No. 7 Notre Dame pulls away late to beat No. 20 Texas A&M 23-13
No. 7 Notre Dame pulls away late to beat No. 20 Texas A&M 23-13
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) breaks free from Texas A&M linebacker Daymion Sanford (27) for a touchdown run late in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price (24) breaks free for a 47-yard touchdown run against Texas A&M during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) breaks free for a touchdown run late in the fourth quarter against Texas A&M during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame fans celebrate after the team scored a touchdown against Texas A&M during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) breaks a tackle attempt behind the line of scrimmage by Texas A&M defensive lineman Nic Scourton (11) during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, front right, argues a non call with an official, front left, during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Notre Dame, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M linebacker Scooby Williams (0) reacts after Notre Dame came up short on a fourth down play during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame wide receiver Jayden Harrison (2) is tackled by Texas A&M linebacker Taurean York (21) after a first down run during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Albert Regis (17) and defensive lineman Cashius Howell (18) reacts after Notre Dame came up short on a fourth down play during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman (15) is chased out of bounds after a scramble by Notre Dame defensive lineman Donovan Hinish (41) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (13) passes the ball against the Texas A&M during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M running back Le’Veon Moss (8) is tackled after a first down run by Notre Dame linebacker Jaylen Sneed (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) breaks free from Texas A&M linebacker Daymion Sanford (27) for a touchdown run late in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) breaks free from Texas A&M linebacker Daymion Sanford (27) for a touchdown run late in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price (24) breaks free for a 47-yard touchdown run against Texas A&M during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price (24) breaks free for a 47-yard touchdown run against Texas A&M during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) breaks free for a touchdown run late in the fourth quarter against Texas A&M during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) breaks free for a touchdown run late in the fourth quarter against Texas A&M during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame fans celebrate after the team scored a touchdown against Texas A&M during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame fans celebrate after the team scored a touchdown against Texas A&M during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) breaks a tackle attempt behind the line of scrimmage by Texas A&M defensive lineman Nic Scourton (11) during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) breaks a tackle attempt behind the line of scrimmage by Texas A&M defensive lineman Nic Scourton (11) during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, front right, argues a non call with an official, front left, during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Notre Dame, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, front right, argues a non call with an official, front left, during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Notre Dame, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M linebacker Scooby Williams (0) reacts after Notre Dame came up short on a fourth down play during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M linebacker Scooby Williams (0) reacts after Notre Dame came up short on a fourth down play during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame wide receiver Jayden Harrison (2) is tackled by Texas A&M linebacker Taurean York (21) after a first down run during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame wide receiver Jayden Harrison (2) is tackled by Texas A&M linebacker Taurean York (21) after a first down run during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Albert Regis (17) and defensive lineman Cashius Howell (18) reacts after Notre Dame came up short on a fourth down play during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Albert Regis (17) and defensive lineman Cashius Howell (18) reacts after Notre Dame came up short on a fourth down play during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman (15) is chased out of bounds after a scramble by Notre Dame defensive lineman Donovan Hinish (41) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman (15) is chased out of bounds after a scramble by Notre Dame defensive lineman Donovan Hinish (41) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (13) passes the ball against the Texas A&M during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (13) passes the ball against the Texas A&M during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M running back Le’Veon Moss (8) is tackled after a first down run by Notre Dame linebacker Jaylen Sneed (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M running back Le’Veon Moss (8) is tackled after a first down run by Notre Dame linebacker Jaylen Sneed (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Jeremiyah Love broke a tie with a 21-yard touchdown run with 1:54 left and No. 7 Notre Dame beat No. 20 Texas A&M 23-13 on Saturday night in the opener for both teams.
Love burst through the line and shed two would-be tacklers before waltzing into the end zone to give the Fighting Irish the lead.
The Aggies had a chance to tie it, but Christian Gray jumped the route to knock down Conner Weigman’s pass on fourth down to give Notre Dame the ball back.
The Fighting Irish added Mitch Jeter’s 46-yard field goal with 30 seconds left.
Riley Leonard had a strong performance in his Notre Dame debut after transferring from Duke. He threw for 158 yards and added 63 yards rushing.
“It wasn’t pretty,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said. “The defense played lights out, (forced) turnovers. And our offense didn’t turn the ball over. Yes, there’s a lot of things we need to work on but man they did a great job at least trying to move the chains and… they didn’t make a detrimental mistake.”
Elko’s Debut
Saturday was the debut for Texas A&M coach Mike Elko after he was hired from Duke this offseason following Jimbo Fisher’s firing late last season. Elko was looking to take the Aggies to the next level after last season’s disappointing 7-6 season, but instead finds his team in an early 0-1 hole.
“I told the locker room for us to get this program over the hump, we have to put ourselves in the position to play the game the way we need to, and we didn’t do that tonight,” he said.
Running Wild
Notre Dame had 198 yards rushing led by 91 from Love. The game was tied at 6-all with about seven minutes left in the third quarter when Jadarian Price escaped a tackle at the line, darted down the left side of the field and simply outran everyone for at 47-yard TD that put the Fighting Irish on top.
Texas A&M linebacker Taurean York said improving the run defense will be a priority for the Aggies.
“Them running for 198 yards, that’s no bueno,” he said. “It starts with me, so it will be fixed.”
That’s Sick
Television cameras caught Weigman vomiting as he returned to the sideline after a drive in the second half. Elko said he wasn’t ill and it wasn’t a big deal.
“In the heat of the moment just got a little sick,” he said. “Puke and rally.”
Key takeaway
Notre Dame: The defense — especially the secondary — was as good as advertised. Xavier Watts, whose seven interceptions tied for most in the nation last year, got another one against the Aggies and Adon Shuler added a second one. Notre Dame held Texas A&M to 246 yards.
Texas A&M: Weigman will have to get better before SEC play begins after the A&M offense struggled to move the ball for most of the night against Notre Dame’s staunch defense. Their only touchdown came on a 1-yard run by Le’Veon Moss with about 12 minutes left. Weigman managed just 100 yards passing with the two turnovers in his return after missing most of last season with a foot injury.
Up next
Notre Dame: Hosts Northern Illinois on Saturday.
Texas A&M: Hosts McNeese State on Saturday.
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