Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M score, takeaways: Fighting Irish edge Aggies with help from ground game, go-ahead TD (2024)

Leonard makes winning plays

While Riley Leonard's line doesn't jump off the page -- 18 of 30 for 158 yards passing and 63 yards rushing -- it was his situational playmaking that set him apart. On the go-ahead Notre Dame drive, Leonard did everything right. When Notre Dame needed a strong start, Leonard was the player who ran for 9 yards to set up a manageable second-and-1. When the Irish needed a conversion, Leonard found Jaden Greathouse for 9 yards.

Nothing on the drive was spectacular, but the consistent dual-threat ability gives Notre Dame something it lacked last season: playmaking. Defenses have to adjust to Leonard's size and ability in a different way than when pocket passer Sam Hartman was running the offense last season. The threat could change the way that Notre Dame has to manage games in high-leverage spots.

Aggies have a Weigman problem

Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman was a five-star recruit with impeccable pedigree. He showed flashes in a win two years ago over LSU. But in Collin Klein's new offense, Weigman did not look encouraging. The junior completed just 12 of 30 passes for 100 yards and two interceptions. While playing poorly is defensible against this Notre Dame defense, nearly all of his passes were off target, including staples that need to be routine to make the spread offense work.

Klein has found his most success with dual-threat quarterbacks, and Weigman was willing to run for 26 yards. However, if he isn't hitting the basic passes, he won't be effective. Notre Dame possesses perhaps the best secondary that Texas A&M will play all season, but Weigman must play better for Texas A&M to have any chance of putting together a strong season.

Irish have clean shot at CFP

Notre Dame came into the matchup against Texas A&M as a slight betting underdog. After surviving one of its toughest tests of the year, the Irish boast perhaps the clearest path to the College Football Playoff in the sport. Notre Dame already ranks No. 7 and came in with plenty of credibility, but beating a popular dark horse pick by double digits only helps their case. More importantly, the collapse of Florida State means that the Irish might not play another team ranked in the top 25. In the previous system, Notre Dame would have to walk a fine line and finish undefeated to benefit. Now, a win over the Aggies almost locks in the Irish.

Love pulls Irish ahead

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

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love squeezed through a tight hole on the offensive line and escaped with a 21-yard touchdown that could be a game-winner against the Aggies. Love's touchdown run was his first on the day and only the third touchdown of the game combined between the two teams.

Fighting Irish driving

Texas A&M is battling on defense, but Notre Dame is stacking plays to get into scoring position. Wide receiver Beaux Collins won a 50-50 ball on the outside for 20 yards, while quarterback Riley Leonard and Jeremiyah Love each have carries of 10-plus yards. Notre Dame can run out the clock and play for the field goal.

Penalties set up game-tying TD

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

Notre Dame committed two costly penalties to help set up a game-tying touchdown drive by Texas A&M in the fourth quarter. Defensive lineman Howard Cross III committed a personal foul that pushed the Aggies to the edge of the red zone, while a pass interference in the end zone brought the ball all the way to the 2-yard line. Running back Le'Veon Moss pushed through the line for Texas A&M's first touchdown of the game.

Irish leading entering fourth

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

Notre Dame holds a tight touchdown lead after Jadarian Price's 47-yard breakaway touchdown run gave the Fighting Irish their first lead at Kyle Field. After the run, Notre Dame is up to 6.1 yards per carry, but this game has been a defensive slugfest. Neither team has more than 250 total yards and Texas A&M is down to 3.8 yards per play overall. Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman has struggled, throwing two interceptions and completing 10-of-22 for 91 yards. Texas A&M was a slight favorite in this game, but the Fighting Irish have a serious chance to escape Kyle Field with a big victory.

Price breaks game open

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

Notre Dame running back JaDarian Price flipped the game on its head after breaking off his longest run of the game. The Denison, Texas, native fought through tacklers and found the second and third level to reel off a 47-yard touchdown run, the first touchdown of the game. Notre Dame had only 86 yards rushing before Price's big-time breakaway, which gives the Fighting Irish their first lead of the game at Kyle Field.

ND's aggressiveness backfires

Texas A&M had the Fighting Irish backed up facing fourth down twice on the first drive of the second half, but Marcus Freeman did not back down. Notre Dame put the ball in the hands of his star quarterback Riley Leonard. The first time, it worked. The second time, it didn't. Leonard was just about one inch short of a first down, but Texas A&M now takes over with tremendous field position.

ND ties things up

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

Notre Dame wasted a key opportunity off an interception and was unable to get into the end zone. The Fighting Irish started at the Texas A&M 29-yard line, but stalled inside the 10. Mitch Jeter was able to convert it into another field goal, but a pair of incompletions from Riley Leonard stood out.

Top Aggie defender down

Texas A&M defensive end Nic Scourton, perhaps the best player on the team, had to leave the game with an apparent left leg injury in the second quarter against Notre Dame. Scourton went down during a third down stop in the red zone, but was able to limp off the field under his own power. The junior from Bryan, Texas, led the Big Ten with 10 sacks and was poised to play a major role for the Aggies defensively. He had a tackle for loss earlier in the game.

