Heading into Saturday’s game against No. 8 Notre Dame,Texas A&M football coach Mike Elko said the victor of the top-25 ranked matchup would be the team that made plays late in the fourth quarter.
The 17th-ranked Aggies did just that.
Facing a fourth-and-goal with 19 seconds remaining in the game, Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed fired an 11-yard throw into the left corner of the end zone that was held onto by tight end Nate Boerkircher for the eventual 41-40 game-winning catch at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.
But for Notre Dame, the loss represented the second time the Fighting Irish will start 0-2 on the season under Marcus Freeman. The loss also damaged Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff resume, as the Irish are not set to face another ranked opponent for the remainder of the season and have now lost both of their games to ranked opponents in Texas A&M and Miami.
Texas A&M’s win, however, didn’t come without some help from Notre Dame, either. Here’s a look at how the Aggies were able to pull the win and how Notre Dame squandered a chance at its first win of the season in chronological order:
Notre Dame missed extra point attempt
A Jeremiyah Love touchdown with 2:53 left in the game appeared to give Notre Dame a 41-34 lead — until holder Tyler Buchner bobbled the snap on the extra point attempt, resulting in a failed conversion. That meant Texas A&M could take a one-point lead with a touchdown and extra-point conversion.
Marcel Reed third-down conversion
Facing third-and-8 at the Notre Dame 23-yard line, Texas A&M was in desperate need of a conversion to continue their drive. They got it from Reed, who scrambled for a 9-yard gain to the Fighting Irish 14-yard line with less than a minute remaining to extend the drive.
Christian Gray called for defensive holding penalty
Speaking of Notre Dame’s struggles to get a stop on third downs, the Irish gave the Aggies an extra fresh set of downs a few plays later. Facing third-and-16, Reed overthrew KC Concepcion in the middle of the field to get near the first down.
However, a holding penalty was called against Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray, resulting in the Aggies drive resetting with a first down at the 10-yard line.
Karson Hobbs missed interception in end zone
Notre Dame had a key opportunity at a potential game-winning play in the winding seconds of the game, when Reed’s throw into the end zone sailed toward Notre Dame’s Karson Hobbs. The Irish sophomore safety, however, couldn’t hold onto the ball, keeping the Aggies alive yet again.
Texas A&M converts fourth-and-goal for game-winner
The Irish got stops on second and third down, leaving them one play away from picking up a signature win vs. Texas A&M. Reed had other plans, however, throwing a laser of a pass into the hands of Boerkircher for the eventual game-winner.
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