Marcel Reed didn’t hold back when the cameras started rolling. Fresh off the biggest win of his career, the Texas A&M quarterback had plenty to say about what really happened in those chaotic final minutes against Notre Dame.
The officials missed calls both ways, the Irish employed questionable tactics to disrupt the Aggies’ offense, and somehow, through all the controversy, the Aggies pulled off a stunning 41-40 upset that nobody saw coming.
What Did Marcel Reed Say About Notre Dame’s Clapping?
In the postgame press conference, Reed didn’t mince words about what he believed caused several false start penalties that backed up the Aggies throughout the contest.
“Unfortunately, they didn’t really hear that Notre Dame was clapping, but that’s what was happening,” Reed said. “And I was kind of throwing my guards and tackles off a little bit.”
According to Reed, the Irish were using crowd noise and strategic clapping to disrupt Texas A&M’s snap count. The tactic worked, contributing to multiple pre-snap penalties that pushed the Aggies backward at crucial moments. Despite those communication breakdowns, Reed still found a way to deliver when everything was on the line.
The game-winning touchdown pass with 13 seconds remaining wasn’t even part of the original game plan, Reed explained. “Yeah, so it really wasn’t to Nate. It was for KC, but Nate happened to end up in a one-on-one matchup against a backer,” he said. “So, I threw the ball up to him. He’s a big guy. He got great hands. I told him I loved him. I told him I loved him. He caught a big one for us.”
MARCEL REED MAGIC
pic.twitter.com/o6dsfcomtO
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 14, 2025
Reed’s comment about telling Nate Boerkircher he loved him brought laughter from the press room. The quarterback was clearly elated that a tight end had come through in the clutch when his primary target wasn’t available.
How Did the Officials Impact the Game’s Final Minutes?
The officiating controversies started building in the fourth quarter when Notre Dame safety Adon Shuler was ejected for targeting Reed. Texas A&M made the most of that opportunity, scoring a touchdown on the subsequent drive to tie the game at 34-34. From that point forward, the Aggies never trailed again.
The drama intensified in the final minute. With under 40 seconds left and facing third-and-16, Reed threw what looked like a drive-ending incompletion. However, officials flagged Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray for defensive holding, moving the ball to the 10-yard line and giving Texas A&M fresh life.
The biggest controversy came on the game-winning score itself. Video replays clearly showed Notre Dame defensive lineman Donovan Hinish being grabbed around the chest as the tight end released from his blocking assignment to run his route. Officials failed to call the obvious holding penalty that freed Boerkircher for his touchdown catch.
Sports analyst Carter Karels highlighted the missed call on social media while also pointing out that the officials had missed multiple infractions throughout the drive.
This was a bad missed call, no doubt. However, I think it would also be fair to point out the officials missed multiple delay of game penalties on Notre Dame’s DL for clapping. It led to back-to-back presnap penalties for A&M late that drive, backing it up from the 10 to the 20. https://t.co/AF98Fx9N01
— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) September 14, 2025
Karels reshared former NFL referee Terry McAulay’s assessment of the final play, where McAulay called the missed holding penalty “patently egregious.”
Despite all the missed calls and controversy swirling around the finish, the Aggies managed to find their magic when it mattered most. Reed’s improvised pass, Boerkircher’s clutch catch, and 13 seconds of pure chaos delivered a 41-40 upset that keeps Texas A&M undefeated as they head into SEC conference play.
Yet there is no video of the Notre Dame players clapping.