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After the losses to Miami and Texas A&M to open the season, every game became a “must-win” for the Irish. Additionally, with the way the rankings were shaking out in those final weeks of the season, it seemed like style points were going to be incredibly important down the stretch. The score of Notre Dame’s Nov. 22 matchup against the Syracuse Orange was 70-7, and it was 35-0 at the end of the first quarter. Not bad for style points!

An injury-riddled Syracuse team came to South Bend with a 3-7 record and was clearly already looking toward next season. True freshman Joseph Filardi, the team’s third- string quarterback to open the year, got the start, and he clearly was not ready for the incredibly tough situation he was thrown into. Syracuse started the game with the ball, but its possession didn’t last long as on the second play of the game, senior safety Jalen Stroman intercepted Filardi’s pass and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown. The senior student section marshmallows had been flying before then, but it escalated to new levels once Stroman reached the end zone. On its next possession, Syracuse was forced to punt the ball away, set up with fourth-and-10 on its own 15-yard line. It seemed like Notre Dame was going to have its first offensive possession of the game, but Stroman had other ideas making his presence felt again by blocking the Syracuse punt. The ball floated to the sideline and right into the hands of junior safety Luke Talich, who returned it for a score, making it 14-0. The Irish still weren’t done. Syracuse started its third possession within the first three minutes of the game, but it was over after just six plays when sophomore All-American cornerback Leonard Moore stepped in front of Filardi’s pass and returned it for yet another pick-six touchdown, and Notre Dame Stadium exploded again. 21-0, and Notre Dame had yet to touch the ball on offense.

Syracuse then went three-and-out on its next possession and this time was able to punt the ball away, giving the Irish their first offensive possession of the game. However, it did not last long. On the second play of the drive, junior running back Jeremiyah Love got the ball, dodged a few tackles, and you know what happens when that man gets into the open field. His 45-yard touchdown run made it a 28-0 lead for the Irish. Every time it seemed like Notre Dame fans were going to get an opportunity to settle down, they got a chance to erupt again! The Irish defense then continued its dominant play, forcing yet another three-and-out on Syracuse’s next
possession, giving Notre Dame the ball back. This time, it was junior running back Jadarian Price’s turn to shine. He first had an 11-yard pickup on second and 10 to give the Irish a fresh set of downs, and then on the very next play, he got the ball for a simple halfback dive right up the middle, which he turned into a 58-yard touchdown run, giving the Irish a 35-0 lead and breaking the school record for most points ever scored in a first quarter.

The Orange had yet another three-and-out on their next possession. The Irish put together a sustained drive on the backs of senior wide receiver Malachi Fields and Jeremiyah Love and advanced the ball all the way down to the one-yard line.

Then, the first quarter finally ended.

The Irish scored on their first play of the second quarter, meaning they were one yard away from a 42-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. It was a historic quarter for Notre Dame and an amazing way to start Notre Dame’s final home game of the 2025 season. For those 15 minutes, it didn’t even resemble a normal game. It was not only a beatdown, but a beatdown of historic proportions. While the season didn’t end the way that Irish fans wanted, there were still certainly some very fun and memorable moments from the year, and the first quarter of the Syracuse game was one of those moments that I know I’ll never forget.