College Gameday Big Game of the Night. The Notre Dame Irish VS The Aggies Of Texas A&M

welcome to Kyle Field home to the Texas A&M Aggies a unique and special environment in college football this crowd coming together to make up the 12thman trying to make it very difficult for any opponent and wild do we have a fun one here ahead a top 10 team walking into this snake pit of an environment just trying to get out alive this will be fun as we'll see the number eight team in the country the Notre name Fighting Irish taking on the 24th ranked team the Texas A&M agies 3 college football I'm Chris fower here in the booth with Kirk herb Street I think we've talked long enough Kirk let's get this game going thees will kick this away to get us going [Applause] here bringing it out it's price he'll be tackled at the 18 that's good coverage there so Notre Dame's offense comes on the field first today here comes that star wide receiver with the swag that kind of rubs opponents the wrong way K because he's saying I don't care who you are I'm going to embarrass you today well Chris there's a rumor that this guy actually DMS the opposing Corners before the game that he's going to go up against as if to say hey it's going to be a long day for you today but the wild thing is he actually comes out and single-handedly unravels defenses to the point that by the end it looks like he's in the heads of the opposing secondary it's early but this crowd is fired up listen to this noise here this is going to be tough for the visitors today oh downfield catch made in the left side stopped at the 43 but that's enough to make a first down that's a big time play by this wide receiver from Notre Dame you think about Notre Dame teams that have been able to get up into the national scene they've always seemed to have a Difference Maker out on the perimeter going way back to Tim Brown who won a Heisman rocket who is dynamic most recently chased Claypool you got to have somebody out on the outside that can make plays to have a chance of winning these big games off the RP caught to the right we see this all over the country now in college football defensive back staying a back a little bit deeper forcing the quarterback to have to throw things in front I like the decision here by the quarterback because he gets positive yards it's a good way of staying ahead of the chains here's the second down [Applause] play grab behind the line it's Evans defense reacts quickly a very short gain on the play just a good job of spreading the wealth making sure everybody's getting their touches when you do that the defense can't lock in on one guy or two guys make them have to be aware of everybody and allows you to continue to spread the ball around and spread the field making it tougher for this defense took contact on the throw oh and he almost picked it off nearly a turnover you're on the opening drive it's going to bring up fourth down gosh Chris I just love this atmosphere the home field advantage on full display the defense flying around with energy nice job there on that third down of using the energy from the crowd to make that stop this one is out of B B and that'll give the offense great field position the agies offense takes the field our first chance to see them today well it's not easy to narrow down the impact players just a few guys but what do you expect from them today well we got guys that can make plays as well as anybody in the country on both sides of the ball that's why I think this matchup is so exciting two good teams with great individual players they make the tackle but that pass creates a solid game great execution on the RPO quarterback does a nice job as he's putting the ball into the belly of the back making sure to read his key this defense was determined they came up to stop the run quarterback saw it P it out hit the quick slant right behind it for some great yards hand off here from the shotgun they bring him down but that's a solid gain on the play I tell you this running back from Texas A&M is dangerous when he has room to work great speed good job picking up the first down and Chris you just think about some of the backs that they've had when they've had a chance to put that Texas A&M uniform on Dante Hall some people forget was a Texas A&M running back devvon aain of course more recently and even Isaiah Spiller good tough blend of toughness and speed oh and he fumbles looks like the defense has it that is tough for the ball carry here because not only does he take a big hit but now you're about to get an earful from your coach on the sideline after that turnover the Fighting Irish offense is back on the field the last Drive they came up empty had to kick it away can they come up with something here they'll run it out of the shotgun breaks attack on the play and makes a decent gain great job by the offensive line here opening up some holes and the running back room to run on first down plays like this can open up the playbook for the play caller allow him to make that defense think they're going to run maybe play action maybe throw the ball down field second down after that run on the previous flag shotgun formation here's an inside give he's wrapped up nicely there by the Freshman see that's how you limit what an offense wants to do this time the defense just won the battle up front at the line of scrimmage