Notre Dame leads Texas A&M 14-7 in wild start: Score, live updates of huge non-conference matchup between Top 25 teams
originally appeared on The Sporting News

Texas A&M has aced both of its first two tests, albeit on the friendly confines of Kyle Field.

Now, the Aggies face their first major exam of 2025 as they travel to South Bend, Indiana, to take on Notre Dame in a matchup between ranked teams. The Fighting Irish are ranked No. 8 in this week’s Associated Press poll, while the Aggies come in at No. 16.

A&M easily won its first two games at home, defeating UTSA and then Utah State last week. During the second half of the win against Utah State, Aggie quarterback Marcel Reed left the game with an injury, but A&M coach Mike Elko, talking to the SEC Network postgame, reiterated that Reed is “fine” and ready to go for Saturday’s huge test.

As for Notre Dame, the Irish haven’t played since falling to Miami (Fla.) in their opener two weeks ago. Can the Irish – who played in the College Football Playoff championship game a season ago – avoid an 0-2 start, and likewise, can the Aggies avenge last year’s loss to Notre Dame?

Follow The Sporting News correspondent Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from South Bend.

Scroll down for live score and game updates from kickoff to the postgame. Refresh this page for the latest.

NOTRE DAME 14, TEXAS A&M 7 1ST QTR.

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FIRST QUARTER

– Irish will face a third-and-goal as the first quarter comes to an end. Love gets his helmet taken off on the last play.

– Love takes a direct snap and plows forward for a first-and-goal.

– ND catches a third-down slant but is a yard shy of the first down.

– Play clock running down with ND facing a third-and-7. Irish call a time out with 2:27 left in the quarter.

– Jadarian Price with another long run on a draw play on third-and-long. Irish knocking on the door inside the A&M 20.

– INTERCEPTION NOTRE DAME. And Leonard Moore picks off a pass near the A&M 40. Irish in great position to break this game open less than 10 minutes into the contest.

– A&M coach Mike Elko – a former defensive coordinator at ND – very displeased with his defensive unit and lights into them during the time out, throwing a chair in the process. Maybe the first coach to throw a chair in the state of Indiana since Bobby Knight’s infamous chair toss 40 years ago.

Mike Elko: pic.twitter.com/GfQVOVPgku

— Matthew J. Cordes, EA (@cordes_tax) September 14, 2025

– TOUCHDOWN NOTRE DAME. Jadarian Price takes a draw on second-and-goal and dashes in from 7 yards out, finishing off a 7-play, 75-yard drive. (Notre Dame, 14-7 | 6:30, 1st)

– And the Irish execute a perfect flea-flicker play for a 47-yard gain down to the Aggies’ 5.

– Huge mistake by A&M’s Ricks after shoving Love out of bounds. Instead of third-and-long, the Irish get an automatic first down.

– Notre Dame moves the chains and has a first down near its 40.

– TOUCHDOWN TEXAS A&M. Mario Craver catches a short pass on the run, breaks a tackle is is NOW LOOSE down the sideline, completing an 86-yard catch-and-run. PAT ties things up. (7-7 | 9:33, 1st)

MARIO CRAVER GOES 86 YARDS! WOW! pic.twitter.com/ATF4mvT2Zo

— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) September 14, 2025

– KC Concepcion calls for a fair catch and A&M will start its third series at its own 10.

– Third-and-1 and ND gives it to Love again but he is swarmed, with Scooby Williams making the first contact. Irish will have to punt it away.

– Jeremiyah Love breaks off a couple of big gainers and Notre Dame has the ball at midfield on its first offensive series.

– Not a great start for A&M. Aggies flagged for a false start before taking their first snap of their second drive, and the Aggies don’t do too much. They’ll have to punt again, but hoping to get off a punt this time.

– TOUCHDOWN NOTRE DAME. Irish break through to block a punt, with Logan Thomas breaking through and he scoops it up and runs it back 24 yards to the house. PAT is good. (Notre Dame, 7-0 | 13:06, 1st)

– A holding penalty backs the Aggies up, and Reed throws a couple of incompletions and then a short pass to get back near the original line of scrimmage, setting up a punt.

– Nice first play call, a run off tackle from Le’Veon Moss for a first down.

– We start with a touchback. Marcel Reed leading the offense out onto the field.

– Notre Dame won the toss and has deferred. A&M to get the ball to start things off.

PREGAME

– And they’re playin’ the feud up in South Bend. Pregame scuffle between the teams.

Script Aggies😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/zLwKVTOjG9

— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) September 13, 2025

– KC Concepcion has looked great in A&M’s first two games. Can he do it again on a Saturday night in front of a nationally televised audience in one of the sport’s great venues?