Grading the Irish: How did Notre Dame fare on its report card after win over Stanford?

Posted by author October 12, 2024 Football

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SOUTH BEND — Playing its only true home game in the month of October, 12^th-ranked Notre Dame football (US LBM Coaches Poll) made easy work of unranked Stanford in Saturday’s 49-7 win.

The Irish (5-1) spotted the visitors a 7-0 lead, marking the fifth time in six games that Notre Dame has trailed at some point in the first half, but the diminished Cardinal (2-4) program lacked the firepower to support that early statement.

Offense: B

Riley Leonard rushed for one score and passed for two others in building a 21-7 halftime lead, but the Notre Dame quarterback was fortunate that Stanford’s defense dropped two sure interceptions. It took 20 offensive snaps to get Jeremiyah Love his first touch, and center Pat Coogan had more receptions than all Notre Dame tight ends through the first 30 minutes.

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Defense: B-plus

Lacking its top two Vypers after season-ending knee injuries, the Irish defense saw tackle Howard Cross III record a pair of sacks in a span of four snaps in the second quarter. Defensive penalties wiped out interceptions for Benjamin Morrison and Xavier Watts, and Stanford became the third opponent in the past five games to score on its opening series against the Irish.

Special teams: B-plus

Zac Yoakam (placekicks) and Eric Goins (kickoffs) stepped in ably after South Carolina grad transfer Mitch Jeter had to exit after the first quarter. Freshman defensive end Bryce Young just missed a punt block in the second quarter.

Coaching: A-minus

Determined not to drop a second home game after sitting back and watching Upset Saturday unfold on the bye week, Marcus Freeman improved to 11-2 in true home games since the 2022 shocker against Stanford. Clock management tilted in the Irish’s favor as Stanford ran out of time at the plus-33 to end the first half.

Overall: A-minus

The Legends Trophy stays put in the Guglielmino Athletics Complex, and now it’s on to back-to-back games in fancy NFL venues against Georgia Tech and Navy the next two weeks. The Irish improved to 4-0 off the bye in the Freeman era.

Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.