Notre Dame Shatters Records in 70-7 Rout of Syracuse

Historic Night in South Bend: Fighting Irish Set Offensive Records

In a display of offensive dominance rarely seen in college football, No. 9 Notre Dame dismantled Syracuse 70-7 on Saturday, November 22, 2025. The victory wasn't just a win; it was a historic night that saw the Fighting Irish set multiple program records, further solidifying their case as a College Football Playoff contender.

Early Defensive Firepower

The game took an unprecedented turn before Notre Dame's offense even stepped onto the field. Starting defensive back Jalen Stroman, filling in for injured Tae Johnson, set the tone immediately by returning an interception 44 yards for a touchdown on Syracuse's second play of the game. Just four plays later, Stroman blocked a punt, which teammate Luke Talich recovered and returned 22 yards to the end zone. Leonard Moore added another pick-six, racing 46 yards with an interception, putting 21 points on the board before the Irish offense took its first snap.

Jeremiyah Love's Heisman Moment

When the offense finally took the field at the 7:08 mark of the first quarter, running back Jeremiyah Love wasted no time electrifying the crowd. Love, already a Heisman Trophy candidate, burst onto the national stage with a phenomenal performance, rushing for 171 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries. His touchdown runs covered 45, 14, and 68 yards, with the final one prompting a classic Heisman pose. Love's efforts tied the Notre Dame single-season record with 20 touchdowns, previously held by Jerome Bettis in 1991.

Shattering Records Left and Right

Notre Dame's offensive explosion was relentless. The Fighting Irish scored 35 points in the first quarter alone, shattering the previous school record of 28 points set in 2017. By halftime, the score stood at 49-0, another program record for points in a half. The final 70 points marked the highest single-game total since the modern era began, surpassing the 69 points scored against Georgia Tech in 1977. It was also the first time Syracuse had allowed 70 points since 1891.

Syracuse's Struggles Continue

For Syracuse (3-8), the loss was part of a seven-game skid, a slide that began after quarterback Steve Angeli suffered a season-ending injury following a win over Clemson. The Orange were also without key running back Yasin Willis, leaving them unable to muster much offense against the fierce Notre Dame defense. Syracuse managed only one offensive touchdown, a late 6-yard run by walk-on freshman Joe Filardi, avoiding their first shutout since a 2023 bowl loss.

What's Next for Both Teams?

Notre Dame (9-2), winners of nine straight after an 0-2 start, now looks ahead to a road game against Stanford next Saturday. With strong finishes and some outside help, the Fighting Irish could still host a first-round College Football Playoff game. For Syracuse, the focus shifts to next Saturday's home matchup against Boston College as they continue building for the future under coach Fran Brown.

"Obviously, unique game," Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said. "I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a game like that, 21 points on the board and the offense hasn’t been on the field."

This emphatic victory underscores Notre Dame's offensive prowess and defensive resilience as they push towards the final stretch of the season. Meanwhile, Syracuse remains in a rebuilding phase, hoping to build on the foundation laid during a challenging 2025 campaign.