Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 24, 2020 25 0 Turnovers committed in the game, even though it was dominated by defense on both sides. This was especially crucial for Louisville in order to keep it close because it had committed three apiece in each of its first three losses during the 1-3 start, while the opposition totaled only two. Among 76 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams currently playing, Louisville entered the game ranked 73rd in turnover margin at minus-2.0 per contest. 2 Notre Dame wideouts who made their first receptions of the season: junior Kevin Austin Jr. (one for 18 yards) and fifth-year senior Ben Skow- ronek (two for 28). Skowronek's 12-yard catch on third-and-seven from the Irish 48-yard line on the final drive helped Notre Dame run out the clock. 4 Straight home games for Notre Dame to begin this season, a first since 1934, when Four Horseman fullback Elmer Layden was in his debut year as the Fighting Irish head coach. The Irish will travel to a game for the first time this year at Pitt next week. Louisville also came close to becoming only the fourth team to win its first two games in Notre Dame Stadium, joining USC, Michigan and Missouri. 7:55 Remaining when Notre Dame took possession at its 23-yard line while holding the precarious 12-7 lead. It ran out the clock from there without scoring, and eclipsed the previous longest time of possession this year. The previous most extended drive of the year came in the first quarter against the Cardinals, 7:09 with 15 plays that ended with a field goal by senior Jonathan Doerer. 9-1 Record for Notre Dame in its last 10 contests where the game was decided by seven points or less, dating back to the 24-17 victory versus Navy on Nov. 18. 2017. The lone defeat during that time was the 23-17 setback at Georgia on Sept. 21, 2019. 10 Consecutive wins by Notre Dame, which is now the longest current winning streak in the FBS. Air Force also had nine entering the Oct. 17 weekend, but was off and not slated to play until Oct. 24. This marks the 17th time in Notre Dame's history it has achieved at least 10 wins in a row. 19 Points totaled by the two teams in Notre Dame's 12-7 conquest. It was the lowest-scoring game in Notre Dame Stadium since the 19 also on Sept. 22, 2012 during a 13-6 victory over Michigan. However, the lowest output in any Fighting Irish game since then was the 10-3 loss at North Carolina State on Oct. 8, 2016, played in hurricane conditions in Raleigh, N.C. 22 Consecutive victories at home, which is both No. 2 currently in the FBS to Clemson (26) — the next home game on Nov. 7 — and in Notre Dame Stadium's 90-year history, behind the 28 from 1942-50. 28 Wins in a row versus unranked opposition, second currently to Ala- bama, which has not lost such a game since 2007. The Notre Dame school record is 29, which could be tied at Pitt (Oct. 24) and broken at Georgia Tech (Oct. 31). 240 Minutes of football played so far this season by Notre Dame, and it has trailed a total of 16:36. The Fighting Irish have fallen behind to three of the four opponents, including 7-6 to Louisville. However, Notre Dame went ahead for good 3:27 later. BY THE NUMBERS BY LOU SOMOGYI 53 Third downs faced by Notre Dame's four opponents so far this year, and only 11 of them have been con- verted into first downs, with Louisville going 3 of 9 versus the Irish. That 20.8 percent overall rate by the defense ranks No. 2 in the country, behind Oklahoma State's 16.3 percent (7 of 43). PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS