Category: 2024 ND Football

Notre Dame up two spots in AP Top 25 after rolling against Virginia

Notre Dame moves up two spots in the AP Top 25 poll.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have moved up in the AP Top 25 poll after beating the Virginia Cavaliers 35-14 on Saturday.

That’s the highest the Irish have been since being No. 5 earlier this season.

Moving up two spots in the poll should help the Irish make a stronger case for the College Football Playoff.

The top five remain the same: Oregon, Ohio State, Texas, Penn State and Indiana.

With the Irish at No. 6, the rest of the top 10 shakes out as follows: Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss and Tennessee.

Georgia moved up three spots after being Tennessee and the Volunteers fell four spots after the loss.

Other big movers included BYU, South Carolina, Tulane, and Washington State. BYU dropped seven spots after falling to Kansas, while South Carolina gained four sports after beating Missouri. Tulane gained five spots after shutting out Navy 35-0, and Washington State fell six spots after losing to New Mexico 38-35.

Nov 16, 2024; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Max Hurleman (37) celebrates after recovering a fumbled kickoff on the opening kickoff against the Virginia Cavaliers at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

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Notre Dame Week 12 highlight: Jeremiyah Love takes it to the house for the second time

Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love has two touchdowns today.

Running back [autotag]Jeremiyah Love[/autotag] had a short touchdown run early in the first half for the No. 8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish against the Virginia Cavaliers.

So it figures his second touchdown of the day would be of the much longer variety.

Love’s first touchdown run was just four yards. His second? A 76-yarder that capped off a 3-play, 88-yard drive that took 1:21 off the clock.

At the time, the run with 9:38 to go in the third quarter gave the Irish a 35-0 lead. Virginia has since finally gotten on the board to make it 35-7.

Oct 19, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) runs the ball against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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Notre Dame Week 12 highlight: Xavier Watts picks it off

Xavier Watts had a big pick just before halftime.

He already had a fumble recovery today, and now safety [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag] had an interception for the No. 8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish against the Virginia Cavaliers.

Watts picked off an Anthony Colandrea pass shortly before halftime. The Irish didn’t cash a turnover in for points this time — the Irish instead missed a field-goal attempt badly.

Still, Watts’ pick put a stamp on a dominant first half for the Irish – especially the Irish defense.

Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts (0) waits for the snao during a NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Northern Illinois at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in South Bend.

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Notre Dame Week 12 highlight: Mitchell Evans jumps it in

Notre Dame’s Mitchell Evans cashed in a turnover.

No. 8 Notre Dame spent the end of the first half taking the ball away from the Virginia Cavaliers, and the Fighting Irish also scored off of those turnovers.

After [autotag]Leonard Moore [/autotag] took the ball away from Virginia, tight [autotag]Mitchell Evans[/autotag] caught a pass from Notre Dame quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] and dove into the end zone for a 16-yard score.

That capped a 3-play, 32-yard drive that took 34 seconds off the clock.

The touchdown gave the Irish a 28-0 lead late in the second quarter.

Nov 9, 2024; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Mitchell Evans (88) scores a touchdown against Florida State Seminoles linebacker Omar Graham Jr. (9) in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

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Notre Dame Week 12 highlight: Leonard Moore takes it away

Notre Dame continues to take the ball away against Virginia. The thief this time? Leonard Moore.

No. 8 Notre Dame feasted off of Virginia turnovers in the first half as the Fighting Irish host the Cavaliers.

Add freshman cornerback [autotag]Leonard Moore[/autotag] to the list of ball thieves after he picked off an Anthony Colandrea pass with 1:35 left in the first half.

Moore made an athletic play, juggling a batted ball and bringing it in for the interception.

After a slow start to the game for both offenses, the Notre Dame offense has taken advantage of the turnovers caused by the Irish defense.

Notre Dame drops two spots in the AP Top 25 -- without even playing.
Oct 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Leonard Moore (15) intercepts a pass intended for Navy Midshipmen running back Eli Heidenreich (22) in front of linebacker Jack Kiser (24) during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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Notre Dame Week 12 highlight: Cooper Flanagan finishes the drive

Notre Dame cashed right away after a turnover.