not giving up any big plays everybody's sound it's really solid defense on that play it's third down after that run can they pick up the first on the ground tackled behind the line it's a loss of two what makes a really good counter play is selling it to the defense you're going to go one way and then handing it off in the opposite direction but if you don't sell it you're just giving the defense more time to see what's going on they can come up and make the tack just like you saw there and the punt team makes its way onto the field and he'll kick it away now for the second time not what he was hoping for instead of pitting the offense deep it's a Touchback here comes the agies offense back on the field they moved it well last time got across the 50 but then fumbled the football [Applause] away second down offense getting set up here's second down back to pass it's Wegman here's a screen pass to the running back they bring him down but not before he gains first down yardage [Applause] the end getting set for the second quarter here both offenses surging for a spark they didn't do much in the first quarter at [Music] all getting set here now for the second period both offenses looking for some efficiency for a spark after that opening play using his legs it's Moss they'll stop him behind the line for a loss of one that was that excellent linebacker with a clear path just running downhill quickly you know I think one of the great things about watching this guy play all year is his vision he just has great instincts that time the defensive line ate up all the linemen freed up the linebacker to get into the back field and the result is a tackle for a loss for the backer try to run it up the middle but get nothing that back just had nowhere to go got to give credit to to the defense and their run fits on that play offense been in Reverse here now a long way to go to convert this third down dropping back looking to throw for the first down receiver makes the grab good execution gets a block and gets the first down first [Applause] and the agies keep the football on the move on First and 10 looking a throw grab down the midle it's green and the defense swarms not much of a gain on that completion well that's pretty good coverage here by this defense not much of a window to throw this ball into but the quarterback's accuracy and the size of the tight end picks up a nice game second down after that short completion PR snap motion from the receiver ball handed off a try the middle but gain nothing on that play Chris textbook job by the defense surrounding the runner and preventing that play from being bounced to the outside they come to the line a long way to go for the first down but needing this crucial conversion right now looking to pass it's wigman quick throw testing the middle it's intercepted tried to fire it into a tight window follows the bck with a nice return before finer being brought down Chris he's just trying to find the hole in the zone coverage but as you know those windows can open and close pretty quickly especially in the middle of the field so timing's got to be just right or you're going to see an interception like this so here comes the Notre Dame offense back onto the field they're coming off a three and out looking to produce a positive drive here looks right for a quick completion zero Running Room stopped right at the line of scrimmage well they're just fundamentally sound right where you want to be after the completion nowhere to go after that catch offense getting set second down play here and now they'll run it on the draw tackled behind the line it's a loss of two well nowhere to go on the inside on that draw tried to bounce the C but nothing doing how about the push there from the middle of that interior that defensive line as you said nowhere for him to go so he's trying to make something out of nothing and by going out wide he puts himself at risk of being chased down by the speed of this defense and that's what we got a loss for the offense and the junior gets home making a sack there great call here going with that Niel defense giving you more speed on the field in that third down and long nowhere to go gave the defensive line plenty of time to come up with that sack now it's fourth down and [Applause] long the clock has stopped reached the two minute warning before [Applause] halftime pun team ready to boot it away the punt bounces and goes out of bounds right near the 10 yd line and the Texas A&M offense heads back out onto the field this drive is important last one in an interception let's see if they can get it going here brought to the turf that made the first man miss on the way to the first down and the defense sits back in a Zone coverage good job here by the quarterback recognizing that soft coverage and he hits the routine drag route underneath for a first down first down play call coming up how aggressive will it be dropping back it's Wegman caught quickly a solid 8yd gain brings up a second and two the offense will take their first time out of the half to talk strategy here that completion makes it second and short quarterback sets up looking for an open man it's a quick grab and the winter steps out of bounds but does have enough yardage to pick up the first down now the receiver does all the work here man that is easy living for this quarterback