Notre Dame vs. Army score: College Football Playoff berth nearing for Fighting Irish following blowout

No. 6 Notre Dame put its foot down and pulled away from an overmatched team that was previously undefeated

No. 6 Notre Dame took a huge step towards the College Football Playoff by demolishing No. 19 Army. The Irish have now won each of their last 16 games against the Black Knights, the longest such streak in rivalry history. 

This is also their second win against a ranked opponent this season by at least 30 points. The Irish never really had to break a sweat. They forced consecutive three-and-outs on Army's first two drives and converted that into a 14-0 lead. 

The Black Knights scored at the start of the second quarter to bring the game back within a touchdown, but Notre Dame took off from there. Four of Army's five drives in the second half ended in a turnover, with three failed conversion attempts on fourth down. Army did score a touchdown with less than a minute to go.

Offensively, Notre Dame got whatever it wanted on the ground. The Irish rushed for 275 yards and five touchdowns, averaging a whopping 9.8 yards per carry against an Army defense that has held six of its 10 opponents under 100 yards rushing. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love led the way with seven carries for 130 yards and two touchdowns. 

Notre Dame's College Football Playoff path is wide open. With teams like No. 8 Ole Miss losing in Week 13, the Irish are in good shape to potentially host a first-round game. It closes the regular season on Nov. 30 against USC, a prime opportunity for the Irish to win 11 games for the first time under coach Marcus Freeman. 

• This is the first time that Notre Dame has scored 49 points in back-to-back games against teams ranked by the AP or College Football Playoff. 
• Notre Dame has won six straight games against ranked opponents for the first time since 1992-93. 
• This is also Notre Dame's eighth straight win in a neutral site game. 
• The Irish outscored Army and Navy 100-28 in two games this season. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 10:23 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame solidifies playoff candidacy with big win

Final: No. 6 Notre Dame 49, No. 19 Army 14

No. 6 Notre Dame took a huge step towards the College Football Playoff by demolishing No. 19 Army. The Irish have now won each of their last 16 games against the Black Knights, the longest such streak in rivalry history. 

This is also their second win against a ranked opponent this season by at least 30 points. The Irish never really had to break a sweat. They forced consecutive three-and-outs on Army's first two drives and converted that into a 14-0 lead. 

The Black Knights scored at the start of the second quarter to bring the game back within a touchdown, but Notre Dame took off from there. Four of Army's five drives in the second half ended in a turnover, with three failed conversion attempts on fourth down. Army did score a touchdown with less than a minute to go.

Offensively, Notre Dame got whatever it wanted on the ground. The Irish rushed for 275 yards and five touchdowns, averaging a whopping 9.8 yards per carry against an Army defense that has held six of its 10 opponents under 100 yards rushing. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love led the way with seven carries for 130 yards and two touchdowns. 

Notre Dame's College Football Playoff path is wide open. With teams like No. 8 Ole Miss losing in Week 13, the Irish are in good shape to potentially host a first-round game. It closes the regular season on Nov. 30 against USC, a prime opportunity for the Irish to win 11 games for the first time under coach Marcus Freeman. 

• This is the first time that Notre Dame has scored 49 points in back-to-back games against teams ranked by the AP or College Football Playoff. 
• Notre Dame has won six straight games against ranked opponents for the first time since 1992-93. 
• This is also Notre Dame's eighth straight win in a neutral site game. 
• The Irish outscored Army and Navy 100-28 in two games this season. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 9:57 pm ET · Will Backus]

Complementary football for Notre Dame 

Early 4Q: No. 6 Notre Dame 39, No. 19 Army 7

Fourth downs have not been kind to Army tonight. Facing fourth-and-3 from Notre Dame's 39-yard line, the Black Knights lined up to go for it. Quarterback Bryson Daily was ripped down for a loss of three yards. It didn't take long for the Irish to take full advantage of the swing. Running back Aneyas Williams raced into the end zone from 58 yards out, giving Notre Dame another explosive rush against one of the nation's best run defenses. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 9:38 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame closing in on big win 

End 3Q: No. 6 Notre Dame 42, No. 19 Army 7

The only thing that separates Notre Dame and another ranked win is 15 minutes. The Irish have been in firm control wire to wire, and they're still tacking onto their lead with their starters out of the game. It's been a statement night for Notre Dame's offensive line, which has kept the pocket clean and opened plenty of holes in the running game against Army's staunch defense. 

