Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM SEPT. 19, 2026 25 0 Points allowed by Notre Dame against Rice. It marked the first shutout for the Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium since a 44-0 victory over Boston College on Nov. 19, 2022. It also marked the first shutout in a home opener since a 35-0 win over Nevada on Sept. 5, 2009. 2 Touchdowns for senior wide receiver Jordan Faison in the first quarter. It marked his first career game with multiple receiving touchdowns. Faison is also just the second player in the Mar- cus Freeman era to score 2 touchdowns in the first quarter (running back Jeremiyah Love was the other, doing it at Arkansas on Sept. 27, 2025) and the first Irish player to catch a pair of touchdowns in the opening quarter since Chase Claypool did it against Navy on Nov. 16, 2019. 3 Fumbles by Rice in the first 3:24 of the game, two of which the Irish recovered to end the Owls' first two drives. It marked the first time since Oct. 26, 2024, against Navy, that the Irish forced and recov- ered fumbles on the opponent's first two drives. The Irish also did it against the Midshipmen on Oct. 14, 2000. 4 Touchdown passes for Notre Dame junior quarterback CJ Carr against the Owls, tying his career high. It marked the second game of his career with 4 aerial scores — he also did it at Arkansas on Sept. 27, 2025. Carr has now thrown a touchdown pass in 14 consecutive games, which was tied for the third- longest active streak in the FBS behind Darian Mensah (20) and Julian Sayin (16). 9 Consecutive completions for Carr to open the game against Rice. It was the best start to a game in his career. Carr started with five straight completions against Boise State and North Carolina State last year. 10th Game in which Notre Dame has scored 50 or more points under head coach Marcus Freeman, with its 52-point outburst against Rice. Seven of those high-scoring contests have occurred since the start of the 2024 season. 12 Straight victories by double-digit mar- gins for Notre Dame, dating back to Sept. 20, 2025. This is the longest active streak in the FBS and tied Notre Dame's all-time record, set in 1921-22. 14 Seconds into the game, Notre Dame led 7-0. On the second play from scrimmage, senior safety Adon Shuler forced a fumble that Traore picked up and returned 24 yards for a touchdown. It was the eighth-quickest Irish touchdown scored in program history and the fastest since safety Bran- don Joseph's interception return seven seconds into a 41-24 win over Syracuse on Oct. 29, 2022. 17 Defensive touchdowns for Notre Dame since 2022, after Traore's 24-yard fumble return, the most in the FBS during that span, ac- cording to NBC Sports. 56 Points scored by the Fighting Irish in the first quarter of their last two games at Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish scored 35 against Syracuse on Nov. 22, 2025, and 21 against Rice on Sept. 12, 2026. That is the second-best, back-to-back first quar- ter total in school history. The school record is 69, with Notre Dame tallying 35 versus Kalamazoo on Sept. 24, 1921, and 34 against DePauw on Oct. 1, 1921. 91-0 Scoring margin for Notre Dame in the first half of its last two games at Notre Dame Stadium — 49 against Syracuse on Nov. 22, 2025, and 42 against Rice on Sept. 12, 2026. 128 Total yards for Rice, the fewest al- lowed by Notre Dame since giving up just 124 yards in a 33-7 win at Washington on Oct. 25, 2008. BY THE NUMBERS BY STEVE DOWNEY 2nd Career touchdown for senior defensive end BOUBACAR TRAORE, a 24-yard fumble return on the second play of the game. He also returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown against Purdue on Sept. 14, 2024. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER