Notre Dame’s Midseason Surge: A Look at the Irish’s Second-Quarter Turnaround
With the regular season in the books and the postseason picture taking shape, it's time to take a closer look at how Notre Dame's 2025 campaign unfolded - one quarter at a time. After a rocky 1-2 start that left the Irish outside the early playoff conversation, the second quarter of the season proved to be a turning point.
This stretch wasn’t just about stacking wins - it was about finding rhythm, building confidence, and showing flashes of the team’s full potential. Let’s break down how Notre Dame flipped the script in this critical stretch.
Week 4: Notre Dame 56, Arkansas 13 - A Statement Win in Fayetteville
Coming off a shaky start and still trying to find their identity, Notre Dame needed a response - and they delivered in a big way on the road against Arkansas. It was the program’s first-ever trip to Fayetteville, and they made it count.
CJ Carr, the freshman quarterback with all the tools but still learning the ropes, put together his most complete performance of the season. He was sharp and efficient, going 22-of-30 for 354 yards and four touchdowns.
Carr looked in total command, spreading the ball around and making smart decisions in the pocket. It was the kind of breakout performance fans had been waiting for - and a clear sign of what he’s capable of when everything clicks.
In the backfield, Jeremiyah Love picked up right where Jadarian Price left off the week before, exploding for four touchdowns of his own. The Irish running game had been solid, but this was the first time it looked downright dominant. Love’s vision and burst were on full display, and Arkansas had no answers.
Defensively, Notre Dame turned in their best showing of the season to that point. The Razorbacks came in with a reputation for explosive plays, but the Irish defense bottled them up, allowing just 365 total yards and only 13 points - none in the second half.
It was a complete performance, and more importantly, a much-needed one. The Irish got back to .500 at 2-2, but sustaining this level would be the real test.
Week 5: Notre Dame 28, Boise State 7 - Defense Takes the Lead
Back home in South Bend and riding high from their blowout win over Arkansas, Notre Dame welcomed Boise State for another first-time matchup. And while the offense cooled off a bit, the defense picked up the slack - and then some.
The Irish defense was opportunistic and aggressive, forcing four interceptions in a game that turned into a showcase for the secondary. Leonard Moore had a pair of picks, while safeties Tae Johnson and Luke Talich each added one of their own. Chris Ash’s unit swarmed to the ball, disguised coverages, and made life miserable for the Broncos’ offense.
Offensively, things weren’t quite as smooth. After back-to-back 50-point outings, the Irish managed just 28 points - and some of the early-season concerns started to creep back in.
Short-yardage and red zone execution became a problem again. On their opening drive, they turned it over on downs inside the five-yard line, missing a chance to set the tone early.
The passing game lacked the diversity it showed against Arkansas, and while Carr still managed the game well, the offense didn’t have the same spark.
Still, when your defense is flying around like that and forcing turnovers, you don’t need fireworks on every drive. Notre Dame walked away with a 21-point win and, more importantly, a 3-2 record heading into the heart of the schedule.
Week 6: Notre Dame 36, NC State 9 - Defense Dominates Again
If there was any doubt that Notre Dame’s defense was rounding into form, this performance against NC State erased it. The Wolfpack came in averaging nearly 34 points per game and over 440 yards of total offense. By the time the final whistle blew in South Bend, they had just nine points, 233 total yards, and three turnovers.
Notre Dame’s defense dictated everything from the jump. The pass rush was relentless, the secondary was disciplined, and CJ Bailey - NC State’s quarterback - never looked comfortable. The Irish picked him off three times, continuing their trend of capitalizing on mistakes and flipping momentum.
On the offensive side, Carr was once again efficient and productive, throwing for 342 yards and two touchdowns. The run game didn’t dominate, but it was steady - Love and Price combined for 152 yards and two scores. Most importantly, the Irish closed strong, putting up 26 points in the second half to put the game away.
Situational issues - particularly in the red zone - still lingered, but the team’s confidence was clearly growing. The defense was emerging as a real strength, the offense was finding ways to move the ball even when it wasn’t perfect, and the Irish were starting to look like a team that could make some noise down the stretch.
Where Things Stand After Six Games
After a 1-2 start that raised more questions than answers, Notre Dame’s second quarter of the season was all about finding stability - and they did just that. Three straight wins, including two dominant defensive performances and a breakout game from their young quarterback, gave the Irish a much-needed jolt of momentum.
At 4-2, the road ahead was still tough, but this stretch showed that Notre Dame had the pieces to compete. The defense was starting to play with swagger.
The offense, while still ironing out some kinks, had proven it could explode when things clicked. And most importantly, this team was learning how to win - not just with talent, but with execution and toughness.
The third quarter of the season would bring its own set of challenges, but after this run, the Irish were officially back in the conversation.