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Louisville vs. Notre Dame game balls

On3 imageby:Todd Burlage•09/28/24•

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Riley Leonard
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (Mike Miller/BGI)

No. 16 Notre Dame wasn’t brilliant Saturday in a 31-24 win over No. 15 Louisville. 

But by using just enough clutch plays on both sides of the football, the Irish (4-1) held on to secure its third-straight victory, against what was considered the toughest opponent at home the rest of this season. 

A balanced performance by both the Irish offense and defense limited standout game-ball candidates, but here are the three we settled on as Notre Dame heads into its bye week.

Wide receiver Jaden Greathouse

The Irish sophomore finished the Louisville game with 4 catches for 61 yards and 1 touchdown, not exactly eye-popping numbers.

But his 4 catches were his second-most this season, his yardage total was a season high, and his touchdown grab was his first in 2024. 

The most memorable play for Greathouse came late in the first quarter on his 34-yard touchdown catch that turned a 7-7 tie into a 14-7 Notre Dame lead. 

Through five games, Greathouse ranks second on the Irish with 13 catches and 140 yards, and he’s one of only two Notre Dame wide receivers with a touchdown catch this season. 

Cornerback Leonard Moore

Injuries in the Irish defensive secondary against Louisville provided this true freshman reserve a chance at the first extended action of his career, and he came up big.

Moore finished the game with a team-high 7 tackles, 6 solo, and he added a forced fumble in the first quarter that set up a touchdown drive for Notre Dame that gave the Irish a 14-7 lead that it never relinquished.

With only 5 tackles in limited action through the first four games this season, Moore enjoyed the best game of his young career Saturday, and proved to be a dependable backup for the Irish moving forward. 

Quarterback Riley Leonard

The Irish senior signal-caller stayed on the same script against Louisville that he has all season, posting most his statistical success on the ground, while doing just enough in the passing game to lift Notre Dame to the win. 

Leonard finished with a team-high 52 rushing yards with 1 touchdown, and added 163 yards on 17-of-23 passing with 2 touchdowns through the air.

Riley’s rushing touchdown was his seventh this season, after he entered the game leading all Power Four Conference quarterbacks with 6 rushing scores. 

This also marked the first time since November of 2022 (13 games) — when Leonard played for Duke — that he threw multiple touchdown passes in a game.  

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