Notre Dame Dominates Boston College 41-7 as Defense Shines and Heisman Race Evolves
Notre Dame defeated Boston College 41-7 on Saturday, taking control of the regular-season home stretch as the program prepares for the College Football Playoff.
The No. 5 Irish improved their standing following a win over Miami a week earlier, closing out the regular season with upcoming games against SMU and Syracuse. The Athletic reported that the game featured a video board preview for the program’s upcoming docuseries, reminding players and fans of last year’s playoff exclusion.
Notre Dame’s defense held Boston College to 136 yards of total offense, allowing only a single rushing touchdown all season through 289 opposing carries. Boston College sophomore Bo MacCormack III scored on a 3-yard run early in the third quarter following an interception by CJ Carr.
The Eagles posted minus-10 yards in the second quarter, which included a strip-sack by Boubacar Traore that resulted in a fumble recovery in the end zone by Jaylen Sneed. Defensive coordinator Chris Ash orchestrated an aggressive game plan despite missing defensive tackles Francis Brewu and Jason Onye due to knee injuries suffered against Navy.
CJ Carr finished 20-of-28 for 217 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception against Boston College. The performance followed his outing against Boston College, though it did little to elevate his position in a competitive Heisman Trophy race led by Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith.
“Everyone is going to remember Notre Dame did not get into the College Football Playoff,” an ESPN analyst stated in a clip featured on the Notre Dame Stadium video board, as reported by The Athletic.
Unless Carr breaks single-game passing records before the regular season ends, he remains unlikely to match Tim Brown’s 1987 Heisman win for the program. Meanwhile, Ohio State’s Smith recorded 11 catches for 117 yards and a touchdown against Northwestern, bringing his season total to 69 catches, 1,200 yards, and 14 touchdowns.
Notre Dame’s remaining schedule features opponents struggling in national rankings, as Wisconsin lost to Maryland and Wake Forest defeated SMU. The Irish will finish the regular season having played just two ranked teams in Miami and BYU, with up to eight opponents potentially finishing with losing records.
Securing a victory in their final two regular-season matchups positions the Irish for a potential first-round home game in the postseason. Teams playing in the opening round of the past two College Football Playoffs hold a 7-1 record in the quarterfinals.