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The Notre Dame football team fell at home to Texas A&M resulting in an 0-2 start to the 2025 season. Starting quarterback CJ Carr is at the center of a controversy following the loss.
The passer is accused of tipping plays during the matchup, providing intel to the defense on pass/run play selection. His head coach, Marcus Freeman, defended Carr after the game.
Carr had an incredible outing, throwing for nearly 300 yards on 62.5% passing. He tossed one touchdown and one pick while leading the team to a 40-point explosion.
It was not enough to get the win. A botched extra point left the door open for Texas A&M. The Aggies won the game on a fourth-and-goal play in the final seconds to win, 41-40.
Carr’s play did not go unnoticed by his head coach.
Marcus Freeman defended CJ Carr.
He spoke on the quarterback’s overall performance after the crushing loss. He took to good with the bad.
“You’ve got to live with the tipped ball that turned into a pick,” he said. “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…
“He did a heck of a job tonight. Led our offense. Protected the football. Was putting the ball in great places for our wideouts to make some plays. That’s a tough defense.”
Was Carr tipping plays?
Speculation arose after the loss. Despite the 40-point outburst, he’s being criticized. CJ Carr may have unintentionally given Texas A&M pre-snap intel.
Pete Sampson of The Athletic analyzed each offensive play from the game. Carr’s stance in the backfield was apparently a tell for the defense.
He claims that his foot position could’ve been used to successfully predict run or pass play choice on 90% of Notre Dame’s calls.
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
Feet are parallel on runs.
That’s 2️⃣ for Jadarian Price ☘️
The Irish are back in front 😤#GoIrish☘️ | @Jadarian15 pic.twitter.com/DPEiHktGpN
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) September 14, 2025
Feet are staggered on passes.
1️⃣3️⃣ ➡️ 1️⃣#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/ME4PFmg9w9
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) September 14, 2025
It didn’t seem to hurt the offense too much, but it will certainly be something the coaching staff looks at this week in practice.