Notre Dame didn’t just beat Stanford on Saturday afternoon. It flattened the Cardinal, 58-7, and did it in a way that made the whole thing look over before it really started.
That kind of score usually means plenty of players get to cash in on a runaway game, and the Irish had no shortage of standout moments. The running backs popped, the defense made life miserable from the opening snap, and even the backup quarterback got a little something out of the blowout.
Jonaz Walton was the biggest offensive story. The true freshman looked like he’d been waiting for his turn, and once he got it, he made it count.
Walton ran for 181 yards and 2 touchdowns on only 13 carries, a ridiculous 13.9 yards per carry, and added 2 catches for 28 yards. His signature moment came in the second quarter with Notre Dame already up 14-0, when he broke loose for a 97-yard touchdown run.
His 183 yards set a school record for freshmen and gave him a strong case for more work going forward.
Walton’s explosion also pushed Aneyas Williams further down the pecking order. Williams still had his moments, including a 70-yard touchdown catch on a wheel route, but the ground game told the bigger story.
He finished with 7 carries for 28 yards, trailing Walton, Nolan James Jr., and even true freshman Javian Osborne. James had 10 carries for 73 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Osborne added 6 carries for 31 yards and a score.
On the defensive side, Boubacar Traore made his presence felt right away. Notre Dame’s first big defensive play came on the opening possession after the kickoff, when Traore stripped Stanford quarterback Davis Warren.
He wasn’t done there. In the second quarter, the defensive lineman dropped into coverage and intercepted Warren, putting his stamp all over the game.
He also added another tackle for good measure.
The blowout also changed the conversation around Miami’s eye-popping numbers against Stanford. The Hurricanes had been making noise after their 45-6 win, with Darian Mensah going 27-for-30 for 401 yards and 5 touchdowns, and Malachi Toney piling up 12 catches for 234 yards and 3 scores.
Notre Dame’s version of domination didn’t produce those same stat lines, but the Irish spread the ball around more and didn’t need to force the issue the way Miami did. CJ Carr’s numbers weren’t as flashy, but Notre Dame simply didn’t have to chase them.
Even in limited action, Noah Grubbs found a way to make a small case for himself. The backup quarterback completed 5 of 7 passes for 56 yards, his most work in a month since he threw 11 passes against Rice.
If CJ Carr leaves for the pros this winter, the battle to replace him will be on, and Grubbs has the inside track. That makes every snap, even in mop-up duty, worth watching.
Notre Dame didn’t need a single player to go full Malachi Toney to handle Stanford. The backs did the heavy lifting, and the pass-catchers still chipped in enough to matter.
As a group, the running backs, wide receivers and tight ends combined for 19 catches, 237 yards and 3 touchdowns. With BYU up next, that’s at least one sign the Irish can lean on plenty of weapons when the schedule gets tougher.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Now Faces A Bigger BYU Test Than Expected
BYUs first full game without running back LJ Martin still produced a clear statement, as the Cougars handled Iowa State 24-10 and looked every bit like a team ready for another major stage. Bear Bachmeier powered the offense with a strong all-around showing, throwing for 329 yards and two touchdowns while adding 109 rushing yards of his own, a performance that reminded Notre Dame this trip is about more than just slowing down one part of the attack.
The Irish now head toward a game that suddenly feels even bigger than advertised, with BYU showing it can adapt and still keep pressure on a defense in multiple ways. With College Football Playoff implications expected to be in play, Notre Dame is preparing for a test that now comes with a little more confidence attached to the Cougars and a little more urgency attached to the Irish. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Just Landed A Massive Stage For Its Biggest Test Yet
College GameDay is heading to Provo on Oct. 17, giving BYU its first visit from ESPNs signature pregame show since 2009 and setting up a rare national spotlight at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The backdrop only adds to the weight of the matchup, with No. 3 Notre Dame arriving at 6-0 and No. 8 BYU at 5-0, two unbeaten teams meeting in a game that already carries major College Football Playoff implications.
The stage is even bigger because this will be the first time two top-10 teams have met at LaVell Edwards Stadium, and it comes with a primetime kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC. For Notre Dame, it is the kind of road test that can sharpen a season and reshape the national conversation, while BYU gets a chance to prove its start belongs on the same stage as one of the sports premier brands. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Has A Bigger Stanford Concern Than Stanford
Notre Dame heads into the Stanford game with a little more uncertainty on defense than usual, and it starts with Leonard Moore. The defensive back is listed as questionable after taking a concussion in the previous game, while linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa has already been ruled out with a left thumb injury. Even with the depth the Irish have built on that side of the ball, those are the kinds of absences that can change how the defense looks and force the staff to adjust its plan.
The bigger picture for Notre Dame is less about Stanford itself and more about making sure players are not pushed back too quickly. The coaching staff has been careful with injuries all season, and that caution matters here with Moore still in the evaluation window and Viliamu-Asa unavailable. For a defense that has leaned on its depth, the real concern is preserving it for the stretch ahead, not just getting through one Saturday night. [Read more 🡒]