You’d think that with the No. 8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish having first-and-goal at the Virginia Cavaliers’ 2-yard line, the Irish would choose to have quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] run it in.

Instead, Leonard pulled the ball away from a handoff and found a wide-open [autotag]Cooper Flanagan[/autotag]. The tight end easily hauled the pass in to finish the 1-play, 2-yard drive

Notre Dame’s offense started slow against Virginia, but it is taking advantage of Cavalier turnovers to get itself going.

The touchdown, for example, came after a Notre Dame interception.

Notre Dame didn't stop in the second half against Purdue.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Cooper Flanagan (87) and Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Kevin Bauman (84) celebrates in front of Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) after a Notre Dame Fighting Irish touchdown Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, during the NCAA football game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. Notre Dame Fighting Irish won 66-7.

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Notre Dame Week 12 highlight: Adon Shuler steals it away

Notre Dame gets a big pick from Adon Shuler

It’s been a wild few minutes at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend.

The No. 8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish are hosting the Virginia Cavaliers on Senior Day and the final few minutes of the first half have been bonkers.

It started with Notre Dame having a long touchdown pass from quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] to wide receiver [autotag]Jayden Harrison[/autotag] coming back on a penalty. Then Notre Dame appeared to perfectly execute a fake punt for a touchdown with wide receiver [autotag]Jordan Faison[/autotag] running it in. But that came back on an illegal formation penalty and the Irish punted for real.

Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea then threw an interception to Notre Dame safety [autotag]Adon Shuler[/autotag], who returned it to the Virginia 2-yard line.

We’re in for a frantic finish to the first half in South Bend.

Adon Shuler had a big play early against Navy.
Oct 19, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Adon Shuler (8) walks off the field before a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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Notre Dame Week 12 highlight — fumble recovery leads to touchdown

Notre Dame converts after the Xavier Watts fumble recovery.

After a slow start, No. 8 Notre Dame’s offense may have gotten untracked against the Virginia Cavaliers following a fumble recovery by [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag].

The Fighting Irish moved the ball 88 yards over 9 plays, taking 3:42 off the clock. The drive was capped off by an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] to wide receiver [autotag]Jayden Harrison[/autotag].

The touchdown has given the Irish a 14-0 lead against Virginia late in the first half on Senior Day in South Bend.

Notre Dame wide receiver Jayden Harrison (2) catches a pass in warm up before a NCAA college football game against Florida State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in South Bend.

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Notre Dame Week 12 highlight: Xavier Watts recovers fumble

Notre Dame gets a big fumble recovery.

No. 8 Notre Dame has struggled to get its offense untracked on Senior Day in South Bend. The Fighting Irish were about to get the ball back from the Virginia Cavaliers when [autotag]Max Hurleman[/autotag] couldn’t handle a punt.

Virginia appeared poised to cash in the turnover for points when [autotag]Rod Heard II[/autotag] put his helmet on the ball, which was being carried by Kobe Pace. Notre Dame safety [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag] recovered.

The Irish now have the ball back and are driving about midway through the second quarter. Whether the Irish managed to score on this drive or not, at least they kept Virginia off the scoreboard for a little while longer.

The score remains 7-0 in favor of Notre Dame.

Day after: Final thoughts on Notre Dame’s top-25 win over Louisville
Sep 28, 2024; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Xavier Watts (0) celebrates after an interception against the Louisville Cardinals in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

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Notre Dame Week 12 highlight: Jeremiyah Love keeps TD streak alive

Jeremiyah Love keeps his streak alive.

Who else but [autotag]Jeremiyah Love[/autotag]?

The Notre Dame running back now has at least one touchdown in 10 straight games.

Love’s score came after the No. 8 Fighting Irish got a short field thanks to a mistake by the visiting Virginia Cavaliers.

Love ran the ball in from four yards out to cap a 4-play, 25-yard drive that took 1:52 off the clock.

Notre Dame will be looking to avoid the upset on Senior Day. So far, so good.

Oct 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) rushes for a touchdown during the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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