When Notre Dame Fighting Irish took the field on Senior Day at Notre Dame Stadium on November 22, 2025, no one expected a massacre — but they got one anyway. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish demolished the Syracuse Orange 70-7, the most points the Irish have scored in a single game since 1932 and the worst loss in Syracuse University football history. It wasn’t just a blowout. It was a statement. And for Jeremiyah Love, it was a Heisman moment.
A Night to Remember for Notre Dame’s Seniors
Senior Day at Notre Dame Stadium has become a tradition of dominance. Since 2018, the Irish have outscored their opponents on Senior Day by a combined 276-69 — an average of 47-8. But this? This was something else. Jeremiyah Love, a junior running back, didn’t just play. He exploded. On just eight carries, he racked up 171 yards and three touchdowns. His first touch? A 45-yard sprint into the end zone. His second? A 68-yarder to start the second half. By halftime, he’d already made the game feel like a formality.
But Love wasn’t alone. Kenny Minchey, the sophomore backup quarterback wearing No. 8, entered the game early — as offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock planned — and finished with a touchdown run that pushed the Irish past 70. It was the first time since 1932, when Notre Dame beat Haskell 73-0, that the program had reached triple digits in points. The 70-point total shattered the modern record of 69, set against Georgia Tech in 1977.
Defensive Domination: Three Pick-Sixes and a Blocked Punt
The defense didn’t just hold Syracuse. It hunted them. On the Orange’s second offensive play, Jalen Stroman, filling in for injured starter Tae Johnson, intercepted freshman quarterback Joe Filardi and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown. That was just the start.
Then came Leonard Moore, the senior defensive back, who picked off Filardi again — this time racing 46 yards to the end zone. It was Notre Dame’s third interception return for a touchdown in two games. And when Luke Talich caught a blocked punt and ran it 22 yards for a score, the scoreboard was no longer a game — it was a eulogy for Syracuse’s season.
Syracuse’s Season Collapses Under the Weight of Injuries
By the time Filardi was pulled for backup Luke Carney, the Orange were already down 49-0. Filardi, a walk-on freshman from Syracuse, threw for 83 yards and three interceptions — two returned for touchdowns. His lone bright spot? A 6-yard scramble for a touchdown with seven seconds left. It was the only score Syracuse managed all night.
“We’re in build-for-the-future mode,” WRVO.org wrote in its postgame analysis. “Injury-decimated. Outmatched. Outcoached.” The Orange lost three starting offensive linemen to injury this month. Their starting quarterback was a walk-on. Their secondary had been shredded by the week’s practices. This wasn’t just a bad game — it was the culmination of a season that never had a chance.
What This Means for Notre Dame’s Playoff Hopes
With the win, Notre Dame Fighting Irish improved to 9-2. They’re now one win away from locking up a spot in the College Football Playoff — a place they haven’t reached since 2018. Their final regular-season game? A road trip to Stanford on November 29, 2025. A win there, and they’ll likely host a first-round playoff game.
But beyond the playoff implications, this game was a statement of identity. Notre Dame’s offense didn’t just score — it danced. Love’s 171 yards on eight carries? That’s not just production. That’s dominance. And Minchey’s touchdown run? Proof that depth matters. Mike Denbrock’s rotation worked perfectly. No one was overworked. Everyone got their moment.
A Historic Scoreline, But a Familiar Story
Notre Dame hasn’t scored 70 points since before World War II. But this wasn’t a fluke. The Irish have been building toward this. They’ve got speed, discipline, and a defense that reads offenses like open books. Meanwhile, Syracuse? They’re rebuilding. And sometimes, rebuilding means getting your clock cleaned by a team that’s already on the cusp of greatness.
As the final whistle blew, fans chanted “Heisman! Heisman!” for Love. The scoreboard read 70-7. The record books will remember this night. And for Syracuse? They’ll remember it as the day their season ended — not with a bang, but with a whimper.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this loss compare to other worst defeats in Syracuse football history?
The 70-7 loss to Notre Dame is the worst in Syracuse football history by point differential, surpassing the previous low of 63-7 to West Virginia in 1982. It’s also the first time since 1987 that Syracuse allowed more than 60 points in a single game. The Orange have lost by 50+ points only five times in their 112-year FBS history.
Why was Kenny Minchey playing so early in the game?
Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock rotated quarterbacks early to give backup Kenny Minchey playing time on Senior Day, as is traditional. Minchey entered on the second series and scored a touchdown late, helping reach the 70-point mark. This was planned, not a result of injury or poor performance by starter C.J. Carr.
What does this mean for Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff chances?
With a 9-2 record and a win over a top-10 team, Notre Dame is now in the top four of most playoff projections. A victory at Stanford on November 29, 2025, would likely secure a top-four seed and a home game in the first round. Their only losses this season came to Alabama and Clemson — both top-5 teams.
Is Jeremiyah Love a legitimate Heisman candidate now?
Absolutely. Love now has 1,428 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns this season, with a 7.8 yards-per-carry average. His 171-yard, three-TD performance against Syracuse — on just eight carries — is the kind of highlight-reel game that Heisman voters love. He’s now in the top three of most Heisman rankings, behind only Oregon’s Bo Nix and Alabama’s Jayden Daniels.
Has any other team scored 70+ points against a Power Five opponent recently?
Not since 2021, when Alabama beat Tennessee 77-6. Before that, LSU scored 70+ against a Power Five team in 2019 (70-10 over Florida). Notre Dame’s 70-7 win is the first time since 2021 that a team has scored 70+ against a Power Five opponent on the road. The rarity of the feat underscores how dominant this performance was.
What’s next for Syracuse football?
Syracuse hosts Boston College next Saturday in their final home game of the season. With a 2-9 record, they’re likely to finish last in the ACC. The focus now shifts to recruiting and rebuilding. Coach Fran Brown has publicly stated his intent to overhaul the offensive line and find a new quarterback next offseason — a process that could take two full years.