Weigman gifts ND opportunity

Notre Dame has struggled to move the ball and was forced to punt after the last drive, but the Fighting Irish defense finally got a break. Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman just overthrow his receiver on a shot down the field and it fell into the hands of defensive back Christian Gray. Notre Dame starts with the ball at the ball deep in Texas A&M territory with a chance to take a lead.

Aggies hit another kick

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

The kickers remain the stars of the game as Texas A&M's Randy Bond nailed a 49-yard field goal to retake the lead. Bond has kicks of 49 and 34 yards, while Notre Dame's Mitch Jeter nailed his only attempt from 46 yards. The 129 yards of kick yardage ironically matches the exact same amount as there is total offense so far.

End 1Q: Notre Dame 3, Texas A&M 3

Notre Dame is tied with Texas A&M at the end of the first quarter as both programs' defenses have come to play early. Quarterbacks Riley Leonard and Conner Weigman have combined to complete just 7-of-16 passes and no receiver has more than 18 yards. Texas A&M is averaging only 4.5 yards per play, but the Fighting Irish sit at 3.2 yards per play after running backs Jeremiyah Love combined for negative rush yardage. Texas A&M star Shemar Turner combined with defensive back Will Lee III for the lone TFL of the game.

Penalty issues

Notre Dame has been undisciplined on defense and it's cost them in key spots. The Fighting Irish have been called for three offsides, along with a pass interference. Each have helped convert third down opportunities into first downs and allow Texas A&M to keep drives alive.

Irish tie game

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

Notre Dame had some issues early, but quarterback Riley Leonard made plays to help the Fighting Irish get on the board with their first field goal. Leonard had a run on third-and-5 that was extended by a targeting call and helped create a mangeable field goal with a connection with Beaux Collins for 10 yards. However, Notre Dame mustered only 2.3 yards per carry.

Aggies DB lost to targeting

Texas A&M safety Dalton Brooks, a first-year starter, was ejected for targeting after a late hit on quarterback Riley Leonard. Leonard was sliding, and Brooks put his helmet straight down into Leonard's helmet to get ejected. Trey Jones III is listed as the primary backup.

Aggies strike first

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

The Aggies showed variety on offense, running side to side and using some intermediate passes from quarterback Conner Weigman, to march down the field and set up a 34-yard field goal. Weigman drew two offsides calls -- and nearly a third -- with a strong hard count that had defenders questioning themselves. Texas A&M went 49 yards down the field in nine plays to hold the ball for nearly four minutes before coming away with points.

Aggies get first look

Notre Dame won the toss and opted to defer, which means the new-look Texas A&M offense will take the field first. Offensive coordinator Collin Klein came to College Station from Kansas State, where he helped coordinator the Wildcats' 2022 Big 12 championship. He should bring many more spread concepts and versatility to a program that was rigid and out of date under Jimbo Fisher.

Texas A&M-Notre Dame prediction

Despite the ranking difference, Texas A&M is a slight favorite over Notre Dame. Looking down the rosters, that advantage is for good reason. The Aggies can muck up the game in the trenches and potentially cause real headaches with their stacked defensive line. The big questions for Texas A&M come on offense, but the Aggies will do just enough to leave Kyle Field with their first signature victory under Mike Elko.Pick: Texas A&M -3

Expert picks

Texas A&M comes into the game as a slight 3-point favorite despite trailing by 13 spots in the rankings. Ultimately, six of our eight CBS Sports experts went with Texas A&M to both win and cover against the Fighting Irish and pick up a marquee win over Notre Dame.

Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M live stream, where to watch, TV channel, prediction, pick, spread, football game odds

Old relationships reignited

Texas A&M coach Mike Elko knows Notre Dame's quarterback Riley Leonard better than most. During a historic two-year run at Duke, Leonard was Elko's starting quarterback, throwing for more than 4,000 yards and 23 touchdowns as the Blue Devils won 16 games over the past two seasons. Both former allies now enter the matchup in new positions after Leonard transferred to Notre Dame, but Elko believes Leonard has the advantage.

"I do think he has the leg up, because I think the amount of snaps he's taken against this defensive structure, when you talk about every day at practice for two years, I think there's some built in knowledge of what we do that we're gonna have to be really careful how we present things to him," Elko said.

New offensive era

Notre Dame was aggressive to try and take its offense to the next level and brought in two of the top free agents on the market. The Fighting Irish hired offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, who is fresh off coaching Jayden Daniels to the Heisman Trophy. His new quarterback, Riley Leonard from Duke, is a breakout candidate in college football. A revamped offensive performance could key a College Football Playoff run.

Battle in the trenches

Notre Dame and Texas A&M pride themselves on winning up front, and that battle could decide the matchup in College Station. The Fighting Irish are notably young on the offensive line, especially after the loss of projected starting left tackle Charles Jagusah. Every starter at Notre Dame is a sophom*ore or younger by eligibility. Texas A&M, conversely, has major experience headlined by Purdue transfer Nic Scourton on the edge and Shemar Turner inside. That experience could pay major dividends heading into a marquee matchup.