Live updates, highlights, score: Notre Dame football vs. Stanford
Notre Dame and Stanford go at it in South Bend with the Legends Trophy on the line Saturday. Follow along below with Blue & Gold‘s live updates of the game that kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET this afternoon.
The following updates will be in reverse chronological order, with the most recent events at the top of the page and the ones that preceded them at the bottom.
FINAL SCORE
Notre Dame 49, Stanford 7
The Fighting Irish are 5-1 at the midway point of the season.
SCORE: Second-team offense gets in the end zone
Micah Gilbert should have been the Notre Dame freshman to score out of the weather delay, but he dropped a perfect 35-yard pass from Steve Angeli. A few plays later, running back Aneyas Williams got his first career TD on a heck of a 19-yard score.
It’s 49-7 Irish.
Back to play
Notre Dame and Stanford will resume at 7:12 p.m. ET with the Irish leading 42-7. It’s the beginning of the fourth quarter, with the full 15:00 still left on the clock.
WEATHER DELAY
Notre Dame and Stanford are in a delay due to lightning in the area. The suspension of play is coming at 6:10 ET with the Irish leading 42-7 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
SCORE: Riley Leonard gets TD pass No. 3
For the first time in his Notre Dame career, Riley Leonard has 3 touchdown tosses in one game. The third is a short dump-off to tight end Eli Raridon.
Leonard has also gone over 200 yards in one game for the first time with the Irish. It’s 42-7 Irish late in the third quarter.
SCORE: Jeremiyah Love gets into the end zone
Six games. Six games with a touchdown for Notre Dame sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love. It’s just what he does, score. This one, from 39 yards out with ease, came after he started the game with just 5 carries for 14 yards.
Appropriately, Love gives the Notre Dame Stadium crowd some love after he makes it 35-7.
SCORE: Notre Dame defense turns Stanford over, Irish cash in two plays later
All of a sudden it’s 28-7 Notre Dame early in the second half.
Defensive end Joshua Burnham read an option play and picked off the pitch for a fumble recovery, and Jadarian Price scored from 16 yards out two plays later to give the Irish a three-touchdown lead. Complementary football for the home team, once again.
Availability update for Notre Dame’s kicker…
Doesn’t look good for Mitch Jeter.
SCORE: Riley Leonard hits Kris Mitchell for six
Notre Dame goes play-action again. And makes good use of it, again. Riley Leonard and Kris Mitchell connect from five yards out for the latter’s first score in an Irish uniform.
The Notre Dame defense put the offense in a good spot to get more points before halftime, and Mike Denbrock’s unit got the job done. That’s good complementary football.
It’s 21-7 Irish at halftime.
Notre Dame center Pat Coogan moves the chains
You read that right. First-down catch for Notre Dame’s center. Something you have to see to believe.
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Another fourth-down stop for the Irish defense
Another Stanford attempt to keep a drive going on fourth down near midfield … another stop for the Irish defense. Al Golden’s unit has been solid when it needs to make a stand in this game. The Irish offense has 3:48 to go 52 yards and really take command of the game.
SCORE: Notre Dame takes the lead, 14-7
Can you say play-action touchdown pass, anybody? We can. Play-action touchdown pass. Riley Leonard hits Jayden Thomas over the middle for a 15-yard score. First lead of the day for the Irish comes after a seven-play, 52-yard drive. Leonard was a very effective runner on the possession, gaining 30 yards on the ground.
Notre Dame gets fourth-down stop
Howard Cross III had two sacks in one series, including on fourth down, to get the ball back for the Irish offense near midfield. Cross looks like the All-American he was in 2023 today. Perhaps he used the bye week to get his nagging hamstring injury closer to full health. Sure seems so.
END OF THE FIRST: 7-7
Stanford has the ball facing second and 12 from its own 40 at the end of the first quarter. The Irish had 89 yards in the first frame. The Cardinal had 73.
It’s about as even as the score suggests early on.
SCORE: Irish respond, tie game 7-7
Notre Dame goes 75 yards in 12 plays to cap off a rhythmic drive with a six-yard touchdown rush from Riley Leonard. The big play of the possession is a third and 2 conversion from Leonard to wideout Jaden Greathouse for a gain of 19 yards. Tailback Jadarian Price had a lot of positive gains on the drive, too.
SCORE: Notre Dame trails at home in first quarter … again
Stanford goes up 7-0 with 6:49 left in the first quarter on a short rushing score on third and goal. The Irish stopped the Cardinal quarterback on a keeper on second down and nearly did again on third, but he sneaked over the goal line. The TD was probably a play home fans want reviewed, but the previous play was inconclusive and this one probably would have been too.
This is the third home game in a row in which Notre Dame’s opponent has scored first.
Holding penalty dooms Notre Dame early
A 19-yard rushing gain by Riley Leonard is negated by a holding penalty on left tackle Anthonie Knapp. Then Leonard overthrows Jaden Greathouse, who is open, and is sacked on third down. Notre Dame is forced to punt on its first possession.
Stanford wins toss, defers to second half
The Notre Dame offense will be up on offense to start the game.
Condoleezza Rice presents American flag
Notre Dame alumna and 66th U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice presented the American flag on the field during pregame festivities.
