Notre Dame Falls 41-40 to Texas A&M Amid QB CJ Carr Play Issues

Notre Dame's football team started the 2025 season with two narrow losses, dropping to 0-2 after a 41-40 defeat against Texas A&M. Freshman quarterback CJ Carr showed promise with 293 passing yards and a touchdown but faced criticism for unintentionally tipping off plays through his pre-snap stance, which may have contributed to the team's struggles. Despite some critical errors, including an interception and misplays, Carr received praise from head coach Marcus Freeman, who emphasized the quarterback's overall solid performance. The team's defense, under coordinator Chris Ash, has been a major point of frustration, with calls mounting for changes due to its poor performance in critical moments. The offensive line and defense failures have placed undue pressure on Carr to perform heroically, an unsustainable situation for a first-year starter. Freeman is encouraged to take a more active role in addressing defensive issues to prevent further regression.