Notre Dame Closes Regular Season with Statement Win Over Stanford, Eyes Postseason Chaos
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish wrapped up their 2025 regular season in emphatic fashion, rolling past rival Stanford 49-20 to cap off a ten-game win streak that turned a rocky 0-2 start into a 10-2 finish. It wasn’t just a rivalry win-it was a statement. And with the postseason picture still unsettled, Notre Dame made sure the committee has plenty to think about.
The victory marks the Irish’s third straight over Stanford and extends their all-time series lead to 24-14. More importantly, the Legends Trophy is heading back to South Bend, where it will stay for at least another year.
Offense in Full Command
Notre Dame’s offense was locked in from the opening snap, racking up 524 total yards without turning the ball over. The Irish jumped out to a 28-0 lead before Stanford could blink, and by halftime, they were up 35-3. The game was all but decided by then, but Notre Dame didn’t let up.
Quarterback CJ Carr was steady and efficient once again. He finished 17-of-27 for 205 yards and two touchdowns through the air, adding 15 yards on the ground. He didn’t need to light up the scoreboard himself-he just had to steer the ship, and he did that with poise beyond his years.
Running back Jeremiyah Love looked like he was on his way to another big day before exiting in the first half with an injury. He returned in the second half and closed with 14 carries for 66 yards and a touchdown, plus a catch for six yards. That kind of resilience is what this team has been built on all season.
With Love temporarily sidelined, the Irish didn’t miss a beat. Aneyas Williams stepped in and led the team with 83 rushing yards on just 10 carries, including a touchdown.
He also chipped in two catches for 40 yards. Jadarian Price added a pair of scores-one on the ground and one through the air-while contributing 55 total yards.
And then there was the trick play that brought the house down: an 84-yard touchdown pass from defensive lineman Joshua Burnham to safety Luke Talich on a fake punt. That’s the kind of play that turns heads-and maybe even influences a playoff committee or two.
Defense Does Its Job
On the other side of the ball, Notre Dame’s defense made life miserable for Stanford freshman quarterback Elijahn Brown, holding him under 50% completion and forcing a key turnover late in the second quarter. That interception, courtesy of cornerback Leonard Moore, set the Irish up for a touchdown just before halftime and helped put the game out of reach early.
The defense also added two sacks and three tackles for loss, keeping the Cardinal offense in check for most of the afternoon. It wasn’t a perfect finish-Stanford did score 17 in the second half-but by then, the Irish had already done the heavy lifting.
Freeman Keeps the Focus Forward
Head coach Marcus Freeman was clearly proud of his team’s performance, not just in the win over Stanford but in the way they’ve battled all season.
“I told them to earn this year’s Legends Trophy,” Freeman said. “Last year’s trophy was earned by last year’s team. This one was about going out and earning it again-and they did that.”
Freeman also acknowledged the elephant in the room: the looming postseason uncertainty. But he made it clear the team’s focus was exactly where it needed to be.
“There’s a lot of talk about what happens next, but we couldn’t focus on that. We had to focus on the opportunity we had right now-and they did.”
The Playoff Picture: Chaos Incoming
The Irish sit at No. 9 in both the AP and Coaches Polls for the third straight week, and now they wait. The College Football Playoff picture is anything but clear heading into conference championship weekend, and Notre Dame is firmly in the mix for an at-large bid.
A few dominoes have already fallen. Texas A&M, previously undefeated, dropped a crucial game to Texas in the Lone Star Showdown. That loss knocked the Aggies out of the SEC title game and dropped them to No. 7 in both polls-one spot ahead of Notre Dame.
Miami took care of business against Pittsburgh, 38-7, eliminating the Panthers from ACC title contention and any backdoor playoff hopes. Miami now sits at No. 12 in the AP and No. 13 in the Coaches Poll, while Pitt dropped out of both rankings.
USC surged in the second half to beat UCLA 29-10, climbing to No. 17 in both polls. Navy also made a strong case with a 28-17 win over Memphis, moving into the rankings at No.
23 (AP) and No. 25 (Coaches).
All of this leaves Notre Dame in a holding pattern. They’re not playing in a conference championship, but they’ve done just about everything else they could over the last ten weeks. At 10-2, with a marquee win streak and a blowout in their final regular season game, the Irish are one of the most dangerous teams still waiting for a postseason destination.
What’s Next
Now, it’s a waiting game. Depending on how things shake out during championship weekend, Notre Dame could be prepping for its second consecutive College Football Playoff appearance-and fourth overall. Or they could be headed to a major bowl with a chance to cap off a remarkable turnaround season.
Either way, the Irish have done their part. They’ve earned their place in the conversation. And if the committee is looking for a team that’s peaking at the right time, they won’t have to look far.