In South Bend, Notre Dame’s defense launched into action immediately against Stanford. On Stanford’s first play, Irish defensive end Boubacar Traore broke through unblocked, sacking quarterback Davis Warren and forcing a fumble. Notre Dame linebacker Jaiden Ausberry recovered at Stanford’s 18-yard line. Just four plays later, Nolan James Jr. scored a 2-yard touchdown, providing Notre Dame with an early lead.
While not every play was so straightforward, the Irish dominated the game. At halftime, No. 3 Notre Dame was ahead by 37 points and concluded with a 58-7 win. This strengthened their record to 26-14 in the battle for the Legends Trophy, improving to 4-1 under coach Marcus Freeman.
The game was filled with significant plays. Freshman running back Jonaz Walton made a major impact with a 97-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 20-0. Soon after, Traore intercepted a pass, returning it 18 yards to set up a Spencer Porath 33-yard field goal. During the second quarter, Aneyas Williams scored on a 70-yard pass from quarterback CJ Carr, further showcasing Notre Dame’s power.
Stanford suffered more defeats earlier in the season by large margins, with a notable 54-point loss to Wake Forest. Notre Dame’s victory against a Stanford team now at 2-4 wasn’t unexpected, as they had already rolled over teams like Wisconsin, Rice, Michigan State, Purdue, and North Carolina without many issues.
The first half of the season was seen as a warm-up for Notre Dame. They now face tougher teams, starting with No. 8 BYU next, aiming for a College Football Playoff spot. “They’re ultimate competitors, and they want to play the best,” Freeman expressed regarding his team’s eagerness to face higher-ranked opponents.
Next, Notre Dame meets BYU, who secured a 5-0 record by defeating Iowa State with a strong performance from their quarterback Bear Bachmeier. Notre Dame’s upcoming schedule includes matches against No. 4 Miami, a rematch from a previous defeat, and No. 24 SMU, both adding challenges to their playoff aspirations.
Reflecting on Saturday’s game, Carr’s performance included completing 14 of 20 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 41 yards, but his involvement in the blowout led to some reflection on its necessity. A key focus has been finding new leaders in the running game following the departure of stars Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Walton, James, and Williams all delivered notable plays, with Walton’s breakout game notable for breaking a freshman record for rushing yards.
Notre Dame’s defense, though not at full strength, didn’t allow a touchdown until late in the third quarter. Injuries affected players like linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, cornerback Leonard Moore, and safety Brauntae Johnson. “Depth is crucial,” Freeman highlighted, recognizing the importance of having reliable players across the board.