Notre Dame Home Opener
No. 3 Notre Dame Hosts Rice in Home Opener After Defeating Wisconsin
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Key Points
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Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr completed a 28-yard touchdown pass to running back Nolan James on the Irish’s final offensive possession against Wisconsin, extending the lead to 41-13 with two minutes remaining.
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Notre Dame defensive back DJ McKinney intercepted Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph and returned the pick 55 yards for a touchdown; Joseph, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season at Old Dominion, managed only three yards on 12 carries.
3
Rice quarterback Jacurri Brown said the Owls would focus on execution rather than the South Bend crowd: “If we take care of our job, we won’t have to worry about the crowd.” Brown is making his first season-opening start for Rice after previous stops at Miami and UCF.
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Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman responded to the team’s physical Wisconsin game by scheduling what he called a “bloody Tuesday” practice, deciding the Irish needed to maintain their physicality ahead of Rice’s run-oriented offense.
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Rice running back Tyvonn Byars carried 16 times for 104 yards, including a 31-yard run, during the Owls’ 465-yard rushing performance against Houston Christian; Rice averaged 6.6 yards per carry and scored three rushing touchdowns.
No. 3 Notre Dame hosts Rice in its home opener Saturday afternoon, looking to stay undefeated after crushing Wisconsin 41-13. The Irish defense was dominant, holding the Badgers to just 67 rushing yards and 13 points. Rice arrives in South Bend on a high after rushing for 465 yards in a 31-3 win over Houston Christian, but Notre Dame has never lost to the Owls — winning all five matchups by an average of 32 points.
Notre Dame's Defense Shuts Down Wisconsin
The Irish defense delivered a statement game against Wisconsin, suffocating the Badgers' running game. Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph managed only 3 yards on 12 carries after rushing for more than 1,000 yards last season at Old Dominion. Defensive back DJ McKinney added a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown, extending Notre Dame's control throughout the matchup.
Coach Marcus Freeman responded to the physical contest by holding a "bloody Tuesday" practice, emphasizing that his team needed to maintain that physicality heading into Saturday. The Irish showed they can execute both offensively and defensively — quarterback CJ Carr threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to running back Nolan James on the final offensive drive, putting the game out of reach with two minutes left.
Rice's Run-Heavy Offense Faces Stiff Test
Rice dominated Houston Christian through the run game, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Running back Tyvonn Byars carried 16 times for 104 yards, including a 31-yard run, as the Owls scored three rushing touchdowns. Rice's offense is built around movement and execution rather than throwing the ball — they managed just 96 yards passing in their first game.
Quarterback Jacurri Brown, making his first season-opening start after stops at Miami and UCF, emphasized the importance of focus over atmosphere. "If we take care of our job, we won't have to worry about the crowd," Brown said. However, South Bend's environment and Notre Dame's proven defensive prowess make Rice's task extraordinarily difficult.
A Mismatch That Could Extend Notre Dame's Run
Notre Dame has never lost to Rice in five all-time meetings, outscoring the Owls 195-33. The most recent matchup in 2014 ended 48-17 in Notre Dame's favor. The Irish's experience, talent level, and defensive strength position them as overwhelming favorites to stay undefeated and remain in the national championship conversation heading into Week 2.
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