The No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Texas Longhorns played in one of the best games of the opening weekend Sunday.
Not many experts gave the Texas Longhorns much of a chance in this Sunday night matchup, but they jumped out to a nice lead early on. True freshman quarterback Shane Buechele showed poise throughout and became a reliable option under center for Charlie Strong and Co.
Texas had a 31-14 lead in the third quarter and it looked like the Longhorns were just going to run away with it, but Notre Dame struck back with a quick score, making it 31-21 with plenty of time left in the game.
Buechele’s first career interception came at a costly time deep in Texas territory as it tipped off his receiver’s fingers and Notre Dame returned it to the Longhorns’ six. Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer, who had a heck of a game, found Torii Hunter Jr. in the end zone for a touchdown with another quick score, making it a three-point game.
Texas blocked a potential game-tying field goal at the end of the third quarter, but Notre Dame’s defense responded and got the ball back, eventually leading to a go-ahead score. Texas took the lead back with under four minutes left, but a blocked extra point was returned for two and Notre Dame tied it up at 37.
Overtime saw Tyrone Swoopes score two touchdowns on the ground with the game winner in the second free period.
College football was at its best on Sunday.
Three Stars
Shane Buechele: The true freshman passed for 280 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in his collegiate debut. He also added five rushes for 33 yards and another score. He’s going to be a stud.
DeShone Kizer: The junior for Notre Dame recorded six total touchdowns and secured the starting quarterback job on Sunday night. He had 215 passing yards and 77 rushing yards.
Tyrone Swoopes: Three touchdowns, including two in overtime to win, makes Swoopes our third star. He was an absolute monster and showed resilience after losing his starting quarterback job to a true freshman.
Highlights
gameontech: Brown makes the catch for a 13 yard TD ABC College Football: Notre Dame at Texas https://t.co/eknSbySg8p pic.twitter.com/RCLrTAhqT5
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) September 4, 2016
mattclapp: What a catch ABC College Football: Notre Dame at Texas https://t.co/J0CovXeNTP pic.twitter.com/e4r2wHYvrB
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) September 5, 2016
gameontech: Jake Oliver makes a 21 yard play ABC College Football: Notre Dame at Texas https://t.co/EZTc8J712t pic.twitter.com/SfmTxvdYvY
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) September 5, 2016
gameontech: Texas scores on a QB keeper ABC College Football: Notre Dame at Texas https://t.co/RA1WzDA34Y pic.twitter.com/THKefnNC5I
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) September 5, 2016
cfbz: Somersault for TD! ABC College Football: Notre Dame at Texas https://t.co/cWf8GRXPDU pic.twitter.com/Z15SKP8McC
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) September 5, 2016
gameontech: Swoopes scores a 1 yard TD ABC College Football: Notre Dame at Texas https://t.co/dngnwD0G6G pic.twitter.com/3cbKRQdKkb
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) September 5, 2016
magnoliarun1: If LSU HAD A QB LIKE TEXAS WE WOULD BE ONTHE ROAD TO CHAMP… ABC College Footb… https://t.co/lPdODoccHV pic.twitter.com/6vwC7f9dF8
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) September 5, 2016
scoutkennedy: Texas comes out of the gate swinging in the 2nd h… #NDvsTex ABC College Footb… https://t.co/30bPeCLu9M pic.twitter.com/PrKEhEpJDc
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) September 5, 2016
streethistory: 29 yard TD run ABC College Football: Notre Dame at Texas https://t.co/VWSmsYUOdX pic.twitter.com/UonX8oZUzZ
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) September 5, 2016
rpmsports18: The Irish are in business ABC College Football: Notre Dame at Texas https://t.co/JfLSfTF6dT pic.twitter.com/bOofaKIQCQ
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) September 5, 2016
streethistory: TD Torii Hunter JR ABC College Football: Notre Dame at Texas https://t.co/8jCPoyMJI4 pic.twitter.com/KUskc8FH76
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) September 5, 2016
gameontech: Torii Hunter Jr. takes a hard hit ABC College Football: Notre Dame at Texas https://t.co/vtwt6sR5ba pic.twitter.com/njnjTOaOqK
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) September 5, 2016
sonofthebronx: Replays of Texas' Naashon Hughes blocking Notre Dame's FG… ABC College Footb… https://t.co/cMtmeimVca pic.twitter.com/YmMJW4Blwr
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) September 5, 2016
gameontech: Kizer completes a pass to Adams for a 17 yard TD ABC College Football: Notre Da… https://t.co/6h93aPAlFT pic.twitter.com/yXCtwzL4IX
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) September 5, 2016
Not stopping D'onta Foreman. #NDvsTEX #HookEmHorns https://t.co/En71Uvc0O1
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 5, 2016
Swoopes in for the first score in OT https://t.co/G0x91q3fxu
— Ty Wurth (@lostyhighway) September 5, 2016
Kizer to CJ Sanders on the first play of the drive https://t.co/B8WU2yUMUn
— Ty Wurth (@lostyhighway) September 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/RedditCFB/status/772639906627715072
Wow. Swoopes in for the score. Game. https://t.co/HbcPY8Tt2V
— Ty Wurth (@lostyhighway) September 5, 2016
Betting Odds
Related Story: 27 most shocking college football upsets ever
Texas beat the spread of 3.5 points and the over/under of 59 was surpassed early in the fourth quarter.
Next Game
The Fighting Irish will have a nice prep game at home against Nevada in week two before hosting No. 12 Michigan State the following Saturday. Texas will host in-state foe UTEP next Saturday night which should be an easy win for the Longhorns.