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Notre Dame’s Balance-Fueled Streak Vaults Irish Into CFP Contention

Top-10 scoring on offense paired with a top-15 scoring defense, supported by SP+ No. 5 with FEI No. 6, explains the late-season climb.

Overview

  • Notre Dame beat No. 22 Pittsburgh 37-15, with Jeremiyah Love rushing for 147 yards and a Tae Johnson interception return setting the tone.
  • The Irish have won eight straight by double digits, including a 10-point win over No. 17 USC and a 43-point road rout of Arkansas that held the Razorbacks 20 points below their scoring average.
  • Notre Dame sits at No. 9 in the latest CFP rankings, while analytics rate the team higher with FEI at No. 6 and SP+ at No. 5.
  • Quarterback C.J. Carr has completed 67% of his passes for 2,487 yards and 21 touchdowns as Love’s season totals reach 1,135 rushing yards with 14 scores, boosted by targets like Malachi Fields.
  • Under coordinator Chris Ash, pass defense improved from 289.3 yards at 8.1 yards per attempt over the first three games to 225 at 6.0 since, strengthening projections that favor a 10-2 finish with Syracuse and Stanford ahead.