No. 7 Notre Dame Scores Late To Defeat No. 20 Texas A&M In College Station 23-13: Live Game Updates

The Aggies look to put the college football world on notice as they go up against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Jul 18, 2024; Dallas, TX, USA; Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko speaking at Omni Dallas Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Brett Patzke-USA TODAY Sports / Brett Patzke-USA TODAY Sports

The day has come. The time for talk is over.

The No. 20 Texas A&M Aggies open up their 2024 hunt for a national championship against the No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a week one matchup for the ages.

This is the sixth meeting between the Fightin' Texas Aggies and the Fighting Irish, and the first since 2001. Notre Dame leads the all-time series by a narrow 3-2 margin.

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (13) throws some pre-game passes with fellow quarterbacks Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the annual Notre Dame Blue-Gold spring football game at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. / MANDATORY CREDIT GREG SWIERCZ / USA TODAY NETWORK

Despite the 20-plus years away from each other on the field, the two teams should know each other pretty well, as new A&M head coach Mike Elko will be combatting his former quarterback from Duke, Riley Leonard, who transferred to Notre Dame this past offseason and easily won the starting job.

Elko quickly won over the Maroon and White hearts upon his hiring in Aggieland, having been the defensive coordinator for the team from 2018 to 2021, before coaching the Blue Devils for a pair of seasons.

Elko doesn't have much of an elaborate plan as he takes on a top 10 team in the nation, he just simply believes the Aggies need to do better than the Irish and they should have no issue claiming a big win to start their season.

"Our focus is really simple. We want to be able to go out and play our best football on Saturday night. We've had a really good fall camp. I'm happy with the progress that we've made across the board," Elko said earlier in the week. "We just need to go out there and outwork Notre Dame. We'll go out and be really fired up for what should an electric Saturday night in Kyle Field. It's finally here."

Outworking a team like the Fighting Irish is much easier said than done, but with the progress that the Aggies have made this offseason, it could be Notre Dame who need to keep themselves in check in College Station, which is also easier said than done when 108,000+ rowdy members of the 12th Man come prepared to make Saturday a long night for the Irish.

Follow along below for live updates of the game as soon as the action happens at 6:30 p.m.

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Notre Dame wins the coin toss and defers to the second half. The Aggies will receive the ball first.

First Quarter

Conner Weigman found Cyrus Allen and Tre Watson for big gains, and Notre Dame was caught offsides twice.

Field Goal, Aggies:
Randy Bond nails a 34-yard field goal for the first Aggie points of the season.

Aggies 3, Fighting Irish 0

change of possession

Riley Leonard and the Irish put together small pass plays for numerous first downs. Leonard rushed for a nine-yard gain, and was hit by Dalton Brooks, who was ejected for targeting upon confirmation. Field Goal, Notre Dame: Mitch Jeter connects on a 46-yard field goal.

Aggies 3, Fighting Irish 3

change of possession

An offsides and a pass interference call give the Aggies some yardage, but a costly false start pushes the Aggies back on a would-be conversion. An incompletion from Weigman forces a punt from the Aggies.

change of possession

Texas A&M forces a three-and-out from Notre Dame off of two incomplete passes by Riley Leonard.

change of possession

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Score tied 3-3.

Second Quarter

Texas A&M gets a pair of rushing first downs, but scrounges for only three points.

Field Goal, Aggies: Randy Bond makes a 49-yard field goal.

Aggies 6, Fighting Irish 3

change of possession

A 14-yard pass is the only big offense the Irish can muster and they punt it away.

change of possession

INTERCEPTION: Conner Weigman overthrows Noah Thomas and is picked off by Adon Shuler on the first play off the drive.

change of possession

A defensive pass interference by Tyreek Chappell draws Notre Dame close to the goal line, but the Aggie defense is able to hold the Irish to a field goal. Nic Scourton was injured during the drive but jogged off the field on his own power.

Field Goal, Fighting Irish: Mitch Jeter makes a 26-yard field to tie the game at 6.

Aggies 6, Fighting Irish 6

change of possession

Conner Weigman hits Cyrus Allen for a 13-yard gain, but a negative rush, an incompletion, and a sack result in the Aggies punting it away.

change of possession

With Nic Scourton back on the field for the Aggies, Jadarian Price unloads for a 50-yard run, only for a holding call to get it brought back. Jeremiyah Love then takes off for a 29-yard run. The Aggies bring up a fourth down, and the Irish punt it away.

change of possession

A pair of first downs get the Aggies down the field, but their progress is quickly halted by Weigman's second interception.

Interception: Conner Weigman is picked off by Xavier Watts for his second pick of the contest.

change of possession

A holding call quickly pushes Notre Dame back 10 yards, and Jeremiyah Love rushes for a three-yard gain to bring the first half to a close.

END OF SECOND QUARTER: Aggies 6, Fighting Irish 6

HALFTIME

Third Quarter

Notre Dame receives opening kickoff. The Irish convert on one fourth down, but are unsuccessful a second time and turn it over on downs.

change of possession

The Aggies respond with a turnover on downs of their own as Conner Weigman's pass falls incomplete to Jahdae Walker.

change of possession

An offensive pass interference call does not stop Notre Dame from finding the end zone first in the game.

TOUCHDOWN, Notre Dame: Jadarian Price breaks free for a 47-yard touchdown run. Jeter nails the extra point.

Fighting Irish 13, Aggies 6

change of possession

The Aggies are able to get a pair of rushing first downs, but a false start on fourth and one forces A&M to punt.

change of possession

Texas A&M forces a three-and-out from the Irish to keep the game close.

change of possession

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Fighting Irish 13, Aggies 6

Fourth Quarter

Texas A&M uses the rushing game to even up the game early in the fourth quarter.

TOUCHDOWN, Aggies: Le'Veon Moss punches it in from one yard out and Bond sails the extra point through to tie it up.

Aggies 14, Fighting Irish 14

change of possession

Riley Leonard completes a 10-yard pass to Beaux Collins, but a false start and stout Aggie defense forces a punt from the Irish.

change of possession

Conner Weigman's completion to Le'Veon Moss is just short of the line to gain, and the Maroon and White go three-and-out.

change of possession

Notre Dame racks up four consecutive first down plays and punches the ball into the end zone to take a late lead in the game.

TOUCHDOWN, Notre Dame: Jeremiyah Love runs for a 21-yard score, giving the Irish the lead with 1:54 left in the game. Jeter makes extra point.

Fighting Irish 20, Aggies 13

change of possession

The Aggies go for it on fourth down, but Weigman's pass is incomplete, and the Aggies turn it over on downs.

change of possession

Notre Dame racks up rushing yards, draining the clock, and even tacks on an additional field goal.

Field Goal, Notre Dame: Mitch Jeter sends a 46-yard kick through the uprights.

Fighting Irish 23, Aggies 13

The Aggies take a heartbreaking loss late to the Fighting Irish, 23-13.

END OF FOURTH QUARTER

FINAL: Fighting Irish 23, Aggies 13