Replay, highlights from Week 3

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Texas A&M football turned a critical Notre Dame defensive penalty in the final minute into a dramatic fourth-down touchdown pass from Marcel Reed to upset No. 8 Notre Dame 41-40 Saturday night at Notre Dame Stadium.

It’s A&M’s first win over a top-10 team since the Aggies beat No. 3 Auburn in 2014. The Aggies improved to 3-0.

Reed was 17 of 37 for 360 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winner to Nate Boerkircher  — the blocking tight end transfer from Nebraska who made his one and only catch on a fourth-and-goal play from the 11-yard line with 19 seconds to play. The Aggies also took advantage of a botched Fighting Irish extra-point snap that had made it a 40-34 game.

These were our updates throughout the game:

MORE AGGIES: Why Scooby Williams chose Texas A&M: High-stakes meeting with Notre Dame provides opportunity

Texas A&M, trailing 40-34, got exactly what it needed: a touchdown.

A critical Notre Dame defensive holding penalty gave the Aggies new life in the final minute, setting them up with a first down at the 11-yard line. Marcel Reed threw back-to-back incompletions into the end zone on second and third downs, and on the decisive fourth-and-goal play with 19 seconds left, Reed pump-faked and then found tight end Nate Boerkiercher — A&M’s blocking tight end transfer from Nebraska  — came down with the touchdown catch.

It didn’t take Notre Dame long to answer that last Aggies field goal. The Irish methodically worked their way to a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ate up 6:13 of clock. It looked like the kicking unit was about to take the field on fourth-and-a long 1 with four minutes left, but instead lined up for the play. A backfield shift set up Jeremiyah Love for the direct snap — the exact same play that the Aggies stuffed earlier. But this time, he broke through for a first down and then added a touchdown run.

But a botched snap on the extra point led to a failed conversion, so it’s a 40-34 game with 2:53 left.

On the onside kick, A&M returner Terry Bussey broke free for a touchdown return. But the Aggies were called for holding on the runback.

The Aggies have the ball with 2:35 left to play.

After briefly being knocked out of the game for a play, Marcel Reed leads a scoring drive that results in a 45-yard field goal to tie the game at 34-34.

Both defenses stiffened up in the plus-territory in the second half, and as a result, the Irish had to settle for a go-ahead field goal. Kicker Noah Burnette made a 39-yard attempt to put Notre Dame ahead 34-31.

After stopping the Irish on fourth-and-1 at midfield, the Aggies advanced 25 yards and kicked a 43-yard field goal to tie the game at 31-31.

After both teams started the second half with punts, Notre Dame scored first in the third quarter to take the lead again. After stopping A&M deep in its own territory, the Irish got great field position following the punt and turned a five-play, 29-yard drive into a 31-28 advantage.

Despite everything that happened in the first half, the Aggies managed to take their first lead of the game. A seven-play, 47-yard drive was finished by Moss’s third touchdown, 28-24 A&M.

It’s been a fast-paced track meet in the first half, with points and yards gained in bunches. A&M scored again with Moss’ second touchdown of the night, a two-yard run. The Aggies narrow the lead to 24-21.

A&M’s defense has struggled in the first half, allowing Notre Dame to drive for much of the action. Their latest series resulted in 75 yards on six plays, ending with a 35-yard touchdown reception by Love, increasing the Irish lead to 24-14. 

A&M’s offensive passing attack continues to impress regardless of opponent, and the latest example comes on a five-play 75-yard drive, with 74 yards gained through the air. RB Le’Veon Moss scored from one yard out to cut the Irish to 17-14. Reed has accumulated 171 yards in the game.

Notre Dame reached A&M’s four-yard line, but a Will Lee III pass breakup on third down forced the Irish to settle for a 22-yard field goal, increasing their lead to 17-7. 

After the Aggies responded to the opening score, the Irish answered with a seven-yard touchdown run by Jadarian Price to take the lead 14-7. The seven-play, 75-yard drive took three minutes and three seconds off the clock.

It looked bleak for A&M early, but a third-down stop was followed by an electrifying 86-yard touchdown pass from Marcel Reed to wide receiver Mario Craver. Reed faked the handoff, rolled to his left, and hit Craver at the second level, where the young WR broke multiple tackles to tie the game at 7-7.

After the Aggies picked up a first down on the first play of the game, everything went downhill from there. A&M was forced to punt, and it was blocked by Loghan Thomas, with Johnson Irish scooping it up and scoring to give Notre Dame an early 7-0 lead. 

Where: Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind.

TV/radio: NBC, Peacock, 1370 AM in Austin; 1150 AM, 93.7 FM in College Station.

Moneyline: Texas A&M is a 6½ point underdog.

AGGIES: Mike Elko gives updates on Marcel Reed, Trey Zuhn III ahead of Notre Dame game

Kickoff temperatures will be warm, reaching the lower-80s, partly cloudy, and a light breeze.

Reach Texas A&M beat reporter Tony Catalina via email at Anthony.Catalina@statesman.com. Follow the American-Statesman on Facebook and X for more. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Access all of our best content with this tremendous offer.