SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame football is moving on from a tough 27–24 road loss at Miami. Now, the eighth-ranked Irish are looking for redemption when they host No. 16 Texas A&M on Saturday in South Bend.
Head coach Marcus Freeman admitted the Miami loss left his team frustrated. But he said they’ve turned that frustration into fuel. The focus this week: more momentum, cleaner execution, and making sure the Irish play to their full potential.
Freeman pointed to a few key areas of improvement. Missed tackles and missed defensive stops hurt against Miami. The Irish also lost the turnover battle—two giveaways to Miami’s zero.
On offense, Freeman wants to be more intentional with running back Jeremiah Love and make the ground game a bigger weapon. Defensively, he stressed that it’s not about talent—it’s about playing faster and not worrying about being perfect.
One bright spot came from freshman quarterback C.J. Carr. Protected with short passes and easy reads, Carr finished with 221 yards, two touchdowns, and a 63% completion rate. He even out-threw Miami veteran Carson Beck.
The challenge only grows this weekend. Under head coach Mike Elko, Texas A&M brings a dual-threat quarterback, strong offensive line, and deep running back rotation. It’s a test much like Miami—but one the Irish must pass if they want redemption.