No. 3 Notre Dame had to work for it Saturday night, but once the Irish settled in, they finished off Michigan State 27-10 behind a defense that kept making plays, a passing game that found its rhythm, and a ground attack that eventually started to wear on the Spartans.
The headline was the defense. Notre Dame forced two interceptions and nearly came up with a third, piled up four sacks at crucial moments, and held Michigan State to just 10 points.
The pass rush stayed active throughout the night, and for the most part the unit looked like the version of itself Notre Dame has been waiting to see. There was one messy drive in the first half, and the Spartans also dropped a wide-open touchdown early that could have changed the game, but beyond that the Irish defense did what it was supposed to do.
CJ Carr kept the offense moving even without a touchdown pass. He still found the end zone on the ground and delivered the kind of efficient night that let Notre Dame control the game.
Carr went 18-for-24 for 234 yards with no interceptions, added a rushing touchdown, and also turned in a Jeremiyah Love-esque play that should live on the highlight reel. He hit Micah Gilbert on an early deep ball, and that connection helped set the tone.
Gilbert was the biggest downfield threat all night. He caught eight passes for 170 yards, averaging 21.3 yards per grab, and his long reception went for 61 yards. That 61-yarder came on the game’s first snap from scrimmage and immediately put the Irish on the front foot.
On the ground, Nolan James made a strong case for more carries, and maybe more than that. He ran 26 times for 121 yards and a touchdown, and he’s clearly putting pressure on Aneyas Williams for the starting job. Williams has shown flashes, but James kept making his own argument with every carry.
There was also plenty to like from the defensive backfield and the receiver room beyond the headline names. Safety Luke Talich came up with an interception and a huge sack, while Adon Shuler also picked off a pass. At receiver, Jordan Faison chipped in with five catches for 38 yards and a long of 21, and Carr leaned on him when he needed a first down or had to make a play under pressure.
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Notre Dame Suddenly Has Another Safety Concern Before Purdue
Luke Talichs status is suddenly worth watching as Notre Dame turns the page toward Purdue, after the safety left a recent game early and never returned. The Irish have not said whether Talich is dealing with an injury or what his availability looks like for the matchup ahead, which leaves one more small uncertainty in a secondary that already has plenty to manage.
Joey OBrien, a freshman, could be the next man up if Talich cant go, and that would put even more on his plate at a position where every rep matters. For Notre Dame, it is the kind of late-week question that can change depth charts quickly, even before the first snap against the Boilermakers. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame's Rotation Battle Just Got Harder To Ignore
Notre Dames 3-0 start has plenty of reasons for optimism, but the latest win over Michigan State also sharpened the competition for playing time. A few players helped themselves with noticeable steps forward, including Micah Gilbert, Nolan James Jr. and Boubacar Traore, giving the staff more evidence that the depth chart is starting to sort itself out on merit.
At the same time, not everyone came out of the game with the same momentum. Keon Keeley, Jaiden Ausberry and Aneyas Williams were among the players whose nights were less impactful, and that matters on a roster where every snap is being evaluated closely. The result is a rotation picture that feels a little less settled now, with some roles looking more secure and others suddenly up for grabs. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame's Offense Is Forcing A Bigger CJ Carr Debate
Notre Dames 27-10 win over Michigan State kept the momentum rolling and pushed the Irish to 3-0, but it also sharpened a familiar offensive question. The running game has still not fully found its footing, even with some improvement, while CJ Carr has kept showing why the passing attack deserves a bigger role in the weekly plan.
Carr has been efficient and accurate enough to make the offense look more comfortable through the air than on the ground, and that balance matters as the schedule tightens. The Irish are winning, but the way they are winning is starting to point toward a larger conversation about how much more they should lean into the quarterback who has been delivering. [Read more 🡒]