Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame score: Irish beat Aggies in season opener

The Mike Elko era for Texas A&M football had an inauspicious start as the 20th-ranked Aggies fell to No. 7 Notre Dame 23-13 at Kyle Field in College Station.

The night started with a surging stadium filled with energy, then devolved into a plodding offensive first-half performance from both teams as the defenses took center stage. A&M quarterback Conner Weigman threw two interceptions, and neither he nor Notre Dame's Riley Leonard has had much success through the air. A big 47-yard touchdown run in the third quarter broke the field goals stalemate, the Aggies tied it up early in the fourth but then the Irish sealed the win with a late touchdown and field goal.

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Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame score

End of game: Notre Dame 23, Texas A&M 13

The Aggies' Mike Elko era starts with an L

New Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard's Fighting Irish debut was a successful one and the No. 7-ranked Fighting Irish registered an important 20-13 season-opening win over No. 20 Texas A&M, winning in a hostile environment against a team desperately wanting to start the year with a big win for their new coach. Didn't happen. The Aggies looked sluggish offensively, particularly in the passing game, and Conner Weigman committed two turnovers in his first start since his 2023 season ended with a injury after four games.

It was Notre Dame's first win over a ranked SEC team on the road in 20 years. The Aggies (0-1) host McNeese State next Saturday while the Irish (1-0) host Northern Illinois.

1:30 4Q: Notre Dame 20, Texas A&M 13

The Irish can see victory within their grasp

Texas A&M's likely last best chance came up short, a drive that ended with a turnover on downs. On second-and-10 from A&M's 25, the Aggies called a run. Le'Veon Moss gained 8 yards, but Conner Weigman's pass on third-andp2 went incomplete and his fourth-and-2 slant pass to Jahdae Walker was broken up by Notre Dame DB Christian Gray.

1:54 4Q: Notre Dame 20, Texas A&M 13

The Irish are 114 seconds away from the win

It comes down to this for the Aggies: drive 75 yards for a game-tying touchdown, and they've got 1:54 to do it.

Jeremiyah Love's 21-yard touchdown run up the middle has the Irish up a touchdown. No. 7 Notre Dame has produced two long scoring drives in the second half, both touchdowns, to place itself in position for the win. That first drive as a quick one that went 63 yards in only four plays, but this last one accomplished three big things: it drained xxx off the clock, it brought the Kyle Field crowd back to earth and it gave the Irish the lead with xx seconds left.

The Irish converted a big third down when Riley Leonard found Jaden Greathouse for 9 yards on third-and-five and then got the benefit of an affirmed 20-yard catch by Beaux Collins on the left sideline. That grab moved the Irish to midfield. Leonard kept it for 11 yards off the left side and then Love's slicing 18-yarder served as the drive's dagger, giving the Irish a first down at A&M's 22 with 2:36 left.

11:49 4Q: Texas A&M 13, Notre Dame 13

The Aggies punch it in for the tie

Le'Veon Moss bulled in from 1 yard out to tie the game and provide a needed energy boost both to the team and the Kyle Field crowd, which had been quieted when Notre Dame went up 13-6 in the third quarter. The 10-play, 65-yard drive was a must-have for the Aggies. There was a no-call on what looked like a pass interference near the 10, but EJ Smith — Emmitt's son, a freshman running back who also wears No. 22 — followed that with a 14-yard run up the middle that was A&M's longest run of the night. On the very next play, Notre Dame was called for interference that gave the Aggies a first-and-goal at the 2. Connor Weigman was popped for no gain on a designed run up the middle on second down, and Moss scored on the next play,

End of 3Q: Notre Dame 13, Texas A&M 6

The Aggies have one quarter to figure this out

They're entering the fourth quarter in College Station. Texas A&M, down by a touchdown, has a first-and-10 at it own 47-yard line as the final quarter opens.

