In-Game Blog of Notre Dame’s game at Texas A&M
1st Half
Two offside penalties aided Texas A&M’s first drive. One was on 3rd and 7. Notre Dame brought pressure as soon as the Aggies got in rhythm. A&M ends the drive with a field goal. TAMU 3-0
Notre Dame’s first possession started choppy—two bad snaps (one worse). Love got happy feet in the backfield on a first-down carry. Twice, Notre Dame went empty, and it wasn’t on third down. Dalton Brooks (A&M) was ejected for targeting on a third-down scramble by Riley Leonard. The scramble resulted in a first down. Notre Dame ended the drive with a field goal. ND 3-3
Notre Dame’s defense forced a third and long, and once again, there was an offside and then a defensive pass interference. There have already been a couple of missed tackles. Once again, Notre Dame brings pressure and gets off the field. TAMU Punt
Three-and-out for the Notre Dame offense. On second down, Notre Dame went empty again, and it almost was intercepted. On third down, the offensive line gave up pressure. ND Punt
Texas A&M has opened some holes, especially in the running game, early on in the possessions, allowing the Aggies to have second and manageable. After a penalty, the Aggies had 3rd and 8, where ND forced 4th down. TAMU 6-3
The drive starts with A&M getting pressure right up the middle. Back-to-back completions by Leonard. Most comfortable he’s looked in the pocket thus far. After that, the drive went backward. On 3rd and 13, the offensive line looked confused, which resulted in another loss. ND Punt
Interception Notre Dame. The ball floated on the QB, and the Irish got a much-needed takeaway.
Notre Dame looks a lot more like Notre Dame running the ball on the first two downs, but on the Leonard QB sweep, Notre Dame was called for holding. On 3rd and 5, the Aggies were called for DPI. The Irish’s drive breaks down after back-to-back incompletions. ND 6-6
Once again, Texas A&M has a nice lane to run through, setting up second and manageable, which led to a first down. Notre Dame’s defense must find a way to get the Aggies behind the chains. As I say that, the Irish get Texas A&M into a 2nd and 12. Howard Cross III gets a sack on 3rd down. TAMU Punt
Notre Dame started the drive with a run that netted two yards. A holding call nullifies Jadarian Price’s big run. The Irish follow it up with a big run by Love. Love was able to get the boundary. Now Love gets 10 yards in between the tackles. Jas, did the Irish line wake up a bit? There are many good things, BUT the drive ends on a 3rd and 8. ND Punt
The Aggies throw an incompletion on first down and only get a couple of yards on second. Notre Dame has Texas A&M in 3rd and 5 deep in its territory, and the Irish defense doesn’t deliver. A&M’s drive was churning until Xavier Watts’s interception ended the drive.
Notre Dame commits a holding penalty on the first play. Irish will let the clock run out. Halftime, we go.
2nd Half
Notre Dame starts the second half with the ball. The first play was a quick slant, then the Irish spent second and third downs not getting one yard. Irish goes for it on its own 34 and MAKES it. Irish goes for it on 4th and 2, and the Irish miss it by a chain link.
Missed tackles are dogging Notre Dame. A potential 3rd and eight result in a first down. Once again, the Irish blitzes on 2nd down. Aggie is in 3rd and long, and Texas A&M goes for it on 4th and eight and misses it.
Notre Dame with another snap issue followed by an offensive pass interference setting up 1st and 25. On 2nd and 14, Jadarian Price goes 47 yards for the touchdown. ND 13-6
Texas A&M gets a first down on 3rd and 1. The Aggies couldn’t afford a 3-and-out. The Aggies’ running game is getting started a little bit. The Irish defense has Texas A&M in 3rd and 10, and now the Aggies are going for it again on 4th down. The Aggies are penalized, so here comes the punt team.
Notre Dame starts the drive with a QB sweep. Leonard follows that with a near pick-six. Three and out. ND Punt
Texas A&M is back on the move behind that big offensive line. The Irish are helping out with another penalty. This one was a big one on Cross III. More penalties. Aggies at the Irish 2. Aggies cash in on 3rd and goal. A&M TD 13-13
Big drive for the Irish. Notre Dame just can’t run the ball. Irish have a 3rd and 13 coming up. Another penalty for the Irish. It’s the story of this game. ND Punt
Texas A&M is looking to score and run down the clock. On 3rd and 9, the Irish don’t blitz, and the Aggies end up a half-yard short. The Irish defense gets a much-needed 3-and-out.
Notre Dame gets nine on first down and loses four on the next. The Irish just can’t run the ball. Leonard with back-to-back completions, and the Irish are near midfield. Now the Irish running game gets clicking, led by Leonard. Love slices up the middle for a 21-yard TD. 85-yard drive ND 20-13
Texas A&M has three timeouts and 1:54. The Irish sent a blitz on second down. Golden isn’t holding back. It’s 4th and 2. Christian Gray jumps the route and knocks it down—Irish ball.
Notre Dame almost fumbled on 1st down. Love struggles for a few. A&M uses their last timeout with 1:21 left. ND FG 23-13
A&M runs out the clock.
Final: ND 23 A&M 13
