receiver for his first interception because he couldn’t step in the pocket.  

The expanded playoff gave the Aggies hope of a Cinderella Year 1 under Elko. He said all the right things in the offseason, and his team seemingly did all the right things – both welcomed changes from the Jimbo Fisher era. But there is no magic wand in college football – not even the transfer portal and seemingly unlimited NIL. And there are too many holes on the Texas A&M roster – specifically on offense – to expect much more than what the previous regime accomplished. 

The good news in Aggieland is that the schedule should allow Texas A&M to build some momentum in September. The Aggies host McNeese State in Week 2 and Bowling Green in Week 4. A trip to the Swamp to face a Florida team that was pasted by Miami this weekend awaits in Week 3. Arkansas in Arlington is the Week 5 contest. Win all four and Elko’s squad is on track at 4-1 entering the home game against Mizzou. 

“I told the locker room for us to get this program over the hump, we have to put ourselves in position to play the game the way we need to,” Elko said. “We didn’t do that tonight.” 

They’ll get at least 11 more chances in 2024 to prove the future is brighter than the past.