A&M defensive back Will Lee III nearly had a game-changing pick-six, in the final minute, but he couldn't control the pass breakup and it bobbled to the ground. Notre Dame had to punt.

6:50 3Q: Notre Dame 13, Texas A&M 6

Finally, a touchdown

Notre Dame has gone up by a touchdown on Jadarian Price's explosive 47-yard run down the left sideline, which capped a short four-play drive that went 63 yards in 2:04. It was the third drive of the second half; both the Irish's opening drive and the Aggies' ensuing drive ended with failed fourth downs.

It's Notre Dame's first lead of the night. Price now has 51 yards on five carries.

Halftime: Texas A&M 6, Notre Dame 6

A top 20 battle of field goal kickers

It's halftime in College Station and this top-20 showdown has become a back-and-forth game of two tough defenses, two struggling quarterbacks and two kickers who are getting way too much action.

The Fighting Irish had a shot at the end of the first half when Xavier Watts, who tied for the national lead last year with seven interceptions, recorded his first of 2024 on a bad throw from Conner Weigman, who has been picked off twice tonight. It set Notre Dame up at its own 46-yard line with 41 seconds left, but the Irish ran out the clock. The numbers don't lie: Notre Dame has 139 yards to A&M's 127; the Irish have thrown for 74 yards, the Aggies 68 and the Irish have rushed for 6 more yards; both teams have nine first downs.

First team to score a touchdown wins? We'll see. The Irish will get the ball first in the second half.

The Irish had a couple of big plays on the drive, though only one of them counted. Jadarian Price's brilliant 37-yard run that included him bouncing off two defenders and outrunning a third was called back for a holding penalty, but then Jeremiyah Love got a lot of it back on the very next play with a 29-yard run off the left side. Of note, A&M defensive end Nic Scourton, a transfer from Purdue who led the Big Ten in sacks last year, was back in the game on this drive after leaving with a lower leg injury on Notre Dame's previous drive.

8:32 2Q: Texas A&M 6, Notre Dame 6

Another field goal for an answer

Mitch Jeter's 26-yard field goal has knotted this game up yet again, but it notably came after a nice response from Texas A&M's defense following a costly defensive pass interference penalty. A&M DB Tyreek Chappell drew the flag on a pass toward the end zone and it gave Notre Dame a first-and-goal at the 9-yard line. But the Aggies stuffed a first-down run for 1 yard and then Riley Leonard threw two incompletions into the end zone.

The Aggies' defense — and kicker Randy Bond — are leading the way for A&M. Notre Dame has produced only 75 total yards and is 1 of 5 converting third downs. Leonard is the team's leading rusher.

14:14 2Q: Texas A&M 6, Notre Dame 3

Or is that Randy Bond 6, Mitch Jeter 3?

Texas A&M has gone back on top with a 49-yard field goal from Bond. Each one of these kicks has just been outdoing each other: Bond started things off with a 34-yarder, then Jeter bettered that with a 46-yarder, and now Bond had a 49-yarder. Conner Weigman is 4 of 10 for 42 yards tonight, and Le'Veon Moss has 24 rushing yards on six carries. For the Irish, Riley Leonard is 4 of 8 for 25 yards and also is Notre Dame's leading rusher: 2 carries for 12 yards.

6:39 1Q: Texas A&M 3, Notre Dame 3

Aggies' DB gets ejected, Irish tie it up

Texas A&M opened this game with a 34-yard field goal. Notre Dame has answered with a 46-yarder of its own. Mitch Jeter's kick has tied this game up. It was a doubly painful drive for the Aggies: freshman defensive back Dalton Brooks was ejected from the game for a targeting penalty on a low, diving hit on quarterback Riley Leonard. Losing Brooks puts even more strain on the Aggies' secondary, which is playing without regular starter Jaydon Hill, who's missing the first half tonight while serving a suspension from last season.

11:07 1Q: Texas A&M 3, Notre Dame 0.

