Notre Dame Shatters Records with 70-7 Rout of Syracuse, Jeremiyah Love Ties School TD Mark
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish didn’t just win on Senior Day—they rewrote history. On November 22, 2025, at a roaring Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, the #9 Irish crushed the Syracuse Orange 70-7 in a performance that will echo through decades of college football lore. With 35 points in the first quarter—the most in program history—and a 49-point first half that obliterated the previous record, this wasn’t just a blowout. It was a statement. And it came on the backs of a running back who might be playing his final home game.
Defensive Fireworks Before Offense Even Took the Field
Before the Irish offense snapped a single ball, the defense had already turned the game into a highlight reel. On Syracuse’s second play, Jalen Stroman, stepping in for injured starter Tae Johnson, intercepted quarterback Joseph Filardi and raced 44 yards for a touchdown. Less than three minutes later, Stroman blocked a punt. Safety Luke Talich scooped it up and returned it 22 yards for another score. By the 10-minute mark, Leonard Moore intercepted Filardi again—this time returning it 46 yards for a third defensive touchdown. Three pick-sixes and a blocked punt return before the offense even touched the ball. It was chaos. And it was beautiful.
Jeremiyah Love: A Heisman-Worthy Finale?
When the offense finally took over at 7:08 of the first quarter, it didn’t slow down. Running back Jeremiyah Love broke loose on his second carry for a 45-yard touchdown. Five plays later, Jadarian Price ripped off a 58-yard scamper. By the time the first quarter ended, Notre Dame had 35 points. Love added a 14-yard TD run later in the quarter and then, early in the third, exploded for a 68-yard sprint that left defenders grasping at air. He finished with 171 yards on just eight carries and three touchdowns. After the last one, he struck his signature Heisman pose—not out of arrogance, but as if to say, "This is what I’ve been building toward."
Love’s 20 total touchdowns this season tied the Notre Dame record set by Jerome Bettis in 1991. With his NFL Draft declaration all but certain, this might’ve been his final appearance at Notre Dame Stadium. And if so, he left with a performance that will be replayed in highlight reels for years.
Syracuse’s Struggles Are a Mirror of a Program in Transition
For Syracuse, it was another brutal day. Quarterback Joseph Filardi, a walk-on freshman thrust into the spotlight after injuries decimated their depth chart, completed 14 of 26 passes for just 83 yards and three interceptions—two of which became touchdowns. He also rushed 14 times for 33 yards. The Orange’s lone score came with seven seconds left, when Filardi, back in the game after a brief stint by Luke Carney, plunged in from 6 yards out. The extra point by Tyler Butner (sometimes spelled Buckner) made the final score 70-7, but it felt like a footnote.
Head coach Fran Brown didn’t flinch. "That’s part of the game for us right now," he said afterward. "That’s where we are in our building of our program." There was no excuse-making. No finger-pointing. Just honesty. And maybe, just maybe, that’s the sign of a coach who knows the storm will pass.
Records Shattered, Playoff Hopes Alive
The numbers tell the story better than any quote:
- 70 points: Most in the modern era, surpassing the 69 scored against Georgia Tech in 1977
- 35 first-quarter points: New program record (previous: 28 in 1977)
- 49 first-half points: Highest since at least 1943
- 396 total yards (329 rushing): Dominant ground game
- Three defensive touchdowns in the first quarter: Unprecedented in program history
Notre Dame’s win kept their College Football Playoff hopes alive, though their path remains narrow. They’ll need help from other top teams—and likely a win over Stanford next week—to sneak in. But after this performance? Anything feels possible.
A Legacy in South Bend
Notre Dame Stadium has stood since 1930, hosting legends from Knute Rockne to Joe Montana. But few games have left such an indelible mark as this one. The 77,622 fans in attendance didn’t just witness a win—they saw history being made in real time. Love’s name will be etched beside Bettis, Dorsett, and Allen. The defense’s first-quarter explosion will be studied by coordinators for years. And for a program that’s been chasing relevance in a changing college football landscape, this was a reminder: when everything clicks, Notre Dame still has the power to shock the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Jeremiyah Love’s 20 touchdowns this season compare to other Notre Dame legends?
Love’s 20 total touchdowns (17 rushing, 3 receiving) tie him with Jerome Bettis (1991) for the most in a single season in Notre Dame history. Only two other Irish backs—Rudi Johnson (1999) and Armando Allen (2010)—have reached 18 in a season. Love’s efficiency is remarkable: he scored on 17.5% of his touches (115 carries, 20 scores), the highest rate among all Power Five backs with over 100 carries this season.
What’s the significance of Notre Dame’s 35-point first quarter?
The previous record was 28 points, set in 1977 against Georgia Tech. Scoring 35 in a single quarter is rare even in today’s high-octane game—only three FBS teams have done it since 2000. What makes this unique is that three of those points came from defense and special teams before the offense even touched the ball. No other Notre Dame team has ever scored more than 21 points in a quarter before 2025.
Why did Syracuse keep starting Joseph Filardi despite his turnovers?
Syracuse’s quarterback depth is decimated. Filardi was a walk-on who barely played last season. Starter Garrett Shrader transferred, and backup Luke Carney suffered a shoulder injury in Week 9. With no viable alternatives, coach Fran Brown had to stick with Filardi—even though he threw three interceptions, two returned for touchdowns. It’s a brutal reality of rebuilding programs: talent gaps force difficult decisions.
Is Jeremiyah Love definitely entering the 2026 NFL Draft?
While not officially announced, every major draft analyst has projected Love as a top-50 pick. His combination of power, speed, and vision has drawn comparisons to Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley. With 1,724 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns this season, plus a record-setting finale, he’s unlikely to return for a fourth year. The NFL Combine and pre-draft visits will likely confirm his decision before January.
What does this win mean for Notre Dame’s playoff chances?
The Irish are now 9-2 and likely need to win their final game against Stanford to stay in contention. Even then, they’ll need losses from at least two of the current top four teams—Alabama, Oregon, Georgia, or Ohio State. Their strength of schedule (13th nationally) and lack of a signature win over a top-10 team remain concerns. But this 70-point explosion sent a message: if they get in, they can beat anyone.
Has any other team ever scored 70+ points against a Power Five opponent in the modern era?
Yes—but rarely. Since 2000, only 12 teams have scored 70+ against a Power Five opponent. The most recent was Ohio State’s 73-3 win over Maryland in 2022. Notre Dame’s 70 points are the most by a non-Power Five team since 1994, and the highest by a non-SEC team since 2015. What’s remarkable is they did it without a single offensive player surpassing 100 receiving yards—this was a ground-and-pound masterpiece.
