Reuters

A crowd of over 61,000 enjoyed a renewal of one of college football’s longest, continuous rivalries as Notre Dame beat Navy 35-13. The Irish hold an 83-13-1 record in the series, which has been played continuously since 1927 with the exception of the COVID season in 2020.

Navy played well in the first half, keeping the Irish defense on their heels with flexbone option offense. At one point, the Midshipmen led 13-7. The Irish regained the lead right before halftime to go up 14-13 at the break. They out scored Navy 21-0 in the second half to pull away.

Here are five observations from the game.

1. Great turnout for college football in New England: Playing at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the historic matchup drew a strong, enthusiastic crowd of over 61,000 fans. Bringing this storied neutral-site clash to the home of the New England Patriots provided a fantastic atmosphere for a historic intersectional rivalry, continuing a tradition of major college football matchups in the region.

2. Nolan James Jr. and the Irish ground game dominate: After a tightly contested first half, Notre Dame leaned heavily on its rushing attack to put the game out of reach, led by an explosive performance from Nolan James Jr. James racked up 107 yards and two stellar touchdowns on just nine carries—highlighted by scoring runs of 52 and 23 yards—as the Irish ground game eventually wore down the Midshipmen defense.

3. C.J. Carr on point: Quarterback C.J. Carr shook off a modest start to put together an ultra-efficient afternoon through the air. Carr finished with 210 passing yards and two touchdowns, notably completing a flawless 10-for-10 stretch in the second half to direct a surging Notre Dame offense that scored on each of its initial possessions after halftime. 

4. Irish defense settles down after slow start: The Notre Dame defense faced a tough test early on, as Navy’s disciplined flexbone option attack controlled the clock and kept the Irish on their heels, briefly handing the Midshipmen a 13-7 lead. However, defensive adjustments at halftime proved decisive; the unit completely pitched a shutout in the final two quarters, holding Navy to zero points and 245 total yards. 

5. Plenty of New England talent on both rosters: The New England footprint was felt throughout the field on Saturday, with multiple players from the region featuring prominently for both programs. Former Catholic Memorial standouts Boubacar Traore (DE) and Guerby Lambert (RT) started for the Irish. Former Choate standout Will Black started at left tackle. Both rosters had several other players with New England ties. Bringing the game to Foxborough offered a unique homecoming for local prospects playing on a major national stage, adding an extra layer of local significance to the historic clash.