NEW YORK — Army fell short of perfection in pursuit of a historic win, managing a season-low 233 yards, surrendering 58- and 68-yard rushing touchdowns, and allowing a blocked punt returned for a score, along with losing the turnover margin.
Notre Dame dominated under the Yankee Stadium lights, securing a decisive 49-14 victory over the No. 17 Black Knights and moving closer to a College Football Playoff berth. The No. 6 Fighting Irish extended their winning streak to nine games, rebounding impressively after their September loss to Northern Illinois.
Notre Dame’s season has been marked by blowouts over service academies, including October’s 51-14 win against Navy. These wins have bolstered their playoff positioning as top contenders in the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 faltered on Saturday, with No. 5 Indiana, No. 9 Mississippi, No. 15 BYU, and No. 18 Colorado all suffering setbacks.
Displaying a potent offense and stingy defense, Notre Dame looked playoff-ready. Army, previously trailing for less than six minutes all season, saw its FBS-leading 13-game win streak end in humbling fashion.
On the 100th anniversary of Notre Dame’s iconic Four Horsemen game against Army, the Irish leaned on quarterback Riley Leonard and running back Jeremiyah Love. Leonard delivered efficiently, completing 10 of 13 passes for 148 yards, two touchdowns, and 30 rushing yards before exiting in the third quarter with a 35-7 lead.
Love was unstoppable, rushing for 130 yards on just seven carries, scoring twice, and breaking Autry Denson’s record by scoring in 11 consecutive games. His second-half touchdown set the tone for the rout, averaging an astounding 18.6 yards per carry.
Defensively, Notre Dame stifled Army, limiting them to 3.6 yards per carry and tying the Black Knights’ season-low of 207 rushing yards. Army’s second-half struggles included three failed fourth-down attempts.
Despite the emphatic win, questions remain about Notre Dame’s playoff readiness. Victories over solid but not elite teams, including Navy, Louisville, and Georgia Tech, leave uncertainty about how they’ll fare against top-tier playoff opponents.
