No. 9 Notre Dame wallops Stanford, awaits CFP fate

CJ Carr completed 17 of 27 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns as No. 9 Notre Dame cruised to a 49-20 win over host Stanford on Saturday night.

Jadarian Price had a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown for Notre Dame (10-2), which won its 10th in a row to wrap up the regular season. Aneyas Williams rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns and Jeremiyah Love had 14 carries for 66 yards and a score.

The Fighting Irish now turn their attention to the College Football Playoff Committee, which will determine the final 12 teams that will compete for a national championship.

Elijah Brown completed 18 of 37 passes for 204 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Stanford (4-8), which lost four of its last five to close the season. Charlie Mirer, son of former Notre Dame signal-caller Rick Mirer, entered the game as a backup and threw a touchdown pass.

Notre Dame outgained Stanford 524-312.

The Fighting Irish jumped to a 14-0 lead after the first quarter.

Love opened the scoring with a 2-yard rushing touchdown on Notre Dame's first possession. The play marked his 18th rushing touchdown to go along with three receiving scores.

Price followed with a 1-yard rushing touchdown with 1:52 to go in the first quarter. It marked his 11th rushing touchdown of the season.

Notre Dame pulled ahead 21-0 on a fake-punt touchdown early in the second quarter. Luke Talich caught a pass from Joshua Burnham and raced for an 84-yard score.

Williams rushed for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 28-0 with 7:26 remaining in the half.

Stanford finally got on the scoreboard as Emmet Kenney made a 39-yard field goal with 2:38 remaining before the break.

Carr finished the first-half scoring when he tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Price with 17 seconds left in the half. That gave Notre Dame a 35-3 lead at halftime.

The lopsided match continued in the second half as Carr connected with Jordan Faison for a 6-yard score to make it 42-3 with 12:43 left in the third quarter.

Stanford scored the next 10 points on a 44-yard field goal by Kenney and a 9-yard touchdown completion from Brown to Bryce Farrell.

Williams responded with a 51-yard rushing touchdown to make it 49-13 with 9:08 to play.

Stanford finished the scoring on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Mirer to Marcus Brown with four minutes left.

-Field Level Media