Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1407743
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 11, 2021 25 1st Overtime road win for Notre Dame in pro- gram history with the 41-38 triumph at Florida State. College football adopted the overtime rule in 1996 and the Irish had been 0-3 in such games. The Irish lost 27-20 in overtime at USC on Nov. 30, 1996, fell 34-31 at Michigan State in over- time on Sept. 18, 2010, and were edged 50-47 at Texas in double overtime on Sept. 4, 2016. 3 Interceptions — two by junior safety Kyle Ham- ilton, his first career effort with multiple picks — for the Fighting Irish against the Seminoles. Last year, Notre Dame had just seven interceptions in 12 games. 5 First-time starters for Notre Dame at Florida State — graduate student quarterback Jack Coan, fresh- man left tackle Blake Fisher, graduate student right guard Cain Madden, junior linebacker JD Bertrand and junior cornerback Cam Hart. 11 Tackles for junior linebacker JD Bertrand in his first career start at Notre Dame. The 11 stops led the team and were a career high for Bertrand. 19 Years between wins in Tallahassee for Notre Dame. Head coach Ty Willingham guided the Irish to a 34-24 win at Doak Campbell Stadium on Oct. 26, 2002. The Irish is now 2-2 in games played on FSU's home turf. 20 Consecutive regular-season victories for Notre Dame against ACC schools, with nine of those coming on the road. The last Fighting Irish regular-season loss against an ACC school was a 41-8 setback at No. 3 Miami on Nov. 1, 2017. During that stretch, the Irish lost to Clemson twice in the post- season — in the 2018 College Football Playoff and in the 2020 ACC title game. 26-5-2 All-time record — a .818 winning percentage — for Notre Dame in true road games to open a season. 33 Straight wins against unranked opponents for the Fighting Irish. The last time they lost to an unranked opponent was a 34-31 defeat at the hands of Virginia Tech on Nov. 19, 2016. 68-0 Record for Notre Dame when lead- ing by 18 or more points in the fourth quarter over the past 15 seasons, per ESPN.com. 366 Passing yards for Irish graduate student quarterback Jack Coan. That is the most ever in a season opener for a Notre Dame quarter- back, surpassing the previous high set by current offensive coordinator Tommy Rees (346) in 2013. Coan also tied the school record for touchdown passes (four) in a season opener, joining Jimmy Clau- sen (2009) and Ron Powlus (1994). Coan is also the first Irish quarterback to eclipse 300 passing yards with four touchdowns since Clausen in 2009. BY THE NUMBERS BY STEVE DOWNEY 120 Receiving yards for sophomore tight end MICHAEL MAYER — a career high. He also set a personal bests with nine catches and a 41-yard touchdown reception. Mayer became the first Irish tight end to eclipse 100 receiving yards since Cole Kmet in 2019. PHOTO BY BOB MYERS