In Greek mythology, Sisyphus is a tragic figure who, for eternity, tries to roll a boulder up hill.
But each time he nears the top, the boulder inevitably rolls back down.
Texas A&M can relate. The Aggies bear a Sisyphean burden in football. Except, it’s no myth.
The Aggies’ quest for ascension among college football’s elite frustratingly goes downhill when they face nationally ranked opponents on the road. They’ve suffered 14 consecutive losses in such games.
The No. 16 Aggies (2-0) get another chance to roll up that hill on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT when they face No. 8 Notre Dame (0-1) in South Bend.
“Obviously, for us to take the next step as a program, that’s the next hurdle that we have to get over,” said A&M coach Mike Elko, who served as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator in 2017. “You know, we got over the winning on the road last year (vs. unranked Florida). Now we’ve got to get over the ‘winning-at-night-on-the-road-against-a-top-10-team.’ That’s the next hurdle for us to clear.”
That will require A&M reversing the outcome of last year’s clash at Notre Dame. The Irish prevailed 23-13 with a suffocating defense and a big-play running game.
A&M quarterback Conner Weigman completed just 40 percent of his passes for a mere 100 yards. He also threw two interceptions.
Quarterback Marcel Reed now directs the A&M offense, which is much more explosive with the additions of transfer receivers KC Concepcion and Mario Craver.
Reed has already accounted for eight touchdowns. That includes three to both Concepcion and Craver.
Craver is second in the SEC with 236 receiving yards. He has five catches that have covered more than 20 yards.
Concepcion has a 31-yard touchdown catch. He has also returned a punt 80 yards for a score.
The Aggie running game hasn’t been as prolific as last season. It hasn’t yet been emphasized, though.
All-SEC running back Le’Veon Moss averaged 6.8 yards and had a 21-yard touchdown run in a victory over Utah State last week.
Rueben Owens II, who missed most of last season with an injury, is averaging 6.4 yards a carry.
But A&M is all too aware that Notre Dame also has a powerful running game.
The Irish rushed for 198 yards in the victory over A&M. Jadarian Price had a 47-yard touchdown run. Jeremiyah Love rushed for 91 yards, which included a game-winning 21-yard touchdown dash.
Elko said Price and Love are the best running back tandem he has seen since facing an NFL-bound pair from Georgia when he was at Notre Dame.
“I think it’s as talented a duo as I’ve played against,” Elko said. “I was actually talking about this … that the only thing that I can remember in the ballpark was when I was actually at Notre Dame and we played Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. That group was really talented.
“But these two kids (Price and Love) are really, really good. The way they hit the hole. The power with which they run. They’re both effective pass catchers. These two kids are really, really talented football players.”
Elko must devise a scheme to slow down that rushing attack. He also has to find a way to contain redshirt freshman CJ Carr, who flashed impressive scrambling ability and threw two touchdown passes in a season-opening 27-24 loss at now-No. 5 Miami.
If A&M can duplicate Miami’s feat, the Aggies could end their dubious losing streak and perhaps be propelled into the top 10.
“It would be naive to not think that our kids (don’t) understand the magnitude of the top-10 matchup on the road,” Elko said. "So, from that perspective, obviously. This is a big opportunity.”
An opportunity to finally roll that boulder to the top of the hill.
