NOTRE DAME BLOWS OUT ARKANSAS 56-13

By: Evan J. Thomas

​FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Irish offense was hitting on all cylinders as quarterback CJ Carr tied a Notre Dame freshman record with four touchdown passes as the No. 22 Irish blew out the Arkansas Razorbacks 56-13 on Saturday.  Running back Jeremiyah Love became the first player in 30 years to rush for two TDs and two receiving TDs in the rout.

Carr completed 22 of 30 passes for a career high 354 yards in just his 4th career start and he matched the school TD passing record set by Ron Powlus who tossed four scores in his first career game against Northwestern in 1994.  The Irish offense tallied 643 yards of offense, their most prolific feat since the 2017 season.

Carr and the offense in the first half was unstoppable, he threw for 294 yards and all four TDs while leading six straight scoring drives.  Kenny Minchey relieved Carr in the fourth quarter when the Irish were up by 36 points. 

The victory puts the Irish at 2-2 on the young season after starting off 0-2 with three straight home games coming up and Boise State next on the docket. 

Running back Jadarian Price who tallied four TDs last week scored twice with one being a 35 yard catch from Carr and pounded into the end zone on a 3 yard scamper.  Aneyas Williams added a 17 yard run and Carr connected with Will Pauling on a 23 yard bullet.

The rumblings in the first three games was the demise of the defense led by new defensive coordinator Chris Ash.  The passing offense ranked 130th coming into this game but held the Razorbacks to 207 yards through the air and a total of 367 yards and a mere 13 points.  The best so far this season.  

The Irish's two early-season losses put Notre Dame's College Football Playoff hopes in jeopardy, but Saturday’s win showed they’re far from a mediocre team.  With an offensive output the past two weeks and a defense hopefully hitting a turning point on the season.

Catch this week's We Are ND Nation Podcast with Evan J. Thomas & Dennis Stover as they break down the victory and what is next for the Irish.