SOUTH BEND, IN – Notre Dame scored 26 unanswered second-half points to turn a competitive game into a convincing 36-7 victory over NC State on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium. The Fighting Irish capitalized on four NC State turnovers and exploited a depleted Wolfpack secondary to snap a brief losing streak and improve to 4-2 on the season.

The Wolfpack (4-3, 1-2 ACC) held firm through much of the first half, trailing just 10-7 at intermission after limiting Notre Dame to 59 first-half rushing yards. But the game unraveled in the third and fourth quarters as quarterback CJ Bailey threw three interceptions and the offense managed just 233 total yards—the lowest output of the season for NC State.

Bailey completed 17 of 30 passes for 186 yards with one touchdown and three picks. He was sacked four times and repeatedly pressured by a Notre Dame defensive front that registered five tackles for loss and four sacks. The Irish defense also forced a fumble that resulted in a safety, capping a brutal stretch in the fourth quarter where NC State turned the ball over on four consecutive possessions.

Running back Hollywood Smothers, the ACC's leading rusher entering the game, was held to 46 yards on 12 carries—his lowest total of the season. As a team, NC State rushed for just 51 yards on 28 attempts, a season-low mark that reflected the absence of offensive lineman Anthony Carter Jr., who left the game early and did not return due to injury.

Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-31 passing. He connected with tight end Eli Raridon seven times for 109 yards and found wide receiver Will Pauling four times for 105 yards and a score. Running back Jeremiyah Love added 86 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, including a one-yard plunge late in the fourth quarter that capped the scoring.

The Irish (4-2) piled up 485 total yards—the second-most allowed by NC State this season—and converted 6 of 14 third downs. They were 5-for-8 in the red zone, while NC State never reached the 20-yard line and scored its only touchdown from 45 yards out.

Notre Dame opened the scoring midway through the first quarter with a six-play, 58-yard drive that ended with Love's two-yard touchdown run. The Irish converted a long third down on a 32-yard pass to Pauling and moved methodically downfield before Love punched it in to make it 7-0.

NC State answered on its next possession after forcing a turnover on downs. Notre Dame faced fourth-and-one at the Wolfpack seven-yard line late in the first quarter, but Carr was sacked for a 10-yard loss by linebacker Travali Price and defensive end Caden Fordham, who combined to drop the quarterback well behind the line of scrimmage.

The Wolfpack capitalized on the stop with an 11-play, 83-yard touchdown drive that featured multiple third-down conversions. Bailey hit running back Jayden "Duke" Scott for 15 yards on third-and-nine to keep the drive alive, then found wide receiver Terrell Anderson for a 45-yard touchdown strike with 13:48 remaining in the second quarter. Kanoah Vinesett's extra point tied the game at 7-7.

Notre Dame appeared poised to retake the lead late in the half when they drove to the NC State eight-yard line, but Bailey intercepted Carr in the back of the end zone on fourth down. The pick marked the first career interception for Brown, a redshirt freshman safety who made the most of his opportunity.

The Wolfpack, however, could not capitalize on the turnover and punted back to the Irish with under two minutes remaining. Notre Dame took over at its own 30-yard line and quickly moved into field-goal range. Carr completed passes of 20 yards to Malachi Fields and 23 yards to Raridon before kicker Noah Burnette connected on a 48-yard field goal as time expired to give the Irish a 10-7 halftime lead.

The turning point came early in the third quarter. Notre Dame took the opening kickoff and marched 90 yards in 11 plays, converting a fourth-and-two with a quarterback sneak and overcoming two pass interference penalties on NC State. Carr capped the drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end KK Smith, extending the lead to 17-7.

On the ensuing possession, NC State went three-and-out and punted. The Irish responded with another touchdown drive, this time needing just five plays to cover 80 yards. Love broke free for a 24-yard run, and Carr followed with a 31-yard completion to Smith. Two plays later, Carr found Pauling for a 12-yard touchdown with 2:46 left in the third quarter, pushing the lead to 24-7.

The fourth quarter devolved into a series of miscues for the Wolfpack. Bailey's third interception, thrown on fourth-and-11 from midfield, was returned 44 yards by safety Adon Shuler to the NC State 17-yard line. The Irish settled for a 34-yard field goal by Burnette to make it 27-7.

On the next possession, Bailey threw another interception while attempting to throw the ball away under pressure. Notre Dame took over at the NC State 20-yard line but fumbled at the two-yard line, where it was recovered by Wolfpack defensive lineman Cian Slone.

Any momentum the defense created evaporated on the next snap. Bailey fumbled a snap in the end zone, and after an official review, the play was ruled a safety. The sequence marked NC State's third turnover in a span of six plays and gave Notre Dame a 29-7 lead with 9:37 remaining.

