Live updates, score, analysis: Central Michigan vs. Notre Dame football

Notre Dame looks to move to 4-0 this season ahead of next week’s major matchup vs. No. 6 Ohio State. The Fighting Irish host Central Michigan (1-1) at 2:30 p.m. ET streaming exclusively on Peacock.

Follow along below for live updates, a scoring summary and real-time analysis.

First quarter

• Central Michigan won the toss and elected to receive. The Irish defense will be on the field first.

• Notre Dame stuffed Central Michigan on third and short to get the ball after a Chips three and out. The Irish started on their own nine yard line. After three Audric Estimé runs in a row, quarterback Sam Hartman opened it up on a 75-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Tobias Merriweather.

SCORE: Irish 7, Chippewas 0 (10:52 left in first quarter)

• A rash of Irish errors has this game evened up at a touchdown apiece. It started with Spencer Shrader’s kickoff going out of bounds. Then Joshua Burnham needless roughed the quarterback on a play that was called a catch at first but was ultimately overturned to an incomplete pass. From there, the Irish couldn’t tackle any Chippewa ball carriers. The Chips ultimately went on a 65-yard drive to get into the end zone.

SCORE: Irish 7, Chippewas 7 (7:22 left in first quarter)

• The Irish cap off an 11-play, 75-yard drive with a 17-yard score on fourth and short from Estimé. He now has at least one touchdown in all four Notre Dame games so far this season. He was stopped short of the line to gain on third and two, but he made it not matter with his TD sprint on the next play. Hartman was 2-of-4 for 23 yards on the run-heavy drive.

SCORE: Irish 14, Chippewas 7 (2:13 left in first quarter)

Second quarter

• Notre Dame didn’t need much time to score once again. After scoring on a four-play drive earlier in the game, the Irish scored on a three-play possession this time. Hartman connected with senior wideout Chris Tyree on a 76-yard touchdown pass. The ball was perfectly thrown.

SCORE: Irish 21, Chippewas 7 (14:17 left in second quarter)

• Notre Dame defensive back Thomas Harper absolutely lit up the Central Michigan quarterback on an undetected blitz. He forced a fumble on the play. The Chips recovered, but the loss of 10 yards derailed the drive.

• The next Irish drive stalled out near midfield. Shrader trotted onto the field for a 59-yard field goal attempt. The kick didn’t have the leg, so the score remained 21-7 with 9:49 left in the first half.

• A roughing the passer penalty on Rylie Mills put Central Michigan on the Notre Dame 20. Then Jack Kiser forced a backward pass, and the Chips lost eight yards on the play. CMU missed a 36 yard field goal.

• Penalties, penalties, penalties. Notre Dame’s ensuing drive doesn’t go anywhere because of a holding infraction on right tackle Blake Fisher. Central Michigan has a chance to sustain a drive to make it a one-score game at halftime.

• Gains of 25 and 31 yards put the Chips in the red zone, and a pass interference call on Jaden Mickey put them at the two yard line. It sure looked like the receiver Mickey was covering simply fell down. Tough call to go against the Irish, but the defense needed to be better on the plays beforehand. A Chips wideout was wide-open on the gain of 31. It took a few plays, but the Chips finally punched the ball into the end zone on a QB keeper on third and goal.

SCORE: Irish 21, Chippewas 14 (17 seconds left until halftime)

Third quarter

• Estimé opened the half with a 21-yard run. Hartman hit junior wide receiver Jayden Thomas over the middle for 39 yards to get Notre Dame in side the CMU five. It would have been a touchdown if Thomas was a bit faster or if Hartman took a little off the throw. Thomas had to dive to catch it. Hartman scored on a quarterback sneak of a few plays later.

SCORE: Irish 28, Chippewas 14 (11:36 left in the third quarter)

• Notre Dame endured a tough sequence of getting a 72-yard Estimé touchdown called back for holding on Holden Staes and then Hartman getting rolled up on. A CMU defender held Hartman’s leg down and it bent awkwardly. Hartman got up and voiced some displeasure at the officials.

• Hartman was walking rather gingerly but he put thoughts of a potential injury to rest when he got up off the bench and watched the ensuing CMU offensive possession with his helmet on, standing just fine on both feet. He was spending some time talking to Notre Dame QBs coach Gino Guidugli.

• The Notre Dame defense has not been great today. The Irish let the Chippewas into the red zone once again. A 37-yard catch and run was the big play in the drive. The Irish bowed up in the red zone and forced a field goal, though.

SCORE: Irish 28, Chippewas 17 (1:59 left in the third quarter)

• Hartman didn’t show any signs of soreness or injury on Notre Dame’s next offensive series. He perfectly placed the ball over a CMU corner’s head and into Rico Flores Jr.’s hands before a Chippewa safety could arrive for help. The play gained 42 yards. Hartman then airmailed Jaden Greathouse a couple times, and the Irish had to settle for a 50-yard field goal. Shrader nailed it.

SCORE: Irish 31, Chippewas 17 (:30 left in the third quarter)

Fourth quarter

• Notre Dame defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste blew up the CMU quarterback just after he released an incomplete pass on third down. The Irish defense forced a three and out and got off the field.

• Notre Dame sustained a nice drive into CMU territory but had to settle for a 31 yard field goal. Shrader drilled it to extend the Irish’s lead.

SCORE: Irish 34, Chippewas 17 (10:07 left in the game)

• Estimé had a couple of plays in which he hurdled a defender, and Notre Dame capped a touchdown drive off with a touchdown connection from Hartman to Staes, his third score in the last two games.

SCORE: Irish 41, Chippewas 17