really good footwork by the re receiver gets the separation and at that point it's just pitch and catch for the quarterback this offense has gotten going at long last it's another first and 10 quarterback drops back from the shotgun that's C it's green they get him down but he crosses Midfield spot the ball the 44 well the defense knows might take more than one tackler to bring this tight end down well anytime as a defense you always want to Rally to the football but against this guy you especially want to do that because you saw he breaks through that first arm tackle I thought he might be able to pick up even more yards but good job of getting extra hats to the ball on First and 10 here looking to throw the ball and he finds a wideopen receiver they forgot about him downfield the offense will quickly spend a timeout here after the play what a pitch and catch by the quarterback and receiver for a big gain for this offense Texas A&M getting set with a first and 10 now sing it from the red zone now looking to throw and he's going to fling it deep going for it all here the pass is incomplete just across the goal line Chris not only really good coverage here by the defense but I love their awareness that ball is in the air headed to the end zone and the ball is separated from the receiver with the contact that play makes it second and 10 quarterback drops back we're going to test the secondary it in it's green a big hit by the linebacker physical tackle there big versus big again this is a really nice job here by the defense keeping everything in front of them in that situation now they're rewarded with this third and long we'll see if they do the same thing here or they going to sell out and bring the pressure to the air it's wman receiver looks it in it's complete into the end zone touchdown Texas andm they were backed up to start the drive but some bold play calling great execution reach the end zone you know it's easy to just kind of pull your horns in and get conservative when you're pushed way back close to your own goal line but not this offense they came out show'll the confidence that they have in their quarterback and it paid off nice touchdown [Music] [Applause] so they'll try to add to the lead now with the [Applause] p and the P makes it seven nothing so an important touchdown just time not much time for the opposing offense to try to answer before the break return starts from inside the five and he stopped at the 19 good job by the coverage team so they'll just take a knee here and that will send us to halftime looks like the offense content to run the clock out here and go to halftime talk about the second half and that will do it for the first half here Kevin Connors now has our halftime update guys had a better seat there in College Station for a fun first half than you and I get it a lot of coaches will say the difference between winning and losing comes down to stopping big plays and getting big plays but if you ask me it's more about how good you are on third down and how efficient you are in keeping drives alive those two stats can help you break the will of even the best defenses and help you come out on top I don't know about you but I'm ready to watch this one on fold back to our guys in the Bove no today will kick it off to start the second [Applause] half here's the return from inside the the returner loses the football deep in their own territory that is an incredible job by this kickoff coverage team you don't see many turnovers on kickoffs but they just gifted their offense with a bonus possession brought down but the completion moves the ball inside the 10 yd line defense getting push back well you can tell the quarterback knew exactly what he wanted to do with the football he was going to that end route no matter what he hits it for a nice game so down here in the Red Zone every yard tough to find here is a crucial play coming up and there's the handoff couldn't quite get there but brought down at the one yd line you know offensive linemen are just a certain breed they're always going to do their job no matter who's back there carrying the ball tell you what they have a little bit more confidence when the person that's carrying the ball can break off some big time runs that makes them block just a little bit harder knowing what he's potentially capable of doing they'll try to run this one in and he takes it in for the score touchdown Notre name he just goes up and over the pile for that touchdown and that's some serious vertical by this running back a well earned touchdown on the goal line and they'll set up now for the extra point trop the p is up and good so we're tied up here in the third quarter getting set to kick the ball off [Applause] now Fields it inside the 5 yd line he's tackled at the 21 that's where the drive will start here comes the Texas A&M offense back on the field passing game was so effective in the last position right down for a touchdown we'll see if the defense can make adjustments quick throw the catch is made they bring down the receiver but that's a nice gain on that play just a good job here by the quarterback got the ball out to his receiver his guy eats up some yards they stay ahead of the sticks second down after that run on the previous play [Applause] there's the handoff that's a nice wrap up there by the junior Christino the spread