Texas A&M Stuns Notre Dame in Wild 41-40 Finish
It almost feels unreal. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish, last year’s national runner-up and one of the biggest brands in college football, are sitting at 0-2 to start the season. A team that won 14 games just months ago, playing at home under the lights in South Bend, has now dropped back-to-back heartbreakers. First it was Miami in the opener, a close 27-24 defeat. Now it’s Texas A&M, pulling off a shocking 41-40 victory in the final seconds of a thriller.
This loss will sting, and not just because of the ending. Notre Dame had the lead late, thanks to a determined effort by running back Jeremiyah Love. He carried the offense, racking up nearly 150 total yards and two touchdowns. He was hurdling tacklers, catching passes out of the backfield, and even powering through for clutch conversions. The stadium erupted when he scored what looked like the game-winning touchdown with under three minutes left. The scoreboard read 40-34. The crowd believed the Irish were about to salvage their season.
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But football is cruel, and what happened next will be replayed for a long time. On the extra point attempt, the snap was clean, the hold should have been routine, but Tyler Buchner, a former quarterback now turned holder, simply dropped the ball. Instead of going up by seven, the Irish were stuck with a six-point lead. That opened the door for Texas A&M. And the Aggies barged right through it.
Quarterback Marcel Reed led a stunning 74-yard drive. On fourth-and-goal with just seconds remaining, he rolled left, facing heavy pressure, and fired a dart to tight end Nate Boerkircher in the end zone. Covered tightly, Boerkircher still hauled it in. The stadium fell silent. Moments later, Randy Bond’s extra point sailed high and true, sealing a one-point win for Texas A&M — a team that came into the game as an underdog.
Notre Dame’s defense will take much of the blame. They gave up 18 explosive plays — long runs and big passes — that kept the Aggies alive all night. Receiver Mario Craver, a transfer most fans barely knew before this game, torched the Irish with 207 receiving yards, including an electrifying 86-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Reed averaged over 21 yards per completion, as Notre Dame’s secondary looked overmatched and confused.
After the game, head coach Marcus Freeman faced tough questions. Was a defensive play-calling change needed? He pushed back, saying it was more about execution than scheme. Players echoed that sentiment, vowing to take accountability and move forward. Still, the reality is this: Notre Dame’s margin for error is gone. At 0-2, the Irish are already clinging to slim playoff hopes, and every game from here on out becomes must-win.
It hurts, plain and simple. This team could have been 2-0, but instead sits at 0-2 after losing two winnable games by a combined four points. Whether they bounce back or continue to spiral is now the story of their season. But for now, the Fighting Irish are reeling, and Texas A&M is celebrating one of the most dramatic wins of the young college football season.
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