Notre Dame controlled the game from start to finish in their matchup against No. 22 Pittsburgh, securing a commanding 37–9 victory with strong performances on both sides of the ball. While quarterback CJ Carr threw for 212 yards with two touchdowns, his two interceptions kept things interesting and showed the Irish offense wasn’t flawless. Carr completed 21 of 32 passes, balancing efficiency with some costly mistakes.
On the other side, Pittsburgh’s Mason Heintschel struggled under pressure, completing just 13 of 33 attempts for 126 yards and throwing one interception. Notre Dame’s stifling defense limited the Panthers’ offense throughout the game, forcing turnovers and preventing any sustained drives.
Despite Carr’s slow start, Notre Dame took an early lead with a touchdown on their opening drive. The turning point came when the Irish defense returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 14-0 and putting Pittsburgh on the back foot.
Pittsburgh managed to get on the board with a field goal, but Notre Dame answered quickly, extending the lead to 21-3 by halftime. The Irish defense dominated throughout the half, limiting the Panthers to just 81 total yards and recording three sacks.
In the second half, Notre Dame’s special teams and offense kept the pressure on. Kick returner Jaden Price set up excellent field position with a 43-yard return, and Jamari Love powered a 22-yard run before Michael Fields caught a 6-yard touchdown pass, increasing the lead to 28–3.
Notre Dame’s defense delivered a key stop at the 1-yard line on fourth down, forcing a turnover on downs. Pittsburgh responded with a pick-six following a Carr interception, cutting the deficit to 28-9. However, Notre Dame quickly regained control when their defense intercepted a two-point conversion attempt and returned it for two points.
Jamari Love then sealed the win with a one-play, 56-yard rushing touchdown, cementing Notre Dame’s dominance early in the second half. The Fighting Irish improved to 8-2, while Pittsburgh fell to 7-3.
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