era over the years has always grown offensively but what I've been always impressed with when defenses that really build their defense to play in space still have an ability to be sound at the line of scrimmage and defend a running game it's exactly what we saw right there so ball at the 30 this is a manageable third down play for the offense they'll try to run for the first down looks like Texas A&M will have the first down they get just enough for the first down here nice job by the offensive line controlling the line of scrimmage and giving the back the chance to pick up the first down Texas A&M getting set with a first and 10 now B hand it off pickup is five yds so it's second down and five it's a good solid game five or six yards love to see that from the running game a game makes it second and medium looking to throw it's Wegman lets it Go quickly that's going to be incomplete a lot of contact no flag brings up a third down up third [Applause] there's the snap quarterback setting up to throw it's an outout the catch made they stop him but it's a first down well when you play zone defense on third down and you don't get pressure from your defensive line you're going to give a quarterback a lot of time to be able to find an open receiver and eventually get the first down not surprised at all that they're able to convert this Texas A&M offense is moving quickly down the [Applause] field off an RPO the quarterback looks to his right and a big gain down near the 29 they threatening boy this receiver in the slot is giving this defense all kinds of problems he has another catch on the day you may want to adjust out get out of your base maybe try five or six defensive backs on the field somebody that can match up more athletically against this slot receiver and here's the handoff they'll stop him behind the line for a loss of one Chris I think we all kind of get caught up in third down what what's an offense doing on third down but I think what's also important is how well do you defend first down if you can hold your oppon to a short gain or a tackle for a loss you throw the offense out of whack and their game plan gets much more challenging to try to come up with that first down got him for a sack a big play made by one of the senior leaders of this defense how about Notre Dame s in a backer here he comes up with the sack a little Rudy Magic on this one well they've had some great linebacker play over the years of of course think about Manti Tao Jaylen Smith who's now in the NFL and had a great career in South Bend aim with great history at play linebacker ninth play of the drive coming up this is a tough third and long dropping back it's Wegman the pocket breaking down running through the tackle that's a nice scramble there a big gain but not enough for the first down5 offense facing fourth down that's the we get to the end of three it's been a tremendous competitive battle as we check out some of the stats so [Music] far let's see how this fourth quarter unfolds everything to play for here for both teams so on fourth down here comes a crucial field goal attempt the kick is good offense collects three points on the drive W you talk about a clutch kick good job by the Snapper and the holder the kicker gives them the lead but remember this one is certainly a long way from being over here in the [Music] fourth following the field goal the kickoff team out there [Applause] now Fields it just outside the goal line stopped at the 22 that's pretty solid coverage there and the Fighting Irish offense comes back out onto the field from the shotgun it's a handoff the junior able to bring him down quickly but the defense coordinator this week all week telling us about Gap Integrity not giving this running back anyes at all really sound defense on that play now it's second down here play action fake looking to throw that one Falls incomplete looking for a flag doesn't get it brings up third down what a hit there by the defender tough for the receiver hold on to the football but he has that kind of contact good clean play by the defense after the second down incompletion they have to convert here on third down and eight dropping back we're going to throw for the first down he's escaping the pocket now slides to avoid the big hit Chris watch him work through his progressions here finds the first and the second option aren't there by the third option he's got to pull it down and try to pick up some positive yards of which he did and then he slides down to avoid the big hit not an name getting set with a first and 10 coming up here's the handoff the gain is two yards so it's second and eight CHR overall it's been a tough day for this offense but especially for this running back just not able to find any kind of traction at all and it's made this offense somewhat onedimensional and a large reason they're trailing in the fourth qut getting set here's second down out of the shotgun he'll hand it off and he's tackled right at the 40y line well I feel like they called that knowing chances are they're not going to hit a home run but look at this put themselves in a perfect third down situation much more manageable now we'll see if they can convert the offense now looking at a third and short in their own 40 trying to keep this drive going back to throw it's Leonard quarterback finds an open Target on the left