Live updates, score, analysis: Notre Dame football vs. Pittsburgh

Notre Dame battles Pittsburgh on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Panthers enter at 2-5, coming off a 21-17 loss to Wake Forest, while graduate quarterback Sam Hartman and the Irish look to build on their Oct. 14 win over USC and improve to 7-2.

Follow this page for BlueandGold.com‘s live game updates, score updates and analysis as Notre Dame takes on Pitt.

First quarter

• Pitt has won the toss and elected to defer. Notre Dame will start with the ball.

• The Irish announced pregame that sophomore cornerback Benjamin Morrison is OUT with a quad strain. Morrison was a game-time decision.

• Hartman is picked off on a deep-middle throw intended for Rico Flores Jr. There was a little contact there, and the crowd is not happy. Replay will show that Jaden Greathouse was open short, but Hartman did not see him. Pitt will get the ball at its own 27-yard line.

• Touchdown, Notre Dame. Hello, Chris Tyree. The senior wide receiver and punt returner broke several tackles and made an impossible-looking return possible, taking a Pittsburgh punt 82 yards to the house. Notre Dame 7, Pittsburgh 0.

• On its ensuing possession, the Panthers throw a 2-yard out on third-and-7. Pitt’s punt is short and the Irish take over at their own 39-yard line.

• Hartman is intercepted again. He was going for Greathouse. It would have been a tight window, but the ball never got there. The Panthers deflected the ball, which was intercepted by Pitt’s Brandon George. The Panthers get the ball back at their own 16-yard line.

• Once again, the Irish defense is getting after it. The pressure on Panthers quarterback Christian Veilleux has been relentless and the cornerbacks, even without Morrison, aren’t letting anything up. Pitt punts again.

Second quarter

• Notre Dame runs on third-and-6, just inside the Pitt 40-yard line, which is something you do if you plan on going for it on fourth down. The Irish do that, but Hartman was hit as he threw and his pass is behind Evans, who was open. Pitt ball.

• Welcome back. Xavier Watts. Veilleux threw an ill-advised pass into double-coverage down the right sideline, which Watts intercepted around the Notre Dame 25-yard line and returned to the 37. Irish ball.

• The Irish finally finish a drive, as Audric Estimé runs 15 yards for a touchdown. The key block came from junior wide receiver Jayden Thomas. Notre Dame 14, Pittsburgh 0.

• Pitt kicker Ben Sauls’ 45-yard attempt is wide left. With 5:49 left in the second quarter, Notre Dame takes over at its own 27-yard line.

• The Irish drive stalls with 2:14 to play in the half. Bryce McFerson’s punt is fair-caught at the Pittsburgh 11-yard line.

• Watts picks it off again. Veilleux overthrew everyone and Watts caught it in centerfield. JD Bertrand committed a personal foul at the end of the play, but the Irish retain possession with just over 90 seconds left.

• After a pass interference call on Mitchell Evans wiped out a Holden Staes touchdown, Spencer Shrader’s 23-yard field goal is good. That’s the end of the first half. Notre Dame 17, Pittsburgh 0.

Third quarter

• Pitt picks up a first down on a Thomas Harper face-mask penalty, but the Irish get off the field on the next set of downs. Sophomore cornerback Jaden Mickey nearly picked Veilleux. Notre Dame ball at its own 20-yard line.

• Touchdown Notre Dame. Freshman wideout Rico Flores Jr. went 60 yards on a play-action boot throw from Hartman to get the Irish to the brink of the red zone, and sophomore running back Jadarian Price scored from 10 yards out. He broke two tackles on his way to the end zone. Notre Dame 24, Pittsburgh 0.

• Once again, touchdown Notre Dame. Mickey, who had come close to an interception twice earlier in the game, was rewarded for his efforts with a gift-wrapped pick six. The sophomore corner took it to the house. Notre Dame 31, Pittsburgh 0.

• Freshman cornerback Christian Gray joined the pick party. Veilleux tossed another ill-advised pass and Gray leaped, got one hand on it and somehow came down with the football. Notre Dame ball and this game is cooked.

• Another touchdown, Notre Dame. The Irish couldn’t pick up a first down after Gray’s pick, but the Panthers muffed the punt into their own end zone. Senior safety Ramon Henderson recovered it for six. Spencer Shrader missed he extra point. Notre Dame 37, Pittsburgh 0.

• Touchdown, Audric Estimé. His second. Notre Dame 44, Pittsburgh 0.

Fourth quarter

• Estimé scores his third today and 12th this season. Notre Dame 51, Pitt 0.

• The shutout is no more. Pitt backup quarterback Nate Yarnell finds junior wide receiver Konata Mumpfield for a touchdown. Notre Dame 51, Pitt 7.