The Notre Dame football team made plenty of mistakes in its loss to Texas A&M on Saturday night. Allowing nearly 500 yards of offense was right at the top of the list. So was a fumbled snap on an extra point kick. But considering all the miscues the Fighting Irish made in their Week 3 loss, the Aggies didn't also need help from the referees.
And yet, the SEC team got plenty of help in a night that was described by more than one analyst as "horribly officiated." There was a phantom targeting call that saw the Golden Domer's best safety ejected from the game.
The targeting call was bad. However, it was a missed holding call on Notre Dame football defensive lineman Donovan Hinish on the game's final offensive play that has experts aghast. Among those who were appalled that a penalty wasn't called as Hinish was tackled to the ground when he tried to get to Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed was officiating expert Terry McAulay.
'Patently egregious' holding call missed in Notre Dame football loss
This was just a patently egregious missed offensive holding foul.
— Terry McAulay (@tjmcaulay) September 14, 2025
Game, time, score are all irrelevant. It should be called anytime and every time it occurs. https://t.co/jWxoyh2fQ0
McAulay reposted a video of the play that clearly showed the A&M offensive lineman dragging Hinish to the ground as the Irish defender beat him through the gap. As Hinish fell to the ground, Reed threw the touchdown pass on 4th and goal that ended up winning the game.
"This was just a patently egregious missed offensive holding foul," McAulay wrote. "Game, time, score are all irrelevant. It should be called anytime and every time it occurs."
There's nothing to be done about it now. It's also not why the Notre Dame football team lost. But it's yet another reason to be plenty angry about the Fighting Irish's 0-2 start to the season.