SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Breaking down No. 8 Notre Dame's 17-14 win Saturday against No. 13 Stanford:
THE BIG PICTURE: This was an important measuring stick for Notre Dame. Though the Irish were 4-0 entering Saturday's game, they'd barely been tested. Michigan turned out to be a shell of itself, and Notre Dame's own miscues kept Syracuse as close as it was for as long as it was a week ago. Yes, quarterback Everett Golson was back and seemingly better than before — but we didn't really know how good this Irish team was, and if it could be a true College Football Playoff contender.
BOX SCORE: Notre Dame 17, Stanford 14
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Though Notre Dame didn't always look great — Golson turned the ball over twice early and the Irish botched two field-goal attempts over the course of a rain-soaked evening — it found a way to win. Golson showed great poise and decision-making under pressure, leading the game-winning drive with three minutes left on the clock, down four. Notre Dame remains undefeated; a matchup against defending national champion Florida State looms in two weeks.
WHAT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT: Stanford's exquisite defense — and shaky offense. Bad weather was a factor — for both teams — but Stanford's offense still struggled in all the areas it's struggled in during previous games. The offensive line got flagged for penalties, quarterback Kevin Hogan had trouble finding receivers and the power run game that the Cardinal has been synonymous with for years is not nearly as dominant this season. The good news for Stanford? Its defense is among the very best in the nation, and that'll keep this team in any game. And if its second-to-last offensive drive was any indication, it is still capable of playing well on that side of the ball. It just hasn't been doing that consistently.Stanford's two losses most likely keep it out of the inaugural four-team playoff — though it still can play spoiler.
THE DECIDING PLAY: Trailing by four in the game's waning minutes, Golson orchestrated an impressive drive down the field deep into Stanford territory, helped by a pass interference call against Stanford in the end zone. On fourth down from the Cardinal 23, he scrambled and then found senior tight end Ben Koyack open in the back of the end zone for the game-winning touchdown with 1:01 remaining.
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Notre Dame sophomore cornerback Cole Luke. The 5-11, 190-pound Luke was a thorn in Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan's side all day. He intercepted Hogan twice, once in the first quarter and again in the fourth. Luke also forced a Hogan fumble (that Stanford recovered) and broke up another Hogan pass.
KEY STAT: Early in the fourth quarter, Notre Dame botched a field-goal attempt, and Stanford's A.J. Tarpley returned the ball 39 yards. That was the longest play for either team all game.
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