The Irish added one final touchdown with a 10-play, 82-yard drive that chewed up 3:41 of game time. Love capped the drive with his second rushing touchdown of the day, a one-yard plunge with 5:13 left in the game. The Wolfpack turned the ball over one more time on an interception by cornerback Karson Hobbs, and Notre Dame ran out the clock to seal the victory.

Fordham led the NC State defense with 10 tackles and a sack, while safety Ronnie Royal III added 10 tackles. Brown finished with nine tackles and the interception. But the Wolfpack defense allowed 342 passing yards and 143 rushing yards, and the injury to Anderson—who caught three passes for 57 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game—further thinned an already shorthanded secondary.

Notre Dame linebacker Tae Johnson paced the Irish defense with seven tackles, while safety Drayk Bowen also recorded seven stops. Defensive end Boubacar Traore tallied two sacks for 21 yards, and the Irish held NC State to 5-of-16 on third down.

The loss drops NC State to 2-3 all-time against Notre Dame. The Wolfpack will have a bye week before traveling to face Pittsburgh on October 25.

Key Performers:

• CJ Carr, Notre Dame: 19-of-31 passing, 342 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
• Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame: 18 rushes, 86 yards, 2 TDs
• Eli Raridon, Notre Dame: 7 receptions, 109 yards
• Will Pauling, Notre Dame: 4 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD
• CJ Bailey, NC State: 17-of-30 passing, 186 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs
• Hollywood Smothers, NC State: 12 rushes, 46 yards
• Caden Fordham, NC State: 10 tackles, 1 sack

DURHAM – In a heart-pounding college football clash that played to the final whistle, No. 17 Duke went head-to-head with No. 11 Notre Dame at a raucous Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham. The game lived up to its top-25 billing, culminating in a thrilling finish that left spectators breathless. Duke, initially trailing 10-0 at halftime and 13-0 in the second half, mounted a remarkable comeback. Their persistence paid off as they took a 14-13 lead late in the game, fueled by a third-quarter touchdown from Jordan Waters and a fourth-quarter strike from Riley Leonard to Jordan Moore with just over nine minutes remaining.

However, the Fighting Irish, displaying their championship mettle, clawed back and orchestrated a game-winning drive. The turning point came on a crucial fourth-and-16 play when Notre Dame's quarterback, Sam Hartman, scrambled for 17 yards, keeping their hopes alive. Two plays later, Audric Estime broke free for a game-winning 30-yard touchdown rush with a mere 31 seconds left on the clock, stunning the Blue Devils with a final score of 21-14.

For Duke, it was a tough loss, ending their impressive six-game winning streak that had stretched back to last season. The Blue Devils now stand at 4-1, while the Fighting Irish improved to 5-1. 

Quarterback Riley Leonard played a pivotal role, accounting for 134 passing yards and leading the ground attack with 88 rushing yards on 18 carries. Duke's ground game, dominant throughout the contest, outgained Notre Dame on the turf, accumulating 189 yards compared to the Irish's 159.

The game marked a historic moment with the largest home crowd at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium since November 11, 1989, as 40,768 fans filled the stands. Notably, Jordan Waters continued his scoring streak with a rushing touchdown in five consecutive games, a feat not achieved by a Blue Devil since Riley Leonard in 2022. Jordan Moore contributed significantly with four receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown, bringing his receiving touchdown tally to eight.

On the defensive side, redshirt sophomore linebacker Tre Freeman recorded a career-high 13 tackles, including half a sack and a tackle for loss. Graduate safety Jeremiah Lewis also impressed with more than 10 tackles for the second time in his career. Notably, Duke's defense prevented Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman from finding the end zone through the air for the first time this season.

Despite the heart-wrenching loss, Duke head coach Mike Elko acknowledged the fantastic atmosphere created by the Duke community, especially on a day that began with ESPN College GameDay's first-ever visit to the campus. Elko commended the resilience and character of his team while expressing regret about missed opportunities and the critical fourth-and-16 play that swung the game in Notre Dame's favor.

With an open week ahead, Duke now looks forward to preparing for their next challenge against NC State at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium, with the kickoff time yet to be announced. As they regroup and analyze their performance, the Blue Devils remain confident in their abilities and determined to bounce back stronger in the coming weeks.

The gridiron at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium is set to ignite as the No. 17 Duke Blue Devils gear up to host the No. 11 Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a high-stakes showdown under the Saturday night lights. Kickoff for this epic battle is slated for 7:30 p.m., and fans across the nation can catch all the action live on ABC.

