No. 9 Notre Dame Overwhelms Syracuse 70–7 in Record-Setting Rout
Fighting Irish Dominate All Phases as Orange Drop Seventh Straight
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Syracuse endured one of the most lopsided defeats in its 134-year football history on Saturday afternoon, falling 70–7 to No. 9 Notre Dame at Notre Dame Stadium. The Orange were overwhelmed from the opening seconds, outmatched in all three phases as the Irish surged to their ninth win of the season.
The loss was Syracuse’s worst since 1893, when Union posted a 66–0 shutout. Now 3–8 overall and 1–6 in the ACC, the Orange have dropped seven straight and continue to search for stability after a year defined by quarterback turnover, offensive inconsistency, and a defense stretched beyond its limits.
Notre Dame Scores Three Touchdowns Before Its Offense Touches the Ball
The game spiraled immediately. Syracuse’s first possession ended in disaster when Jalen Stroman jumped a pass and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown. On the next series, Notre Dame blocked a punt and ran it back for another score. Moments later, freshman quarterback Joseph Filardi threw a second interception, returned by Leonard Moore for Notre Dame’s third non-offensive touchdown of the quarter.
Before running a single offensive play, the Irish led 21–0.
When the offense finally took the field, it continued the avalanche. Jeremiyah Love burst through the left side for a 45-yard touchdown, and on the next series Jadarian Price broke a 58-yard scoring run. With four minutes left in the first quarter, Notre Dame had already reached 35–0, the highest single-quarter point total in program history.
Syracuse Searches for Stability, but Notre Dame Pulls Away
Trying to stop the bleeding, Syracuse rotated between Filardi and freshman Luke Carney. Filardi eventually settled in and produced career highs with 14 completions and 83 passing yards, adding 33 rushing yards despite constant pressure.
Tight end Dan Villari continued his standout season, catching five passes to push his season total to 38 — the fourth-most ever by a Syracuse tight end.
The Orange managed 207 total yards, including 112 rushing, but they couldn’t slow Notre Dame’s explosive ground attack. Love finished with 171 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries, becoming only the third FBS player since 1996 to hit those marks on so few attempts. Price added his long touchdown as the Irish amassed 329 rushing yards.
Notre Dame capitalized on every mistake, tacking on two more touchdowns before halftime to lead 49–0 at the break.
Irish Keep the Pressure On
Any hopes of a second-half reset evaporated quickly. On the Irish’s third play after halftime, Love burst through for a 68-yard touchdown, extending the margin to 56–0. Notre Dame tacked on two more touchdowns early in the fourth quarter to reach 70–0, becoming just the third team ever to score 70 points against Syracuse.
Syracuse finally avoided a shutout in the final minute when Filardi scrambled in from six yards out, making it 70–7, which stood as the final score.
A Season of Struggles on Full Display
The rout highlighted the issues that have plagued Syracuse all year. Quarterback injuries and inconsistency forced both Filardi and Carney into extended action behind an offensive line that struggled to protect or create running lanes.
Defensively, the Orange have repeatedly been forced into long, draining stretches on the field. Against Notre Dame’s depth, speed, and physicality, those weaknesses were magnified.
Syracuse has now lost all seven games without its Week 1 starting quarterback, underlining the instability at the heart of its offensive struggles.
Final Takeaway and What Comes Next
Notre Dame played like a playoff contender sharpening its postseason form, scoring via defense, special teams, and explosive offense to take complete control of a game that was never in doubt.
Syracuse, now 3–8, returns home next Saturday to host Boston College in its season finale, trying to avoid an eight-game losing streak and finish with something positive as it turns the page toward 2026.
