Notre Dame Secures Sixth Straight Victory,But Concerns Mount Ahead of playoff Rankings
Notre Dame’s college Football Playoff aspirations received a boost on Saturday with a 25-10 victory over Boston College,extending their winning streak to six games. However, the hard-fought win – secured despite a dominant defensive performance featuring five sacks and two turnovers – exposed critical vulnerabilities that could derail their championship hopes as the first CFP rankings are released Tuesday.
the Fighting Irish (6-2) ultimately prevailed, scoring their 10th consecutive win over the Eagles (1-8), who have now lost eight games in a row.Two touchdowns from running back Jeremiyah Love, including a game-breaking 94-yard run late in the fourth quarter, proved decisive. Love finished the day with 136 rushing yards on 17 carries,while quarterback CJ Carr threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns.
Despite outgaining Boston College 458-281, Notre Dame’s path to victory wasn’t straightforward. Missed opportunities – a missed field goal and a costly fumble in the red zone – kept the game surmountable for the Eagles.
Head coach Marcus Freeman frequently emphasizes the importance of Notre Dame not defeating itself. Saturday’s game, marked by seven penalties for 67 yards, underscored that message. The question now is whether the Irish can rectify thes issues before their final four games against Navy, syracuse, Stanford, and Pittsburgh. While favored in all of those contests, a lack of discipline could prove costly when facing college Football Playoff contenders.
Carr Emerges as a Deep-Threat Quarterback
Quarterback CJ Carr showcased his potential as a deep-ball specialist against Boston College. After struggling with short-range accuracy in the previous game against USC, Carr connected on several explosive plays, including touchdown passes of 44 yards to Will Pauling and 40 yards to Malachi Fields. He also completed a 46-yard pass to Jordan Faison and a crucial 30-yard connection with Eli Raridon during a key third-quarter drive.
Carr finished the game completing 18 of 25 passes, demonstrating a renewed confidence in stretching the field. “Notre Dame needs its quarterback to make defensive coordinators pay for putting an extra defender in the box to take away Love and Price,” a senior official stated. While Love proved productive, Price was largely ineffective, finishing with just 12 rushing yards after being benched following his first-half fumble.
A Kicking crisis grips Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s special teams unit continues to be a major liability. Bill O’Brien, the offensive coordinator, seemingly dared Freeman to attempt a field goal at the end of the first half, anticipating Boston College would allow the Irish to gain more yardage. That prediction proved accurate, as Boston College allowed a 14-yard gain to Raridon.
Freshman Erik Schmidt subsequently missed a 35-yard field goal attempt wide right, compounding the issues following Noah Burnette’s earlier missed extra point. The kicking situation has been a simmering concern all season. Schmidt did convert an extra point after Love’s touchdown, but the overall performance remains deeply troubling. The only other option, walk-on Marcello Diomede, has not yet been given an chance on field goals.
Notre Dame’s kickers are currently 34-of-38 on extra points, a statistic marred by a fumbled hold during the Texas A&M game that ultimately cost the Irish a 41-40 loss. Burnette, hampered by a lingering hip injury, is 5-of-6 on field goals but appears to have lost the coaching staff’s trust, having made only two field goals since the A&M defeat. Saturday’s game, expected to be a comfortable win, highlighted the kicking woes as a potential obstacle to a CFP berth.
placeholder for a chart comparing Notre Dame’s kicking statistics to those of other CFP contenders.
The Irish face a critical juncture. while the win over Boston College keeps their Playoff hopes alive, the underlying issues – particularly the inconsistent kicking game and disciplinary lapses – must be addressed. As they navigate their remaining schedule, Notre Dame must demonstrate not only that they can win, but that they are improving, to convince the CFP committee they are worthy of contention.
