Notre Dame Escapes Navy 35-13 After Early Collapse

Overview

• Notre Dame beat Navy 35-13, improving to 7-1 after a game in which CJ Carr threw two touchdown passes and Nolan James scored twice on the ground.
• Navy dominated early, holding the ball about 22 minutes in the first half and finding success on the ground with rushers Jackson Gutierrez and Michael Barrow.
• Coach Marcus Freeman acknowledged the run-defense issues during the game and the team responded with halftime adjustments that produced 21 unanswered points in the second half.
• Beat writer Pete Sampson reported that veteran cornerback Leonard Moore did not start, raising questions about personnel choices and short-term roster management before the Miami game.
• The win keeps Notre Dame’s playoff hopes alive but increases pressure ahead of the Nov. 7 trip to No. 1 Miami, a game commentators said could determine Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff chances given the earlier loss to BYU.