MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Texas A&M got away with holding on winning touchdown

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated Sep 14, 2025 11:40 AM ET

Texas A&M pulled off a thrilling upset win over Notre Dame on Saturday night, and the Aggies got some help from the officiating crew on their most important play of the game.

Texas A&M beat the Fighting Irish 41-40 in a back-and-forth game at Notre Dame Stadium in Indiana. The Aggies were trailing 40-34 with 13 seconds remaining when quarterback Marcel Reed threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Nate Boerkircher on 4th-and-goal. Texas A&M kicked the extra point to take the lead and then held on to win.

Reed appeared to have extra time to throw on the fourth-down play because Texas A&M offensive lineman Chase Bisontis got away with a hold. Bistonis was beat by Notre Dame defensive tackle Donovan Hinish, so he grabbed Hinish by the leg and dragged him to the ground.

Texas A&M got VERY lucky this hold wasn’t called on their 4th & Goal TD

pic.twitter.com/630B3hfO6o
— LandonTengwall (@LandonTengwall) September 14, 2025

Had the penalty been called, Texas A&M would have had 4th-and-goal from the 21-yard line. That obviously would have been a far more difficult situation, so the no-call had a major impact.

One play does not decide an entire game, and you can never rely on a penalty call in a situation like that. Still, Notre Dame has a reason to be frustrated. It is possible that Hinish would have gotten enough pressure on Reed to either sack him or force an incompletion had the hold not been committed.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: