Leonard completed 16 of 22 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns and ran six times for 31 yards and a touchdown with a long of 18 yards. He had a quarterback rating of 94.6 in the 49-7 win over the Cardinal.
Fans can now vote for the quarterback of the week. Leonard is up against Luke Altmyer from Illinois, Evan Bullock from Louisana Tech, Dillon Gabriel from Oregon, Cade Klubnik from Clemson, Jordan McCloud from Texas State, Garrett Nussmeier from LSU, and E.J. Warner from Rice.
Voting closes at 9 a.m. Central time on Wednesday and you can vote here.
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (13) jumps into the end zone for a touchdown during a NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in South Bend.
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We’re starting to sound like a broken record, but once again, two top college football experts have kept Notre Dame off of their top 10 lists.
Although one does have the Fighting Irish in the “almost” category.
Once again, we blame the continuing fallout from the Northern Illinois game, though at this point it’s less about that loss than the perception that Notre Dame has only played one quality opponent — Louisville — since.
The schedule is the schedule, though, and while it probably is weaker in 2024 than Irish fans are used to seeing, Notre Dame can only play the team in front of it. Next week it faces a frisky but not unbeatable Georgia Tech team in a neutral-site game that’s in the Yellow Jacket’s backyard.
Florida State was once considered tough, but that team is a mess. Army and Navy are both undefeated to this point but few expect either team to beat the Irish. Even if it wins out, Notre Dame may still be overlooked until it faces USC at season’s end — and even then, the Irish will need a victory over the Trojans.
Joel Klatt did put the Irish as an “almost” in his Top 10 before giving the top five to Texas, Oregon, Ohio State, Georgia and Penn State. Danny Kannell, meanwhile, doesn’t have the Irish in his Top 12. He doesn’t list honorable mentions.
Kannell’s top five are Texas, Oregon, Penn State, Miami (Florida) and BYU.
For reference, the Irish are No. 12 in the AP poll.
Notre Dame will need to keep stacking wins — and ones that look like the blowout over Stanford, if possible — to get more respect. Perhaps some other teams need to lose, as well.
Notre Dame linebacker Drayk Bowen (34) tackles Stanford running back Chris Davis Jr. (5) during a NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in South Bend.
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What do the Irish have to do to get back in the top 10? Probably beat a stronger opponent than Stanford.
Notre Dame has to be wondering what it can do to catch a break — or if it’s being unfairly punished for a bad day at home against Northern Illinois last month.
Or maybe poll voters just don’t respect the quality of the Fighting Irish’s opponents.
Of course, the Irish could just be collateral damage from other games.
Whatever the cause, despite beating the Stanford Cardinal 49-7 at home in South Bend, Notre Dame slips one spot in the AP Top 25 poll to No. 12.
Despite falling to Oregon by just a point in a nail-biting thriller, Ohio State falls only two spots to No. 4. The Ducks, meanwhile, move up a spot to No. 2.
Penn State moves to No. 3 despite nearly being upset by USC.
Texas stays at No. 1 and Georgia remains No. 5. Alabama doesn’t move even after being nearly upset for the second time this season — the Crimson Tide are still No. 7.
Other big movers include Tennessee — the Volunteers fall three spots to No. 11 despite beating Florida. LSU jumps five spots to No. 8 after beating Ole Miss — and Ole Miss drops nine places to No. 18.
Army and Navy are both in the Top 25, with Army at No. 23 and Navy at No. 25. Illinois is at No. 22 and the Michigan Wolverines are No. 24.
Oct 12, 2024; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Joshua Burnham (40) celebrates after an interception in the third quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images
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The backups are in — and they’re still scoring for Notre Dame.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are up big over the Stanford Cardinal, and both teams just waited out an hour-long weather delay, so the backups are in.
And freshman running back Aneyas Williams has his first career touchdown after he ran the ball in from 19 yards out to finish off an 11-play, 60-yard drive that took 5:25. Notre Dame scored with 9:17 remaining in the game.
Notre Dame needed a win versus Stanford, and the Irish aren’t just winning but they’re piling up points as they make a case for a higher ranking in the polls.
Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams warms up during a Notre Dame football practice at Irish Athletic Center on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in South Bend.
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard has distributed the ball around to eight different receivers against the Stanford Cardinal — nine, if you count offensive lineman Pat Coogan catching a deflected pass.
Tight end Eli Raridon’s first catch of the day ended up being a 5-yard touchdown reception that finished off a 5-play, 64-yard drive that burned 2:37 off the clock. Raridon scored with 1:29 remaining in the third quarter.
Notre Dame now leads the Cardinal 42-7.
Any concern about the Irish overlooking Stanford after a slow start seems to have evaporated.
Notre Dame’s Eli Raridon during Notre Dame Fall Camp on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at Irish Athletics Center in South Bend, Indiana.
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are currently putting a hurt on the Stanford Cardinal in South Bend, and Jeremiyah Love’s 39-yard touchdown run has put the Fighting Irish up 35-7 over the Cardinal.
Love, who was mysteriously uninvolved in the game early, capped off a 4-play, 83-yard drive that took just 1:23 off the clock and scored with 6:49 remaining in the third quarter.
Notre Dame started slow but has scored 35 unanswered points after allowing an early touchdown to Stanford.
The Irish’s defense has also seemingly adjusted to a Stanford offense that likes to show different looks to keep opposing teams off balance.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) hurdles over Northern Illinois safety Nate Valcarcel on his way to score a touchdown during a NCAA college football game at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in South Bend.
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Running back Jadarian Price used some nifty moves to carry the ball 17 yards for a score with 12:12 left in the third quarter. The drive took just 40 seconds off the clock and put the Fighting Irish up 28-7 over the Stanford Cardinal in South Bend.
Price now has 9 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown on the day.
Notre Dame is looking to put Stanford away as it continues to attempt to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price runs the ball up the field 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 defensive lineman Josh Burnham returned after missing three games and has made an impact in the third quarter with an athletic interception.
Burnham wasn’t able to take it to the house — for a split-second it appeared he might have a pick-six — but he did kill a Stanford drive that seemed promising for the Cardinal after they were backed up against their own goal line.
It also gave the Fighting Irish a short field, making it easier for the offense to extend the lead.
Joshua Burnham DL of the Fighting Irish at Notre Dame football practice at the Irish Athletic Center on August 7, 2023.
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Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard found wide receiver Kris Mitchell for a 5-yard touchdown pass with 1:11 remaining in the first half to put the Fighting Irish up 21-7 over the visiting Stanford Cardinal in South Bend.
The pass capped off a 9-play, 56-yard drive that took 2:37 off the clock. The 21-7 lead would stand heading into halftime.
Notre Dame started slow but rallied and controlled most of the remainder of the first half. If the Irish can maintain that level of performance, they should be able to avoid a season-crushing upset as they cling to college football playoff hopes.
Notre Dame wide receiver Kris Mitchell participates in a drill during a Notre Dame football practice at Irish Athletic Center on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in South Bend.
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Notre Dame offensive lineman Pat Coogan made an athletic play to get a first down on what could’ve been a Stanford interception of a Riley Leonard pass.
Stanford Cardinal linebacker Gaethan Bernadel batted the pass up in the air and the ball found its way to Coogan who caught it and carried for the first down.
Usually offensive linemen have to report as eligible before catching a pass. In this case, an alert Coogan made sure the Irish retained the football — and got a key first down.
Sep 30, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Audric Estime (7) follows a block by offensive lineman Pat Coogan (78) against the Duke Blue Devils during the first quarter at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
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