Entering the fourth quarter, Notre Dame has 217 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. The Irish are averaging eight yards per rush against an Army defense that's held six of its 10 opponents this year under 100 total yards rushing. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 9:40 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame running wild 

Late 3Q: No. 6 Notre Dame 42, No. 19 Army 7

Another possession, another rushing touchdown for the Fighting Irish. This time it was running back Jadarian Price getting on the board a second time. He powered his way in from 10 yards out, plowing through a couple of Army defenders in the process. Price now has 53 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 9:29 pm ET · Will Backus]

Army stuffed again

Unfortunately for Army, it was unable to capitalize on the blocked field goal. Things started well for the Black Knights. They converted on a third-and-4 to move the ball into Notre Dame territory for the first time in the second half. But they quickly found themselves in another fourth down situation. With two yards to get for the conversion, Army quarterback Bryson Daily kept the ball and barely got past the line of scrimmage. Army's taken some risks, but they have yet to pay off. It's now 0-for-2 on fourth downs. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 9:21 pm ET · Will Backus]

Army not going quiet 

Notre Dame hasn't been perfect tonight. Despite holding a 28-point lead, its special teams play has left a lot to be desired. The Irish just lined up for a 30-yard field goal to extend their lead, but Army was able to block and recover the kick. Jeter also missed a 48-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. Army's still battling, even if it faces a massive deficit. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 9:15 pm ET · Will Backus]

Army stuffed on fourth down 

Props to Army for trying to make something happen on offense. It just didn't work. The Black Knights went for a fourth down conversion on their own 33-yard line and it came a good two yards short. Army has now had each of its last two drives end in a turnover. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 9:07 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame slams the door 

Early 3Q: No. 6 Notre Dame 35, No. 19 Army 7 

It took Notre Dame exactly one play to score a touchdown in the second half. The Irish received the kickoff, lined up on offense and handed it to running back Jeremiyah Love, who raced through the line untouched and sprinted past Army's defense for a 68-yard touchdown. Love is up to a blistering seven carries for 130 yards and two touchdowns. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 8:43 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame cruises into halftime 

Half: No. 6 Notre Dame 28, No. 19 Army 7 

Notre Dame carries a three-touchdown lead into the break after a breezy first half against Army. The Fighting Irish were largely dominant and ballooned their lead early after forcing two straight Army three-and-outs to start the game. The Black Knights did answer with a 12-play touchdown drive of their own, but four of their other possessions ended in a punt and one -- at the end of the half -- was cut short when quarterback Bryson Daily lost a fumble. 

Notre Dame, meanwhile, scored a touchdown on four of its five first-half drives. The Irish leaned on a dominant run game to put points on the board. Notre Dame had 124 yards and two touchdowns on the ground over the first 30 minutes, averaging just over 6 yards per carry. Running back Jeremiyah Love was particularly effective; he averaged over 10 yards per carry while bowling his way to 62 yards and a score. 

Army had 85 total yards as a team. Daily was directly responsible for 63 of those, and he also had Army's only touchdown with his legs. 

Notre Dame gets the ball to start the second half, which presents the opportunity to blow the doors off of this one. Army's offense certainly isn't geared towards digging out of sizable holes. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 8:36 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame extends its lead 

Late 2Q: No. 6 Notre Dame 28, No. 19 Army 7 

No problem pushing the ball in from the goal line this time. The Fighting Irish gave it to Jadarian Price on third-and-goal from the 2-yard line. He bounced the ball outside and outraced a couple of Army defenders to extend his team's lead to three touchdowns with less than 30 seconds to play in the first half. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 8:35 pm ET · Will Backus]

Key Army defender injured

Army defensive back Max DiDomenico suffered an apparent leg injury late in the first quarter. He was unable to put any weight on his left leg as Army's trainers helped him off the field. He would be a huge loss for a Black Knights defense that has struggled over the first 30 minutes. As a senior, he's a leader for Army and plays a big role while keeping the backend aligned. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 8:17 pm ET · Will Backus]

No trouble for Notre Dame this time 

Late 2Q: No. 6 Notre Dame 21, No. 19 Army 7 

Notre Dame took full advantage of its great field position after forcing Army to punt deep in its own territory. And it doesn't look like the Irish are going away from running the ball anytime soon. They turned and handed the ball to running back Jeremiyah Love three straight times and he turned that into 41 yards and a touchdown. Fourteen of those yards came on his touchdown run. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 8:07 pm ET · Will Backus]

Army's defends bends but doesn't break 

What a much-needed stop for Army. Notre Dame looked like it was going to easily recapture its two-possession lead. The Irish ran the ball down Army's throat all the way to the 1-yard line, where they were forced into a fourth-and-1 situation. Marcus Freeman didn't hesitate when he made the call to go for it. As it did most of the drive, Notre Dame decided to run the ball again, but Army stuffed Jeremiyah Love before he could get to the line of scrimmage. Big way for Army's defense to get its first stop of the game. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 7:57 pm ET · Will Backus]

Army's on the board 

Early 2Q: No. 6 Notre Dame 14, No. 19 Army 7 

Don't count the Black Knights out yet. Army desperately needed to stem some of Notre Dame's momentum after the Irish scored two quick touchdowns in the first quarter. It did just that with a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ate 7:37 off the clock and ended in a 4-yard rushing touchdown for quarterback Bryson Daily. Daily rushed seven times for 32 yards on that drive alone. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 7:51 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame in control

End 1Q: No. 6 Notre Dame 14, No. 19 Army 0 

It's been all Notre Dame thus far. The Fighting Irish forced three-and-outs on each of Army's first two drives and cashed that in for two quick touchdowns. The second was set up nicely by defensive lineman Bryce Young's third block of the year as he got through to put his hands on an Army punt. The Irish recovered on Army's 7-yard line and scored a couple of plays later. 

