Notre Dame’s Playoff Case Grows Louder After 41 to 7 Rout
No. 5 Notre Dame beat Boston College 41 to 7 on Saturday in South Bend, a rout that made the Irish playoff case louder with every touchdown. Notre Dame led 31 to 0 at half time and never eased off, and the win kept the Irish at 9 and 1 with the College Football Playoff rankings due on Tuesday night. It was the kind of performance that leaves the committee with little to question and rival contenders with little room to argue.
There was no letdown after last week victory over Miami, a result that had raised the question of whether Notre Dame could refocus for a lesser opponent. The Irish answered it early, jumping on Boston College from the start and building a lead that removed any doubt before the break. Notre Dame beat then No. 1 Miami 31 to 24 last Saturday, and the way it followed that win showed a team that understands what the closing weeks demand.
Carr in control
Quarterback CJ Carr passed for 217 yards and two touchdowns, completing 20 of 28 passes in a calm and efficient display. Carr opened the scoring with a 26 yard touchdown pass to Micah Gilbert and added a 13 yard scoring strike to Jordan Faison, and the Irish offence kept the ball moving all afternoon. Notre Dame gained 500 yards in total, with 276 yards on the ground and 224 yards through the air, a balance that left Boston College with no easy answer.
The defence was just as firm. Boston College managed only 136 total yards, its lowest output against Notre Dame in the 29 game series, and the Eagles lone touchdown came on a short field after an interception. Notre Dame has now won 11 straight games over Boston College, a streak that dates back to 2009, and the gap between the teams was clear in every quarter. For Boston College, now 4 and 6, the day offered little comfort beyond the fact that the game ended.
The playoff picture
The College Football Playoff rankings are released on Tuesday night, and Notre Dame will expect its case to be heard after a win of this size. The Irish have no ranked opponent left in the regular season that can add to their record, so style and margin matter, and Saturday gave the committee both. If Notre Dame keeps winning in this manner, its place in the field will be hard to deny, and the only question left is how high the committee will rank the Irish.
