Efficient Irish take care of business in Notre Dame win over Tennessee State

Sam Hartman and the Notre Dame offense had 53 seconds to go 80 yards at the end of the first half Saturday against Tennessee State in South Bend. They only needed 38.

The graduate transfer quarterback from Wake Forest completed passes of three, 18, 18 again, 13, 24 and four yards to get the Irish into the end zone and stretch their lead to 35-3. Even taking the opponent into account, Hartman was surgical and efficient. 

The rest of the Irish — most of the time — were, too. Notre Dame beat Tennessee State 56-3 and improved to 2-0.

“As I say this to you guys, I say to myself, you have to enjoy these moments,” Freeman said. “They’re hard, and we only get 12 guaranteed opportunities, so you have to enjoy them.”

Tennessee State was the first Historically Black College or University Notre Dame has faced in program history, and Freeman made sure to address what that meant for him, the team and the school in his opening statement after the game.

The Notre Dame crowd recognized the milestone’s importance as well. They cheering as loudly, almost as loud as they had all game, for TSU’s renowned marching band. Nicknamed “The Aristocrat of Bands,” it performed at halftime for an excited, green-clad audience.

“It’s really important and it’s humbling, especially being an African-American head coach,” Freeman said. “This is what you want for college football.”

A game most assumed would be a blowout from the opening kickoff got off to a rocky start. With the Irish leading 7-3 after freshman running back Jeremiyah Love’s first career touchdown and a Tennessee State field goal, disaster struck for Notre Dame. Graduate running back Devyn Ford took a shot to the head, causing him to leave the game, and he fumbled.

Tennessee State took the ball in the red zone, but the Irish righted the ship shortly after.

Notre Dame forced a three-and-out, Tigers kicker James Lowery lined up for a 29-yard field goal. Junior defensive tackle Jason Onye got his hand up and blocked it, and Notre Dame went right back to boat-racing TSU.

For his part, Hartman threw a 24-yard score to senior slot receiver Chris Tyree. He rushed for his first score on the ground in a Notre Dame uniform, a few plays after a 50-yard run by junior running back Audric Estimé, by leaping over a Tennessee State defender and somersaulting into the north end zone. He hit the student section with a celebration that signaled, “Are you not entertained?!”

Hartman capped off the 38-second touchdown drive with a 4-yard strike to sophomore tight end Holden Staes, and that concluded his first start at Notre Dame Stadium.

“It was surreal,” Hartman said. “I mean, from the get-go. Doing mass, coming out to — a lot of the guys were saying this is one of the biggest crowd they’ve seen, just on the walk.”

Hartman finished the first half 14 of 17 with 194 yards and two touchdowns, before giving way to sophomore Steve Angeli for the second half.

Notre Dame shut down Tennessee State after its first field goal drive, culminating in a pick six for senior cornerback Clarence Lewis in the third quarter. A Gi’Bran Payne catch-and-run in the fourth quarter, thrown by Angeli completed the 50-burger.

After two blowout wins against a rival from the American Athletic Conference (Navy) and its first ever FCS opponent (TSU), Notre Dame faces its first big test next week. The Irish travel to Raleigh, N.C. to face North Carolina State at 12:00 p.m. ET on Saturday.

“Obviously, we got a lot of ball left to play,” Hartman said. “And a lot of moments and memories still to make.”