September 18, 2025 // Diocese
Irish Lose Heartbreaker to Texas A&M in Home Opener
Coming off a bye week after losing its season-opener on the road to No. 10 Miami, Notre Dame hoped to notch its first victory of the 2025 season as the Irish welcomed the No. 16 Texas A&M Aggies – and their thousands of maroon-and-white-clad fans – to Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, September 14.
Photos by Scott Warden
Texas A&M wide receiver Mario Craver celebrates with fans after the No. 16 Aggies beat No. 8 Notre Dame on Saturday, September 14, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. Craver led the Aggies with seven catches for 207 yards, including an 86-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter.
Sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed threw for 360 yards to help the Aggies overcome five separate deficits to knock off the eighth-ranked Irish in the primetime matchup. Trailing 40-34, the Aggies faced fourth-and-goal from the Notre Dame 11 with less than 20 seconds left when Reed found tight end Nate Boerkircher in the corner of the end zone to tie the game, and Aggies kicker Randy Bond knocked in the extra point to give Texas A&M the victory.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman signals to the offense from the sideline during the Irish’s home-opening loss to Texas A&M.
After coming into the season with championship aspirations, Notre Dame fell to 0-2 and is looking for answers – and its first win.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love (4) celebrates in the end zone with teammates Ashton Craig (70), Billy Schrauth (74), and Ty Washington (7) after scoring on a 12-yard run to give the Irish a 40-34 lead with 2:53 left in the fourth quarter of Notre Dame’s loss to Texas A&M.
“You’ve got to go to work and practice and get better. We’re 0-2,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said after the loss. “So what do you control? You control getting better and getting ready for the next one. I can’t sit here and dwell on being 0-2 as much as I need to dwell on: How do we find ways to improve? … How do we evaluate what we’re doing, why things are and aren’t working, and how do we attack them and get better? So we’re 0-2, lost to two good opponents. We’re guaranteed 12, that’s what we always say. We’ve got the next one coming up soon.”
The Irish, who fell to No. 24 in the most recent AP Poll, host Purdue (2-1) on Saturday, September 20.
Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price celebrates after scoring on a 7-yard touchdown run in the first quarter of the Irish’s loss to Texas A&M.
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