When you think about Notre Dame’s greatest football rivalries, certain names come to mind immediately. The Irish’s long-running annual clash with Navy, their classic coast-to-coast showdowns against USC, and the on-again, off-again history with Michigan all rank high. Throw in the drama of the “Catholics vs. Convicts” era against Miami, and you’ve got a list of iconic rivalries that helped define college football history.
But tucked away in the background is another matchup that doesn’t get nearly the same level of attention — Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M. At first glance, this may not sound like a rivalry at all. After all, these two powerhouse programs have only faced each other six times since the 1980s. Yet those six games carry plenty of weight. Between Cotton Bowl showdowns, Heisman winners, and national championship implications, the Irish and Aggies have quietly built a history that feels more important than their limited series record might suggest.
And on Saturday, Sept. 13, the two teams meet again in South Bend, adding another chapter to this under-the-radar rivalry.
The Early Years: Cotton Bowls and National Stakes
The Aggies and the Irish first squared off on New Year’s Day in 1988 at the Cotton Bowl Classic. Lou Holtz was just in his second year at the helm of Notre Dame, and though the Irish had a Heisman winner in Tim Brown, they ran into a buzzsaw. Texas A&M dominated that game, cruising to a 35-10 win. Brown scored Notre Dame’s lone touchdown, but it wasn’t nearly enough against an Aggie squad that flexed its strength on the big stage.
Holtz would go on to deliver a national title to Notre Dame the very next season, but A&M had already made a statement: this wasn’t going to be an easy opponent.
Five years later, in 1993, the two teams met again at the Cotton Bowl, and this time Notre Dame got its revenge. Behind a dynamic rushing attack led by Reggie Brooks and future NFL legend Jerome Bettis, the Irish rolled past a previously undefeated Aggie team, 28-3. That victory capped a 10-1 season and vaulted Notre Dame into the No. 4 spot in the final AP rankings.
The very next year, the Cotton Bowl once again played host to the Irish and Aggies. This time, the matchup carried even higher stakes. Notre Dame had spent most of the 1993 season in the national title conversation, highlighted by a thrilling 31-24 win over Florida State in a “Game of the Century” clash. But a heartbreaking late loss to Boston College derailed those championship hopes. Still, Holtz’s squad came into Dallas hungry to prove itself. In a tight, back-and-forth contest, Notre Dame edged Texas A&M 24-21. Despite the win, Florida State leapfrogged the Irish in the polls to claim the national title — a controversy that still sparks debates decades later.
The 2000s: Home-and-Home Split
After three straight Cotton Bowl meetings, the Irish and Aggies wouldn’t see each other again until the turn of the millennium. In 2000, Notre Dame hosted Texas A&M in South Bend and walked away with a 24-10 victory to open a nine-win season. But the Aggies struck back the very next year, dominating the 2001 season opener in College Station, 24-3. That game set the tone for what turned out to be a disappointing year for the Irish under head coach Bob Davie, who was let go after a 5-6 finish with no bowl berth.
The Modern Era: A Renewed Matchup
For more than two decades, the Irish and Aggies didn’t cross paths. That changed last season, when Notre Dame traveled to Kyle Field to face Texas A&M in a season opener that carried plenty of hype. The Irish silenced the Aggie crowd with a disciplined 23-13 victory, setting the tone for a campaign that ended with a berth in the College Football Playoff National Championship game. Though Notre Dame fell short against Ohio State in the title game, the season-opening win over Texas A&M felt like a statement — one that reminded fans of the sneaky history between these two programs.
Now, heading into their seventh all-time matchup, Notre Dame leads the series 4-2. But history tells us one thing: when these two programs line up, the stakes always seem to feel bigger than the numbers suggest. From Heisman winners to Cotton Bowl classics, this “hidden” rivalry has been defined by big names, big games, and moments that shaped entire seasons.
On Saturday, under the lights at Notre Dame Stadium, they’ll get another chance to add to the story.