Two hits and a miss for Notre Dame football after crushing the Virginia Cavaliers
The Notre Dame football team logged yet another big win over a team that wasn’t particularly good, but also wasn’t particularly bad. The 35-14 victory over the Virginia Cavaliers didn’t prove much, but it did show that when the Irish talk about not letting up they mean it.
Marcus Freeman and his squad have shifted into another gear. They’re one of the best teams in the country and it shows. On the same day that the No. 1 ranked Oregon Ducks struggled to beat a Wisconsin team that came into the day at 5-4, the Blue and Gold hammered and controlled fresh off an upset of No. 18 Pitt.
So what stood out the most for the Notre Dame football team? There was plenty to like but these were right at the top of the list.
Hit: Jeremiyah Love is the man for Notre Dame Football
When the season started, there were real questions about whether or not the Irish had someone who could step in and replace Audric Estime. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price looked like a heck of a one-two punch, but in the last few weeks, Love has taken the lead in this horserace.
On Saturday, he continued a streak of 10 straight games with at least one rushing touchdown. He had two of them against the Cavs, including a 76 yard dash that put the game away. He’s now got over 700 yards and could finish the regular season with over 1,000 if he can get two more strong outings.
Hit: The ballhawks keep on ballhawking
The number of turnovers that the Fighting Irish are forcing these days is bordering on the insane. The Golden Domers forced three interceptions and recovered two fumbles.
That includes Xavier Watts who continues to show that he’s the best safety in the country with his 11th interception in the last two seasons. He also got another fumble recovery. Oh, and they also sacked Virginia quarterbacks twice.
Miss: Kickers continue to struggle
In a game the Notre Dame football team dominated the way they did on Saturday, it’s hard to find something really wrong with the performance but here’s one. Mitch Jeter has struggled this year, hitting just 6-of-10 attempts including missing one on Saturday. Backup Marcello Diomede also missed one in garbage time. Jeter has been hurt, but the Irish were hoping for more from him in 2024.