(Notre Dame) — Riding high from a national runner-up finish in 2024, it has taken only two games for the tires to go flat on the Notre Dame bandwagon.

For the third time in four tries under Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame lost its home opener Saturday night, falling to #16 Texas A&M, 41-40. The loss drops the Irish to 0-2 for the season and brings into serious question any hopes of making the College Football Playoff, even though it is only mid-September.

“The reality is we didn’t play well enough to win it,” stated a frustrated Freeman. “We didn’t play well enough for the entirety of the game. It’s not one play. It’s plays throughout the entirety of the game. We’ve got to get better.”

Notre Dame broke a 34-34 tie on a 12-yard touchdown run by Jeremiah Love with 2:53 remaining. But holder Tyler Buchner dropped the snap on the extra point, and the failed conversion loomed large.

Texas A&M drove back down the field quickly, as Marcel Reed hit Mario Craver on a crossing route for a 34-yard gain to the Notre Dame 37. It capped a big night for Craver, who caught seven passes for 207 yards and a touchdown.  Reed helped his own cause a little later, scrambling on a 3rd-and-eight for nine yards and a first down to the Irish 14.

A pair of false starts had A&M in a hole, but Christian Gray’s defensive holding penalty on third down set the Aggies up for first and goal with 39 seconds left. Three plays later, the Aggies faced 4th and 11. Reed lofted a ball to his left and backup tight end Nate Boerkitcher used his 6-4, 250-pound frame to box out Irish linebacker Drayk Bowen and haul in a touchdown for the tying score with 13 seconds remaining. Randy Bond then kicked the extra point to give A&M the lead and the win.

“On film, it’s a pretty simple formation,” note Bowen afterwards. “I have the tight end man-to-man. I knew he was gonna run the wheel out and up. He made a good throw and a good catch.”

This marks the second time in Freeman’s four-year tenure the Irish have started a season 0-2, as it happened in 2022 when Notre Dame lost Ohio State and Marshall.

“I can’t sit here and dwell on being 0-2 as much as I need to dwell on how do we find ways to improve,” said Freeman. “That’s what I need to dwell on is how do  we get better. How do we evaluate what we’re doing, why things are and aren’t working and how do we attack them and get better?”

His frustration was echoed by the Irish players.

“It hurts,” commented running back Jeremiyah Love, who scored on a rushing touchdown and receiving touchdown in this one. “Who wants to start a season 0-2? Nobody does. But that’s where we are. Every single play of the game matters. If it comes down to the wire, we have to execute. A win is a win and a loss is a loss, no matter the circumstances.”

Defensive back Leonard Moore, who saw the Irish allow 360 passing yards added “It starts with taking pride in our work going forward. No more going to practice trying to have fun. We have to get down to business now. It definitely hurts. We just got to stick together and lean on each other. Everything we want is still in front of us.”

Freeman isn’t so sure.

“The future is uncertain,” lamented the Irish coach when asked about the playoffs. “I don’t know what’s the playoff number. It doesn’t matter. We need to focus on getting better and getting ready for next week.”

Next week is Purdue, a team the Irish beat 66-7 last year. But any similarities between the 2024 Irish and the one that lost at the Stadium Saturday night are tough to see right now.