Irish with an Orange crush, 70-7

Last Updated: November 22, 2025By Chuck Freeby

(photo courtesy Notre Dame Athletics)

(Notre Dame) — By the time Notre Dame’s offense took the field on this sun-splashed Saturday, all doubt was removed from this game.

The Irish defense and special teams scored three touchdowns in the first 5:17 and Notre Dame obliterated Syracuse, 70-7. It’s the highest-scoring total for a Notre Dame football team since the Irish defeated Haskell 73-0 in 1932.

“it was a unique game, ” Mravelled Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that…21 points before the offense takes the field.”

Senior Jalen Stroman, filling in for the injured Tae Johnson, pilfered a Syracuse pass on the second play of the game and raced 44 yards for the opening touchdown. On the ensuing possession, Stroman blocked the punt which flew forward into the hands of Luke Talich. The Wyoming native sprinted 22 yards to the end zone and Notre Dame had a 14-0 lead.

“I found out mid-week I was going to start,” admitted Stroman. “”I just took everything and worked hard. Every opportunity, I’m going to take advantage of it. Coach Freeman tells me to be patient, ‘you don’t know when your time is going to be, but you’re going to be ready for it.'”

The defense wasn’t done yet. All-American Leonard Moore intercepted a Joseph Filardi pass and streaked 46 yards in front of the home sideline for a touchdown to make it 21-0. It’s the first time Notre Dame has scored the first three touchdowns of a game on defense and special teams since a 2002 win over Purdue.

“A lot of meetings, a lot of looking at ourselves,” said Moore of the defense’s improvement over the course of the season. “That was a decision we all had to make. As players we knew it was on us making plays and executing the calls.”

Once the offense took the field, it wasted little time. On his second play from scrimmage, Heisman candidate Jeremiyah Love turned on the jets for a 45-yard score to make it 28-0 and the rout was on. Love only had eight carries on the day, but he covered 171 yards and scored three touchdowns, striking a Heisman pose on his last one.

“I felt that play was worthy of it,” smiled Love of the 68-yard dash. “It was pre-determined. I’d say I’m a team player. I’m a guy that elevates my team and I’m playing for my brothers, doing everything I can to make others succeed.”

Overall, Notre Dame racked up 329 yards, including touchdown runs by birthday boy Aneyas Williams and backup quarterback Kenny Minchey.

Notre Dame now turns its attention to the regular-season finale with Stanford, next Saturday in Palo Alto. The game will kickoff at 10:3o ET on ESPN.

Get a recap of this game and preview of the battle with the Cardinal Monday night on Notre Dame Federal Credit Union’s “Irish Football Fix” at 7 p.m. on Pulse FM (103.1)