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For the first time since 2022, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are 0-2 to start a season.
No. 16 Texas A&M stunned the Fighting Irish in South Bend on Saturday night, as a game-winning touchdown pass from the Aggies' Marcel Reed led to a 41-40 that marked Notre Dame's second consecutive one-score loss to open 2025.
Nate Boerkircher hauled in the touchdown pass from Reed with just seconds remaining on the clock, sealing a back-and-forth matchup that saw a combined 81 points scored. Additionally, a dropped snap on an extra-point attempt will now haunt the Fighting Irish with the one-point loss.
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Here's a look at Texas A&M's huge comeback win on Saturday, from Reed's game-winner to Tyler Buchner dropping an extra-point snap.
MORE: How did Arch Manning fare against UTEP?
Marcel Reed's game-winner leads Texas A&M over Notre Dame
Notre Dame had a double-digit lead multiple times in Saturday's matchup. A blocked punt returned for a score resulted in a 7-0 lead for the Fighting Irish, then a Jadarian Price touchdown later made it 14-7.
Notre Dame strikes first against Texas A&M with a blocked punt touchdown.
Noah Eagle and Todd Blackledge have the call. pic.twitter.com/UEqDJ6O2rk
The Aggies showed no quit, though. Reed tossed a touchdown pass to Mario Craver for 86 yards in the first quarter, then running back Le'Veon Moss impressively scored three times in the second quarter alone; entering the second half, Texas A&M led 28-24.
Price scored again for Notre Dame in the third frame, and the two squads were knotted at 31 points entering the fourth. After trading field goals, Notre Dame appeared to have the upper hand on a win, as star back Jeremiyah Love scored a 12-yard touchdown to give his team a 40-34 lead.
THIS IS WHAT JEREMIYAH LOVE DOES#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/AitpITr2g7
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) September 14, 2025However, the Fighting Irish then left the door open for a comeback. On the following extra-point attempt, backup quarterback Tyler Buchner fumbled the snap, and the Aggies had a clear path to a win instead of tying the game.
They took advantage. Reed hit Boerkircher in the left corner of the end zone with just 13 seconds remaining, and all it took was the extra point for Texas A&M to improve to 3-0 and send Notre Dame to 0-2.
The TD that won the Aggies the game 🤩pic.twitter.com/q02tpCmQzt
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) September 14, 2025MORE: Will Tennessee's close loss to Georgia come back to haunt it in CFP race?
Marcel Reed stats vs. Notre Dame
- Completions-Attempts: 17-37 (46.0%)
- Passing Yards: 360
- AVG: 9.7
- Passing TDs: 2
- INTs: 1
- Rushing Yards: 37
- Rushing TDs: 0
Reed shined on the big stage, tossing two touchdown passes even while completing under half of his passes. With Moss' big night on the ground (three touchdowns) as well, the Aggies' offense found no trouble moving the football against the Fighting Irish, who played in the national championship earlier in 2025.
Reed, in his third year at Texas A&M, may begin to earn some Heisman Trophy buzz should his strong start continue. Through three games, he's totaled 509 passing yards, seven touchdown passes and zero interceptions through the air, with 105 rushing yards and one score on the ground.
Marcel Reed to Nate Boerkircher. They called game: pic.twitter.com/GE3if4vspY
— Tony Catalina (@Tony_Catalina) September 14, 2025MORE: From Diablo Valley to Rocky Top - Joey Aguilar's football journey
Tyler Buchner dropped extra-point snap haunts Notre Dame
What may haunt Notre Dame more than any other play through two games is the extra-point attempt on its final touchdown of Saturday's loss.
Buchner, a backup quarterback, took the snap that should have gave the Fighting Irish their 41st point. Instead, he dropped the ball, then tried to pick it up and scramble, but it was too late.
— Breton (@BretonPicks) September 14, 2025Notre Dame Muffed Extra Point could be Big pic.twitter.com/0PVWUF0LrO
— Surf TrekTonics (@trektonics) September 14, 2025If Notre Dame had gotten that one point, of course, Saturday's game could have gone to overtime and resulted in a potential win. Instead, Marcus Freeman will have big questions to answer, sitting at 0-2 already.
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