This year's eagerly anticipated contest marks the eighth gridiron meeting between Duke and Notre Dame, with the Fighting Irish holding a 5-2 series lead. Duke's first triumph over the Fighting Irish dates back to December 2, 1961, when they secured a resounding 37-13 victory on their home turf. As for recent history, Notre Dame enters the fray on the heels of two consecutive victories, including a convincing 27-13 win during their last encounter on September 12, 2020.

Duke's recent triumph over Connecticut added to the excitement, marking their fourth consecutive in-season win—a feat not seen since 1970. The Blue Devils also made history by kickstarting the season with four consecutive 20-plus point victories. In the wake of their impressive performances, Duke has risen to No. 17 in the Associated Press poll and No. 16 in the USA Today Coaches' polls. This ranking signifies the team's highest national standing since October 25, 1994, when they held the No. 16 spot.

When it comes to winning the turnover battle, Duke has demonstrated prowess under the guidance of head coach Mike Elko. In their last game against Connecticut, they outperformed their opponents 2-0 in turnovers, including a memorable fumble recovery and scoop-and-score by defensive tackle DeWayne Carter during the third quarter. Coach Elko's tenure has seen Duke emerge victorious in the turnover battle in 12 out of 17 games, amassing an impressive 115 points off those turnovers, featuring 15 touchdowns, three field goals, and one two-point conversion.

Coach Mike Elko's tenure has been nothing short of extraordinary, boasting a remarkable 13-4 record, translating to an impressive .765 winning percentage, through his first 17 games at the helm of the Blue Devils. Notably, this milestone is the best 17-game start for a head coach in Duke's storied history. Furthermore, Coach Elko's record at this juncture surpasses that of all current ACC coaches when they began their respective tenures at their current institutions.

Campbell Set to Take on No. 15 NC Central

The Campbell Camels (2-2, 1-2 CAA) are gearing up for an exciting face-off against the 15th-ranked North Carolina Central Eagles (3-1, 0-0 MEAC) this Saturday, September 30. The game will kick off at 4:00 p.m. at the iconic O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

The Camels enter this matchup with one of the most potent offenses in the FCS. They are currently ranked 10th in scoring, averaging 37.2 points per game. Additionally, they rank 13th in total offense nationally, averaging 440.0 yards per game. Quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams has been exceptional, boasting the FCS's third-best completion percentage at 75.0%. He has completed 96-of-127 passes, averaging 282.5 passing yards per game, with six touchdowns and only one interception. Williams has also been a threat on the ground, contributing four rushing touchdowns.

The North Carolina Central University Eagles, ranked 15th, enter this matchup with a formidable defense. They have excelled in third-down conversion defense, ranking 18th in the nation in FCS, with a conversion rate of just 29.2%. NCCU also leads the MEAC in scoring defense, allowing an average of 32.3 points per game. The Eagles have several standout performers on the defensive side, including Jayden Flaker, who leads the team with 24 total tackles, 4.5 stops for loss, and 3.5 sacks. The defense has been adept at generating turnovers and creating opportunities for their team.

Elizabeth City State Hosts Johnson C. Smith on Homecoming

Johnson C, Smith, off to a fast 3-1 start, will travel to take on the Vikings of Elizabeth City State at Roebuck Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Vikings come into the game at 1-3 after a close loss to Shaw last Sunday. The Golden Bulls have been outscoring their opponents 29-13 through the first four weeks of the season. A balanced backfield, led by Tim Newman, Jr., Jacob Newman, and Shydem McCullough have averaged 187 rushing yards per game coming into this week’s game. Benari Black and Jack Smith lead a linebacker corps that have given opposing offenses fits so far. ECSU head coach Marcus Hilliard, himself a Vikings alumnus, will look to his sophomore signal caller to try and find a weakness in the JCSU defense. Dual-threat quarterback Chase Williams leads the Vikings in passing yards and rushing touchdowns. Demorian Smith and Teonne Porter lead an ECSU defense that is giving up less than twenty points per game so far this season.

Notre Dame Stadium (Photo Credit: Daniel Hinton)

 What the Coaches are Saying

"We’re playing an excellent football team. Played great Saturday night against their rival, USC. They’re a physical football team. It’s going to be a great game to watch as a fan. You’re getting to watch the sixth-ranked rushing offense at Notre Dame against the sixth-ranked rushing defense of NC State. Great head-to-head, heavyweight battle right there."

"(We're) playing arguably one of the hottest teams in college football right now. North Carolina State has won six in a row. Dave Doeren has done a great job with this football program. Extremely balanced is the thing that stands out to me. Offensively, (they're) top 25 in a number of categories. Incredibly no turnovers on offense. Ryan Finley has done an incredible job this year. He's got great weapons in Samuels and Hines. On defense, Chubb, Hill, (they're) sixth in rushing. A great challenge for our football team coming up this Saturday."

Game Info