Notre Dame Dominates Syracuse in Record-Breaking First Quarter
Wow, what a shocking start to this matchup between Syracuse and No. 9 Notre Dame at Notre Dame Stadium today! From the very opening kickoff, the Fighting Irish made it crystal clear who was in charge. By the end of the first quarter, Notre Dame had already scored an astonishing 35 points, while Syracuse struggled to gain even 16 yards. It’s being called one of the most lopsided first quarters in college football history, and honestly, it’s hard to argue with that.
Syracuse’s quarterback, Joseph Filardi, who is just starting his second game, had a rough introduction to the Fighting Irish defense. His first pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by Notre Dame’s Jalen Stroman. Things only got worse from there. A few plays later, a deflected punt was scooped up and taken 22 yards to the end zone by Luke Talich, making it two special teams touchdowns before Syracuse could even blink. By the time the first quarter ended, Notre Dame had set a new school record for points in a single opening quarter. The NBC announcers didn’t hold back—they called it an “absolute blowout.”
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Notre Dame’s offense has been firing on all cylinders. Running back Jeremiyah Love, a Heisman Trophy candidate, has looked unstoppable, scoring a 45-yard touchdown on just his second carry. Meanwhile, CJ Carr connected with Will Pauling for a short touchdown to start the second quarter, pushing the score to 42-0. Syracuse’s defense simply hasn’t been able to adjust, and their offense has been held completely in check. The Orange have suffered multiple sacks, incompletions, and turnovers, and even when they did manage to punt, it was considered a minor victory under these circumstances.
This season has been rough for Syracuse, which comes in with a 3-7 record and six straight losses by double digits. Meanwhile, Notre Dame is looking to strengthen its case for an at-large bid to the College Football Playoff, and they are clearly leaving no doubt in this game. Their precision, speed, and opportunistic play—interceptions, special teams scores, and dominant rushing—show why they are among the top teams in the country.
Despite the rough start, Syracuse has some bright spots. Freshman defensive back Demetres Samuel Jr. has been a standout, ranking high among true freshmen nationally in passes defended. And quarterback Filardi, while struggling, is still gaining valuable experience for the future.
As we move into the second half, Notre Dame continues to dominate in every phase of the game. For Syracuse, this is a tough but instructive moment against one of the premier programs in college football. And for Notre Dame, it’s a statement game, piling up style points and showing why they belong in the national conversation.
In short, today has been a historic first quarter for Notre Dame and a humbling afternoon for Syracuse—a game that will be remembered for that record-setting, jaw-dropping start.
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