Aggies open with a field goal

Texas A&M's opening drive checked a few necessary boxes, and it ended with a 34-yard field goal by Randy Bond. It was a 10-play drive that saw Conner Weigman run the offense well, the first time we've seen him since he was lost for the season in the fourth game of 2023. The Aggies got a boost when the Irish were called for a false start on a third-and-7; on the ensuing third-and-2 near midfield, Le'Veon Moss converted the first down running off the right side. Weigman beat a corner blitz later in the drive to snap a pass to Tre Watson for 18 yards and the drive stalled at Notre Dame's 17.

We'll see the Aggies on offense first

Notre Dame won the toss and has deferred to the second half, so Texas A&M will get the ball first.

Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame time today

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 31

• Time: 6:30 p.m.

• Location: Kyle Field in College Station

What channel is Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame game on today?

• TV channel: ABC

• Streaming: Fubo.

• Radio: 1370 AM

Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame will broadcast nationally on ABC in Week 1 of the 2024 college football season. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+, which offers a free trial to new subscribers, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame history

• Series record: Notre Dame, 3-2

• Texas A&M's last win: 24-3 (2001)

• Notre Dame's last win: 24-10 (2000)

Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame predictions

Richard Tijerina, Sports editor

Texas A&M 34, Notre Dame 31

THE AGGIES OWN ALL THE INTANGIBLES

Mike Elko's coaching debut lines up pretty perfectly for a top-10 upset: a prime-time matchup on opening weekend against a top-10 team the Aggies have a history with, and they'll be playing in front of an electric crowd of 100,000-plus.

Statesman sports colmnist Cedric Golden is also picking the Aggies.

Texas writers Danny Davis and Thomas Jones are going with Notre Dame.

Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame betting odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:

• Spread: Texas A&M -3

• Over/under: 47.5

• Moneyline: Notre Dame +130

Texas vs. Notre Dame injury updates

(list latest injury updates for each team here.)

Texas vs. Notre Dame weather update

It will be in the 80s this evening in College Station, but there's about a 65% chance of rain for the second half. Temperature is expected to be around 87 at kickoff.

Texas A&M football 2024 schedule

• Aug. 31: vs. Notre Dame | 6:30 p.m.| ABC (Fubo)

• Sept. 7: vs. McNeese State | 11:45 a.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)

• Sept. 14: at Florida | 2:30 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)

• Sept. 21: vs. Bowling Green | 6:30 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)

• Sept. 28: vs. Arkansas (Arlington)*

• Oct. 5: vs. Missouri | 11 a.m. | ABC/ESPN (Fubo)

• Oct. 12: BYE

• Oct. 19: at Mississippi State*

• Oct. 26: vs. LSU*

• Nov. 2: at South Carolina*

• Nov. 9: BYE

• Nov. 16: vs. New Mexico State | 6:45 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)

• Nov. 23: at Auburn*

• Nov. 30: vs. Texas*

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Notre Dame football 2024 schedule

• Aug. 31: at Texas A&M | 6:30 p.m.| ABC (Fubo)

• Sept. 7: vs. Northern Illinois | 3:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock (Fubo)

• Sept. 14: at Purdue | 3:30 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)

• Sept. 21: vs. Miami (Ohio) | 3:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock (Fubo)

• Sept. 28: vs. Louisville | 3:30 p.m. | Peacock (Fubo)

• Oct. 5: BYE

• Oct. 12: vs. Stanford | 3:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock (Fubo)

• Oct. 19: at Georgia Tech*

• Oct. 26: at Navy | 12 p.m. | ABC/ESPN (Fubo)

• Nov. 2: BYE

• Nov. 9: vs. Florida State | 7:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock (Fubo)

• Nov. 16: vs. Virginia | 3:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock (Fubo)

• Nov. 23: vs. Army (Yankee Stadium) | 7 p.m. | NBC/Peacock (Fubo)

• Nov. 30: at USC*

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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame: Game replay, updates in college football