Army does have something going now, though. The Black Knights got their first first down of the game, courtesy of a 4-yard run from quarterback Bryson Daily on second-and-2. They also moved the ball past the 50-yard line for the first time after Notre Dame was called for a facemask. When the second period begins, Army will have the ball on Notre Dame's 17-yard line with a good chance to swing some momentum. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 7:34 pm ET · Will Backus]

Disaster start for Army 

Mid 1Q: No. 6 Notre Dame 14, No. 19 Army 0 

Well, this one is already getting out of hand. Notre Dame forced another three-and-out on Army's second drive. This time, the Irish blocked the ensuing punt and took over on Army's 7-yard line. A couple of plays later, quarterback Riley Leonard dumped a ball to running back Jeremiyah Love in the flats. Love finished the play by hurdling an Army defender and soaring into the end zone. It's been that kind of game for Army thus far. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 7:26 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame makes it look easy 

Early 1Q: No. 6 Notre Dame 7, No. 19 Army 0 

What a dominant start from Notre Dame. It forced a quick three-and-out to bring Army's game-opening drive to a sudden halt and then took the momentum from that to score the first touchdown of the game. As expected, the Irish are moving people on both sides of the trenches. Army brought the house on a blitz and quarterback Riley Leonard still had plenty of time to scan the field and deliver a 28-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Jordan Faison. The Irish went 68 yards in just five plays to score. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 7:18 pm ET · Will Backus]

Army gets things started 

Notre Dame won the toss and deferred to the second half, which means that it will be Army ball first. It will be interesting to see how the Black Knights set the tone against a very strong Notre Dame defense, and how they manage the size disparity in the trenches. Playing clean football is key, as well, especially since Army's triple-option offense is predicated upon possessing the ball and working the clock. 

[Nov 23, 2024 at 6:45 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame vs. Army prediction 

Army has enjoyed a great year thus far, and the Black Knights are a good team. But we've already seen a similar game play out this year when Notre Dame beat Navy 51-14. Now, Army looks like a more complete team than Navy did at any point. The same issues should arise for the Black Knights, though. Simply put: Notre Dame has a significant size advantage in the trenches. The Irish also have the athletes to cover the edges and erase a lot of what Army's triple option tries to accomplish to compensate for the size disparity. So long as Notre Dame can stick to its assignments and not get wrapped up in any motion, this should be a comfortable win. Pick: Notre Dame -14.5 (-110)

Notre Dame vs. Army live stream, where to watch, TV channel, prediction, pick, spread, football game odds

Will Backus

[Nov 23, 2024 at 6:30 pm ET · Will Backus]

We could be in for a rock fight 

Army currently ranks fourth in the American Athletic Conference with 35.2 points per game. Notre Dame's 38 points per game are good for 11th in the nation. Given that, one might expect a high-scoring affair in New York. That is, until you consider Army and Notre Dame field two of the best defenses in the FBS. The Black Knights currently rank second nationally -- just .03 points behind Ohio State for first place -- while surrendering 10.33 points per game. Notre Dame and its 11.4 points allowed per game are not far behind in third place. Both teams also rank top 10 nationally in total defense.   

[Nov 23, 2024 at 6:00 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame on dominant run 

Remember when Notre Dame lost to Northern Illinois? The Fighting Irish have done everything they can to put that low point in the rearview mirror. They have ripped off eight straight wins since, most of which have come in dominant fashion. In fact, Notre Dame has outscored its opponents by 32.3 points per game during its current run, which is its best points-per-game differential over an eight-game span since 1977 when Joe Montana was quarterbacking the Irish. Their only real test came on Sept. 28, when they eked out a 31-24 win against Louisville. Every win since has come by at least two possessions and Notre Dame has held seven of its last eight opponents under 20 points.     

[Nov 23, 2024 at 5:35 pm ET · Will Backus]

Big opportunity for Army 

Even the most outlandish preseason College Football Playoff projections failed to account for the possibility of two Group of Five teams making the field. Given the selection committee's track record of excluding deserving non-Power Four programs in the past -- 2017 UCF comes to mind -- it seemed almost unimaginable that the Group of Five would, or even could, exceed the one automatic bid its highest-ranked conference champion was effectively allocated when the new 12-team format dropped. 

Well, fast-forward 13 weeks into the season and No. 19 Army has a chance to do something unimaginable. The Black Knights take on No. 6 Notre Dame inside Yankee Stadium, with a chance to start 10-0 for the first time in program history. 

If they walk out with a win, there's no debate: two Group of Five teams should make the College Football Playoff. 

If Army beats Notre Dame, the Group of Five deserves two bids in the College Football Playoff

Will Backus