Notre Dame Rout Pittsburgh, Takes Command of College Football Playoff Conversation
In a performance that defied expectations, No. 9 Notre Dame dominated 23rd-ranked Pittsburgh 37-15, solidifying its position as a favorite to return to the College Football Playoff (CFP) after a dominant season. The Fighting Irish's convincing victory showcased their well-oiled machine, which has been humming for eight consecutive games.
Junior running back Jeremiyah Love played a starring role in Notre Dame's rout, notching 147 yards and a score on the ground, while Malachi Fields added two touchdowns through the air to further emphasize his blossoming Heisman Trophy campaign. The dynamic duo formed an unstoppable force on the field, with Love crediting their team cohesion for helping them overcome adversity.
The Irish defense was the main antagonist for Pitt's offense, which struggled to find its footing behind freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel. Heintschel completed just 16 of 33 passes for 126 yards and tossed an interception that Notre Dame's Tae Johnson returned for a touchdown, putting the Irish up early and setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Notre Dame's suffocating defense sacked Heintschel four times, while safety Adon Shuler made a highlight-reel play, returning a 2-point conversion attempt 100-plus yards. The Irish took command of the game late in the third quarter, putting the Panthers' chances of a comeback to rest.
The victory marked Notre Dame's eighth consecutive win, and coach Marcus Freeman acknowledged that while his team is getting better, there is still room for improvement. "We're getting better, but we're not perfect," he said.
For Pitt, the loss serves as a harsh reality check after rising to near the top of the ACC standings. The Panthers will have to regroup and refocus if they hope to secure their spot in the ACC championship game, with road games against Georgia Tech and Miami looming.
Notre Dame's win maintains its status as one of the nation's elite programs, and the Irish are poised to climb the CFP rankings. With a next Saturday matchup against Syracuse on tap, Notre Dame will look to keep its winning streak alive.
In a performance that defied expectations, No. 9 Notre Dame dominated 23rd-ranked Pittsburgh 37-15, solidifying its position as a favorite to return to the College Football Playoff (CFP) after a dominant season. The Fighting Irish's convincing victory showcased their well-oiled machine, which has been humming for eight consecutive games.
Junior running back Jeremiyah Love played a starring role in Notre Dame's rout, notching 147 yards and a score on the ground, while Malachi Fields added two touchdowns through the air to further emphasize his blossoming Heisman Trophy campaign. The dynamic duo formed an unstoppable force on the field, with Love crediting their team cohesion for helping them overcome adversity.
The Irish defense was the main antagonist for Pitt's offense, which struggled to find its footing behind freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel. Heintschel completed just 16 of 33 passes for 126 yards and tossed an interception that Notre Dame's Tae Johnson returned for a touchdown, putting the Irish up early and setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Notre Dame's suffocating defense sacked Heintschel four times, while safety Adon Shuler made a highlight-reel play, returning a 2-point conversion attempt 100-plus yards. The Irish took command of the game late in the third quarter, putting the Panthers' chances of a comeback to rest.
The victory marked Notre Dame's eighth consecutive win, and coach Marcus Freeman acknowledged that while his team is getting better, there is still room for improvement. "We're getting better, but we're not perfect," he said.
For Pitt, the loss serves as a harsh reality check after rising to near the top of the ACC standings. The Panthers will have to regroup and refocus if they hope to secure their spot in the ACC championship game, with road games against Georgia Tech and Miami looming.
Notre Dame's win maintains its status as one of the nation's elite programs, and the Irish are poised to climb the CFP rankings. With a next Saturday matchup against Syracuse on tap, Notre Dame will look to keep its winning streak alive.
... reminds me of their 2002 season when they went 12-0 under coach jabarr gaffney... that team was so dominant, too... and now malachi fields is putting up these crazy numbers 
... i'm not sure what pitt did wrong tho, mason heintschel looked really lost out there 
... anyway, it's clear notre dame is the team to beat in the cfp right now 
they're like a well-oiled machine, all their pieces are working together seamlessly 
and that defense? forget about it 
they're suffocating opposing offenses like no one's business 
anyway, gotta see how pitt regroups from this tough loss 
I'm literally hyped just thinking about their plays on the field! And that defense? 
they're like a wall, no way Pitt could even touch them. Mason Heintschel is like rookie season struggles 
and I love it! Adon Shuler's return is like a highlight reel 
Tae Johnson is a hero 
the whole team is just on fire 
On a side note, I heard they're considering a big shift in their offense and some new wrinkles to keep defenses guessing. It could be huge for their playoff chances if they can pull it off... 
they're literally unstoppable with that squad! Jeremiyah Love and Malachi Fields are a dynamic duo 
and Pitt's loss is a reality check, they gotta refocus if they wanna make a comeback 
and that Jeremiyah Love dude is a beast 
. and can we talk about Malachi Fields' passing game? he's got skills 
. now, I know Pitt had a tough day, but you gotta feel for them 
. they were so close, and now they'll have to regroup and refocus before the ACC championship game 
Jeremiyah Love is on fire rn 
and Malachi Fields' Heisman campaign is for real now 
suffocating and malachi fields is throwing touchdowns left and right 
meanwhile jeremiyah love is running wild on the ground 
8 consecutive wins is crazy 
this season is getting crazy and I'm loving every minute of it! I was like "wait what's gonna happen" when Pitt started playing but they just got annihilated 
Malachi Fields is also on fire 
he's killing it out there on the field and I love how well he's working with Love, they're like a dynamic duo 
And don't even get me started on that defense 
Mason Heintschel is like the rookie who just can't catch a break 
I feel bad for him but at the same time, it's all part of the game 
so here's to ND, keep slaying the game and bringing home those Ws 
jeremiyah love is the MAN 
. But at the same time, they're not getting ahead of themselves like coach Freeman said. They still have room for improvement and can't take any team lightly.
. The CFP conversation is definitely heating up, and Notre Dame is right in the mix 
!