Jeremiyah Love strengthened his Heisman Trophy case with an outstanding performance as No. 9 Notre Dame routed Syracuse 70-7 on Saturday. One of the most one-sided wins in program history.
Love rushed for 171 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries, breaking loose for scoring runs of 45, 14 and 68 yards. His explosiveness punctuated a day when Notre Dame (9-2) set its modern-era scoring record, surpassing the 69 points it put up against Georgia Tech in 1977. The Irish had not reached 70 points since scoring 73 against Haskell in 1932.
Notre Dame led 21-0 before its offense even took the field, returning two interceptions and a blocked punt for touchdowns during a stunning opening stretch. The Irish posted a school-record 35 first-quarter points and led 49-0 at halftime, another program best.
Syracuse (3-8), which has dropped seven straight, allowed 70 points for the first time since 1891. Walk-on freshman quarterback Joe Filardi threw for 83 yards with three interceptions, two returned for scores, before adding a late rushing touchdown.
Notre Dame’s defensive dominance, paired with Love’s efficiency, underscored its playoff potential. With help elsewhere, the Irish could still position themselves to host a first-round game.
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