side not much after the catch but it is good enough for a first [Applause] down this Notre name offense is moving quickly down the field and a handoff as they run the counter play the G three yards brings up a second down and seven nice solid run here by this back did a nice job of just kind of finding that lane pick up some positive yards there on First and 10 second down after that run on the previous play and he drops back in the gun hot over the middle it's Thomas they get him down but not before he gets to the plus 38 how about the arm strength from this quarterback he really didn't have any other option than to put it right in there and give it everything that he had great timing and a good job of squeezing that in between the Defenders the drive stays alive with that first down completion there's the snap they'll set up to throw oh it's dropped off the tip by the defense there it's going to bring out second down some players just have a real knack for timing their jump and that Defender was able to get a big pull on the ball and bat it away second down here time for one more play before the two-minute warning QB tries it again here on second and 10 it's picked off he tried to fired the ball into a tight window look out he's got some space touchdown A&M and the defense add six with the interception return [Applause] extra point try coming out on for the extra point extra point up and good a double digit lead now here in the fourth Bo now they get set to kick it away number fielded in the endzone it's price and he stopped at the 19 good job by the coverage team not offense back out on the field they're trying to recover from that last possession they had things going but then a pick six a devastating play they got to recover from that right now and a quick timeout call by the offense after the play trying to preserve as much clock as possible the drive stays alive with that completion for a first down to the air it's Leonard the pass rush closing in he's got a man down the middle a big Play Moves the ball across Midfield the opponent's 43 one thing we know for sure I don't know if as a play caller you can make that call without a quarterback who can throw it with a big arm he put that on a rope they'll hurry to the line here with the clock running here comes a first down pass attempt it's caught downfield they bring him down but an explosive play by this offense big game well the offense has taking advantage of the defense kind of sitting back with this lead that's backto back plays of big yards you know it's a Bend but D break mentality from this defense but they might want to re-evaluate cuz this offense is moving the ball too quickly down the field some confusion on the snap count a false start cost some yards start pretty easy call for the head coach he will accept that penalty of course a penalty backs up the offense it's first and 15 off the play fake looking to throw grab down the middle it's Evans finally they get him a great Tackle by the quarterback not easy with that size difference this is why running the football was so important you run the ball and then you go play action it affects the eyes of the safeties and line backers and frees up some space for the tight end to be able to pick up a nice game quack looking to throw it on second down contact as he threw it it's incomplete he was hit as he threw that time and now third down coming up and the crowd com to life here trying to help this defense down in the Red Zone drops back needing a third down completion here fires it to the wide out and it's incomplete again fourth down coming up hey it's an incompletion but it's a nice job and the replay booth has signal they want to stop and have another look at this one so after taking a closer look the officials are going to overturn that previous ruling on the field looking down field it's Leonard short throw running back makes the catch behind the line of scrimmage he's going to lose yardage there the defense closed in and forces him out of bounds I love the aggressive approach you're throwing the football but they're going in the wrong direction losing yards when you're this close to the goal line and that's not ideal that's a second and goal play for the offense from the shotgun drops back looking for an open man launching one to the end zone it's pretty simple as a defensive coordinator when a quarterback drops back to throw if we get pressure on him we got a chance to slow him down and win the football game if we don't could be a long afternoon good job here by dialing up the pressure urgency here in the fourth quarter they must cut into this lead it's third down and goal here's the snap looking to throw here trying to create outside the pocket now you'll make it into the end zone touchdown Irish tell you what Chris with this touchdown never say never you know we we're under 15 seconds to go but with that touchdown at least you've giving yourself a chance with an onside kick if you recover it who knows a Hail Mary maybe you got a chance to win the game and they get set now to try the p P up and good they get a little bit [Applause] closer believe they're lining up to attempt an onside kick and the receiving team has to recover looks like the hands team did its job so with the lead secure here it's time to just take a knee run out the clock and plan the Victory celebration