#9 IRISH DISMANTLE STANFORD 49-20 IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE

By: Evan J. Thomas

From the opening drive, the Irish played with urgency, confidence, and physicality. The offense came out firing, blending tempo with physical downhill runs and sharp, smart throws that kept Stanford’s defense guessing.  Heisman candidate Jeremiyah Love took over the first drive scoring a touchdown on the opening possession.  On the next Irish possession was a scary moment when Love went out of the game after a defender kneed him in the ribs.  We saw Love walk off the field and into the tent and then the locker room.  He came back just before the half for a few more snaps. 

Aneyas Williams took up the slack after Love took the rest of the game off and Williams took the rock 10 times for 83 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns including a 51 yarder midway through the 4th quarter. 

Luke Talich snagged a catch on a fake punt and 84 yards later saw the end zone as No. 9 Notre Dame won its 10th straight, routing Stanford 49-20 on late, late Saturday night.  

What stood out most wasn’t just the points — it was how effortlessly they came. Notre Dame moved the ball with purpose, slicing through the Cardinal front and stretching the secondary at key moments.  Their offense clicked on multiple drives, managing explosive plays and sustaining long drives — that kept the pressure on Stanford the whole game.  Freshman quarterback C.J. Carr finished 17/27 for 205 yards and 2 touchdowns.  

Defensively, the Irish were relentless. The front seven consistently pressured the quarterback, collapsed the pocket, and shut down Stanford’s ability to establish any real momentum on the ground. While the Cardinal managed to put 20 points on the board, most of their success came in brief flashes — never sustained enough to feel like a true threat. Notre Dame’s defense had an answer every time Stanford tried to settle in.  Defensive back Leonard Moore tallied another interception to his already impressive resume.  

By the fourth quarter, it was clear: this wasn’t just a victory — it was a message. A 49–20 final score that reflects exactly what the eye test showed all night long: Notre Dame was faster. Stronger. Sharper. And flat-out better in every phase of the game.

Now, lets see how the College Football Playoff committee sees where the Irish will land.  2 consecutive years running the table to complete another 10 win season under Marcus Freeman.