#12 Notre Dame Dominates Stanford 49-7, Earns Legends Trophy

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish put on a dominant performance Saturday night, defeating Stanford 49-7 to capture the Legends Trophy in a rivalry game that saw the Irish rebound from a sluggish start to dominate both sides of the ball.

Head coach Marcus Freeman was impressed by his team’s resilience after a rough first series in which the Irish were flagged for a holding penalty, had a poor punt, and allowed Stanford to score an early touchdown. The Cardinal's 7-0 lead after the opening drive would be their only highlight of the night.

Freeman, speaking after the game, acknowledged the poor start but was proud of how the Irish responded. "I was really proud of the way we responded after that first series," Freeman said. "From the second series on, they played lights-out."

Notre Dame's offense, led by quarterback Riley Leonard, clicked into gear after the initial struggles, putting up nearly 500 yards of total offense and scoring on both the ground and through the air. Nine different players caught passes, including offensive lineman Pat Coogan. Leonard threw three touchdown passes, all of which came off run-pass option (RPO) plays, as the Irish took advantage of Stanford’s defensive schemes.

Freeman praised his offense, which he said executed at a level he had been hoping for all season. "I wanted it to be unrecognizable. I wanted you all to watch and say, 'Man, that's an offense that we haven't seen,'" Freeman said, referring to the offense’s improved consistency.

On the defensive side, Notre Dame was just as impressive. The Irish pressured Stanford’s offense throughout the game, recording three fourth-down stops and holding the Cardinal to just 5-of-16 on third and fourth downs. Senior defensive linemen Rylie Mills and Howard Cross III led the way, with Freeman singling them out for their dominant performances. "Those two big guys, we needed them to be dominant, and they played dominant," Freeman said.

One of the game’s key moments came from linebacker Josh Burnham, who made a crucial interception in the second half. Despite battling through pain, Burnham’s toughness shone through, earning praise from Freeman for his gritty performance.

With a balanced attack, running backs Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love combined for an efficient ground game, complementing Leonard’s passing. Notre Dame's offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and quarterback coach Gino Guidugli had devised a game plan that focused on exploiting Stanford’s top-tier run defense, opting to stretch the field early and often through the air.

The Irish’s defense also adjusted after Stanford attacked the perimeter early in the game. Following Stanford's opening drive, defensive coordinator Al Golden made adjustments to contain the Cardinal offense, shutting down quarterback Ashton Daniels’ scrambling and preventing further big plays.

Notre Dame improves to 6-2 on the season as they continue to build momentum heading into the latter part of the schedule. Freeman remains focused on maximizing the team’s potential. "We're getting closer," Freeman said. "Today was a big step in that, and we've got to continue to make sure we're taking steps forward."
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With the Legends Trophy in hand and another decisive win in the books, the Irish will look to carry this momentum into their next game, ready to prove that they are hitting their stride at the right time of the season.

Author

Cameron Williams

DiSportsPhotoAgency

Senior Writer