Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM OCT. 14, 2023 25 -4 Turnover margin for Notre Dame against Louisville. The Fighting Irish had 2 turnovers in the first half, after having just 2 total in their first six games. They finished the game with 5 — 3 interceptions and 2 fumbles lost, all by graduate student quarterback Sam Hartman. 1st Time ever in program history Louisville has recorded wins against Associated Press top-10 opponents in back-to-back seasons — 48-21 over No. 10 Wake Forest in 2022 and 33-20 over No. 10 Notre Dame in 2023. Both of the teams the Cardinals defeated were quarterbacked by Hartman. 4 Career field goals of 50 or more yards for Notre Dame graduate student kicker Spencer Shrader, tying Kyle Brindza (2011-14) and Jonathan Doerer (2017-21) for the school record. Shrader connected from 53 and 54 yards against Louisville, with the latter matching his school record for lon- gest field goal. 5 Sacks allowed by Notre Dame against Louis- ville, after surrendering 6 through its first six games of the season. The Cardinals finished with 8 tackles for loss that set the Irish back 45 yards. 6 Years between regular-season losses to an ACC team for Notre Dame. Prior to this year's 33-20 win by Louisville, the last time the Irish lost to an ACC foe was a 41-8 loss at Miami on Nov. 11, 2017. In between, the Irish won 30 straight, includ- ing 15 on the road. 9 Of Notre Dame's 15 offensive possessions ended in four plays or fewer. 11 Turnovers committed by Sam Hartman in two games against Louisville over the past two seasons. In the other 17 contests against non-Louisville opponents, he has committed only 10 turnovers. 23.1 Percent (3 of 13) for Notre Dame on third-down conversions. Over the past two games, the Irish are now just 6 of 28 (21.4 percent) on third-down conversions. 33 Points for Louisville are the most scored by an opponent against Notre Dame this season. The Fighting Irish had limited each of their first six opponents to 24 or fewer points — the first time they had done that since the 2017 season. 185-44 Advantage in rushing yards for Louisville against Notre Dame. The Irish's total of 44 was well below their season average of 192.2 entering the game and represents their worst ground output under head coach Marcus Freeman since they had just 42 yards in his first game versus Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl in January 2022. 59,801 Was the announced atten- dance for the game — the largest crowd in Louisville history. It was the first sellout for the Cardinals at L&N Stadium since Notre Dame opened the 2019 season at Louisville in front of 58,187 fans. BY THE NUMBERS BY STEVE DOWNEY 2 Catches for 48 yards by freshman wide receiver JORDAN FAISON, a walk-on who was making his first appearance in a game for Notre Dame. He hooked up with Hartman for a 12-yard reception on third-and-8 to convert a first down and then two plays later hauled in a 36-yard touchdown catch. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER