If Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff hopes weren’t officially ended on Saturday night, they certainly took a near-fatal blow in South Bend.

A stunning late collapse against Texas A&M left the Fighting Irish reeling, their season already teetering on the edge of disappointment.

Notre Dame led 40–34 with just 19 seconds remaining, needing only one final defensive stand to seal the win. But on fourth-and-11 from the 11-yard line, Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed found tight end Nate Boerkircher for the decisive touchdown.

Boerkircher, a Nebraska transfer with just 21 previous career catches, beat linebacker Drayk Bowen on a wheel route for his first score since 2022.

The extra point from Randy Bond sealed a shocking 41–40 Aggies victory, sending a stunned Notre Dame Stadium crowd home in disbelief.

Costly Mistakes Doom the Irish

The heartbreak began earlier when veteran utility player Tyler Buchner mishandled a hold on an extra point, leaving the door open for Texas A&M’s comeback. That single mistake proved costly when the Aggies converted their final touchdown and PAT.

Head coach Marcus Freeman, now 33–12 in his tenure, admitted his team had collapsed defensively. “We have to get better at both rush and coverage,” Freeman said postgame.

The Irish surrendered 360 passing yards on just 17 completions, with receiver Mario Craver torching the secondary for 207 yards and a touchdown. Notre Dame failed to record a single sack, leaving Reed far too comfortable in the pocket.

It was the most points Notre Dame has given up in the Freeman era, and the most since Michigan scored 45 in 2019.

Can Notre Dame Still Make the Playoff?

At 0–2, the Irish’s postseason outlook is grim. In theory, a 10–2 finish could still earn them consideration, but without a conference title game to boost their résumé, the odds are slim.

Notre Dame’s remaining schedule lacks heavyweight opponents, with NC State, USC, and Navy as the only unbeatens left. Even wins over those programs may not carry enough weight with the College Football Playoff committee.

“The future’s uncertain,” Freeman admitted. “It doesn’t matter what the playoff number is. We’ve got to focus on getting better.”

Irish Fans Left Searching for Answers

Notre Dame’s history of recent home heartbreak only compounds the frustration. Losses to Marshall in 2022, Northern Illinois in 2024, and Ohio State in 2023 have already scarred the Freeman era. This collapse against A&M now joins that painful list.

Unless chaos breaks out across the Power 4 conferences, Notre Dame will need perfection the rest of the way just to have an outside playoff chance. Anything less than 10–2 almost certainly spells elimination.

For now, one botched hold and one fourth-down touchdown may go down as the turning point in the Irish’s 2025 season.