In a game that started with more frustration than celebration, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard delivered a thrilling 297-yard performance, propelling the No. 17 Fighting Irish to a 28-3 victory over Miami (Ohio) on Saturday. With two rushing touchdowns and one through the air, Leonard overcame a sluggish start to ignite Notre Dame's offense, solidifying their third win of the season.
Notre Dame struggled early, as penalties and off-target passes saw them trailing 3-0 after a 26-yard field goal by Miami’s Dom Dzioban. The Fighting Irish offense, which had exploded for 42 first-half points in their previous game, managed just 40 yards on their first three drives. The frustration was palpable as the Notre Dame faithful voiced their displeasure with boos, but coach Marcus Freeman urged his team to stay focused and execute.
And execute they did.
Leonard remained composed, blocking out the crowd’s discontent. Late in the second quarter, he orchestrated an 87-yard drive, capping it with a dazzling 8-yard touchdown run to give the Irish the lead. Notre Dame then capitalized on Miami’s next punt, with Leonard connecting on a perfect 38-yard touchdown pass to Beaux Collins, sending the Irish into halftime with a 14-3 advantage.
Notre Dame’s defense played a critical role in keeping the game close while the offense found its rhythm. Junior Tuihalamaka's interception in the red zone, along with two sacks and a forced fumble by defensive lineman Boubacar Traore, helped stifle Miami’s chances of building momentum.
In the second half, the Irish offense showed flashes of brilliance, but turnovers and punts slowed their progress. A leaping interception by Christian Gray set the stage for a 15-yard touchdown run by Jeremiyah Love, putting Notre Dame firmly in control at 21-3. Leonard added the exclamation point late in the fourth quarter with a 50-yard burst up the middle, his second rushing touchdown of the day, securing the 28-3 final score.
While the Irish defense held Miami scoreless after their early field goal, the RedHawks were left lamenting missed opportunities. Miami coach Chuck Martin noted his team’s strong start but acknowledged that failure to capitalize, particularly after an interception in the red zone, cost them any chance to pull off an upset.
“We had them,” Martin said. “You play these games, you have to jump on them early and take advantage of your chances.”
Despite the win, Notre Dame will need to work on maintaining offensive consistency if they hope to push themselves back into College Football Playoff contention. Leonard's heroics and the defense’s suffocating play may have saved them this time, but the Irish will face a tougher challenge next week when they host No. 19 Louisville.
Next Up: Notre Dame returns home to face Louisville on Saturday, September 28, while Miami (Ohio) looks for its first win of the season as they host UMass on the same day.
