Notre Dame Routs Boston College 41-7 After 31-0 Halftime Lead in South Bend

No. 3 Notre Dame routed Boston College 41-7 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, building a 31-0 halftime lead one week after beating then-No. 1 Miami 31-24. The Notre Dame Boston College 41-7 result was never in doubt, as the Fighting Irish outgained the Eagles 500-136 and held them to 2.4 yards per play.

Key Points

• No. 3 Notre Dame beat Boston College 41-7 on Saturday, leading 31-0 at half-time.
• Quarterback CJ Carr completed 20 of 26 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception on a tipped pass.
• Freshman Jonaz Walton rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown; Nolan James Jr. scored in his 10th straight game.
• Jaylen Sneed recovered a strip sack for a touchdown, and the Irish defence allowed just 136 total yards.
• Notre Dame (9-1), fifth in the College Football Playoff rankings, has won 11 straight against Boston College since 2009.

What Happened

Notre Dame won the toss and deferred, and the defence set the tone at once. Boston College started at its own 11 and was forced to punt after pressure from Jaylen Sneed. A short punt gave the Irish the ball at their own 34, and Carr found Micah Gilbert for a touchdown at 6:24 of the first quarter. After another three-and-out, Nolan James Jr. powered through three defenders for a 10-yard touchdown, his 10th straight game with a score.

Walton then took over, breaking a 28-yard run before Faison took a reverse to the two-yard line and Walton scored from one yard out to make it 21-0. The defence scored next: Traore forced a fumble that was kicked into the end zone, and Sneed jumped on the ball for a 28-0 lead. After the defence held on fourth-and-five, Carr drove the Irish into range for Porath's 40-yard field goal as time expired, making it 31-0 at the break.

Boston College finally scored on the first play of the second half, when a Carr pass was tipped and intercepted — only his second interception of 2026 — and the Eagles scored on a two-yard run to make it 31-7. Notre Dame answered at once: Carr found Faison in the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown, first ruled incomplete but confirmed on replay as his second toe-tapping catch in the same end zone in as many games. Porath's 37-yard field goal with 12:02 left closed the scoring at 41-7.

Background and Context

The rout came one week after Notre Dame's biggest win of the season, a 31-24 victory over then-No. 1 Miami at the same stadium. That win ended the Hurricanes' unbeaten season and put the Irish firmly in the playoff race, and Saturday was the classic letdown test that follows a big win. Notre Dame showed no sign of one, leading 31-0 at half-time.

The Irish entered ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press poll and fifth in the College Football Playoff rankings. Read our report on Notre Dame stunning No. 1 Miami 31-24 to end the Hurricanes' unbeaten season. Notre Dame has now beaten Boston College 11 straight times since 2009, and Saturday's 136 yards allowed were the fewest the Irish have ever given up to the Eagles in 29 meetings. Boston College fell to 4-6, while Notre Dame improved to 9-1.

Notre Dame Boston College 41-7: Carr and Walton Lead the Rout

Carr was efficient all afternoon, completing 20 of 26 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns. His only mistake came on the tipped pass that opened the third quarter, and he answered it by leading the scoring drive that put the game away. Gilbert caught five passes for a team-high 86 yards and a touchdown, and Faison caught five for 41 yards and a score.

The ground game was just as balanced: 276 rushing yards to go with 224 through the air, with Walton's 141 yards leading the way, including runs of 28 and 50 yards. The defence was the story of the first half: two sacks, four quarterback hurries, and the strip-sack touchdown that turned a comfortable lead into a rout. Even the second-string defence held firm late, with sophomore safety Ethan Long intercepting a pass at the Notre Dame 10-yard line.

Reactions and Quotes

The loudest statement of the afternoon was the scoreboard itself. A week after the emotional high of beating No. 1 Miami, Notre Dame produced its most complete performance of the season — 500 yards of offence, 136 allowed, and points from all three phases. The players celebrated by holding their gold helmets high as the final minutes ticked away.

Faison's touchdown catch drew the biggest roar of the second half. The replay review confirmed a clean toe-tap in the same end zone where he made a similar catch against Miami a week earlier. For a receiver who has now caught a pass in 31 straight games, it was another reminder of how reliable he has become in the biggest moments.

Why It Matters

Style points matter in the College Football Playoff race, and Notre Dame earned plenty of them. The committee ranks the Irish fifth, and a 41-7 win the week after beating No. 1 Miami answers the one question that could have hurt them: whether they would stumble in a letdown spot. Instead, they produced their most dominant performance of the season.

It also matters for the balance of the team: a balanced offence, a defence that scored, and a kicking game that made both field goals. Playoff teams need all three phases, and the Irish showed all three in the same afternoon. Read our report on Georgia Tech stunning Clemson 20-6 in a Senior Day upset. For Boston College, the loss keeps the Eagles at 4-6. They were outgained by 364 yards and scored only after a short field handed to them by a tipped pass, and they need one win from their final two games to reach bowl eligibility.

What Happens Next

Notre Dame hosts SMU next weekend, the penultimate game of the regular season. A win would keep the Irish on course for the playoff. Boston College returns home at 4-6, needing a win to keep its bowl hopes alive, and must find an offence that managed only 136 yards against Notre Dame — quickly, with the season running out.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of Notre Dame vs Boston College? Notre Dame beat Boston College 41-7 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. The Irish led 31-0 at half-time.

How did CJ Carr play against Boston College? Carr completed 20 of 26 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception on a tipped pass. It was only his second interception of 2026.

Who scored for Notre Dame? Gilbert and Faison caught touchdown passes, James Jr. and Walton scored on the ground, Sneed recovered a strip sack for a defensive touchdown, and Porath kicked field goals of 40 and 37 yards.

How many straight wins does Notre Dame have over Boston College? Eleven, dating back to 2009. Saturday's 136 yards allowed were also the fewest Notre Dame has ever given up to Boston College in 29 meetings.