CJ Carr thought he was just getting comfortable in the pocket. Instead, the Notre Dame quarterback was accidentally broadcasting his intentions to Texas A&M’s defense, turning what should have been a thrilling upset bid into a 41-40 heartbreaker that might have been entirely preventable.
How Did CJ Carr Accidentally Tip Plays to Texas A&M?
Athletic reporter Pete Sampson uncovered the devastating truth after reviewing game film. The redshirt freshman’s pre-snap stance revealed Notre Dame’s intentions with shocking consistency, giving Mike Elko’s defense a massive advantage throughout the game.
“Heard whispers last night CJ Carr tipped run/pass based on pre-snap stance. Sure enough, on 58 of 64 plays where Carr receives the snap, stance tells you run or pass. Feet parallel at the snap is run. Staggered stance is a drop back pass. Every stagger was pass, save one attempt,” Sampson posted on social media.
Heard whispers last night CJ Carr tipped run/pass based on pre-snap.stance.
Sure enough, on 58 of 64 plays where Carr receives the snap, stance tells you run or pass. Feet parallel at the snap is run. Staggered stance is a drop back pass. Every stagger was pass, save one attempt
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) September 14, 2025
The pattern held true on roughly 90% of Notre Dame’s offensive snaps. When Carr set his feet evenly in shotgun formation, the Fighting Irish were running the ball. When his left foot dropped behind his right, a pass was coming. Texas A&M’s defenders could position themselves accordingly before the ball was even snapped.
This advantage proved crucial during the Aggies’ comeback. While they still gave up 40 points, Elko’s defense made timely stops and forced turnovers when needed. Knowing whether to defend run or pass helped Texas A&M’s players get to the right spots during the game-winning drive.
What Did Marcus Freeman Say About CJ Carr’s Overall Performance?
Despite the play-tipping revelation, head coach Marcus Freeman defended his young quarterback’s execution in his post-game comments to On3. Freeman praised Carr’s poise under pressure against a talented Texas A&M defense.
“He did a heck of a job tonight. He led our offense, protected the football. Was putting the ball in great places for wideouts to make some plays, protection-wise. That’s a tough defense and they did a good job protecting in third down. He’s playing well, man.”
Freeman acknowledged the growing pains of starting a redshirt freshman. He specifically mentioned a tipped pass that resulted in an interception, noting the difficulty in determining whether the quarterback or the offensive line protection was at fault.
“You’ve got to live with the tipped ball that turned into a pick. I don’t know if it’s his fault or the O-line’s fault for letting the D-lineman get his hands on it. But I thought he played really well,” Freeman explained.
The numbers support Freeman’s assessment. Carr completed 20 of 32 passes for 293 yards and a touchdown, showing flashes of his potential even while unknowingly helping the opposing defense. For a quarterback making just his second career start, the performance demonstrated both promise and the inevitable mistakes that come with inexperience.
Now Notre Dame sits at 0-2, but the play-tipping issue gives them something concrete to address. Correcting Carr’s stance should be a straightforward fix that could make a significant difference as the Fighting Irish try to salvage their season.
