Jeremiyah Love exploded for three touchdowns, spearheading Notre Dame's historic offensive onslaught. Jalen Stroman delivered a defensive masterpiece, securing a win.
Notre Dame had a historic win this weekend by pounding Syracuse by a 70-7 score. It was Notre Dame's first 70-point game since 1932. Notre Dame's 35 first quarter points and 49 first half points were a modern record (since 1973). The 63-point margin of victory was the most since a 64-point win over Duke back in 1966. Notre Dame made a statement to the rest of college football. The more you talk about Notre Dame, the more you try to talk down their accomplishments, the more they are going to dominate.
When you dominate in this manner there will be plenty of standouts, but here's my breakdown of which players stood above the rest.
OFFENSE - Jeremiyah Love, Running Back
Stats: 8 carries, 171 yards, 21.4 YPC, 3 TD
Runners Up: RB Jadarian Price (4 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD), RT Aamil Wagner
Running back Jeremiyah Love has spent the last month showing the college football world he's the best player in the country this season, and he made arguably his biggest statement yet in the win over Syracuse. Love touched the ball just eight times but those eight carries went for 171 yards. He reached the end zone three times, scoring from 68 yards, 45 yards and 14 yards out. Syracuse had no answers for Love, who showed incredible patience and decision making to go along with his elite home run hitting ability.
Love has been on an absolutely tear in recent weeks. The Irish back has averaged 155.2 rushing yards per game, 9.1 yards per carry and has rushed for nine touchdowns in the team's last five wins. The Irish beat three ranked teams during that stretch, and Love rushed for 156.3 yards against those ranked opponents. Love has rushed for 131.0 yards and 7.8 yards per carry during its current 9-game win streak. Love's 17 rushing touchdowns are second in all of college football and his 14 rushing touchdowns against Power 4 opponents is the most of any running back in the country. Love's 20 total touchdowns is most among Power 4 running backs and is second in all of college football.
If it wasn't for Love there would be a lot more talk about how good Jadarian Price has been this season, and that continued in the win over Syracuse. Price carried the ball just four times, but those carries went for 70 yards. Price took his first two carries for 69 yards, including a nifty 58-yard touchdown pass on an impressive cutback. Price has rushed for 659 yards and 10 touchdowns this season and is averaging 6.2 yards per carry.
DEFENSE/ST - Jalen Stroman, Safety
Stats: 8 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 INT, 1 TD - 1 Blocked Punt
Runners Up: DT Jason Onye (7 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks), CB Leonard Moore (1 tackle, 1 INT, 1 TD), DT Jared Dawson (4 tackle, 1 TFL, 0.5 sacks), DE Boubacar Traore (5 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack), LB Drayk Bowen (3 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack), DE Junior Tuihalamaka (4 tackles, 1 TFL)
Notre Dame safety Tae Johnson has been a game changer for the Irish defense the last month, but in the week leading up to this game he became the latest injury casualty for the Irish defense. That forced Jalen Stroman into the starting lineup, and the veteran safety had the best example of "Next Man In" that I've ever seen. Stroman had a brilliant performance for the Irish and he gets my top player honors for both offense and defense.
Stroman got the blowout started when he stepped in front of the first pass attempt of the game and returned it 44 yards for an Irish touchdown. On drive two, Stroman tackled Syracuse receiver Darius Johnson behind the line of scrimmage on a perimeter screen pass. On the ensuing punt, Stroman came up the middle and beat the wedge to get his first blocked punt of the season. Luke Talich made a great catch on the block and returned it for a touchdown to put the Irish up 14-0. Just like that the Irish route was one.
The Virginia Tech transfer wasn't finished making plays, and he ended the game with eight tackles and a career-high two stops behind the line. He was a force against the run, the pass, the screen game and he made a game changing play on special teams. This was a truly brilliant performance from Stroman.
He obviously wasn't alone and a number of Irish defenders had big games. Defensive tackle Jason Onye continued his strong play this season, as did fellow starting DT Jared Dawson. Their stout play up the middle fueled the defense in the early going. Cornerback Leonard Moore continued his dominance in coverage and linebacker Drayk Bowen, edge Boubacar Traore and end Junior Tuihalamaka all had outstanding performances for the Irish defense.
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