SOUTH BEND, IN — The Syracuse Orange (3-8) on Saturday suffered its worst defeat to the No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-2) ever and one of its biggest losses in program history. The Orange dropped to the Fighting Irish 70-7.
Two pick-sixes, a blocked punt returned to the end zone and a pair of Notre Dame touchdowns led to Syracuse allowing the Fighting Irish to finish with a program-record 35 points in the first quarter alone. The onslaught would continue for the Orange, who trailed by 49 points by the time the first half ended, also the most Notre Dame has ever scored in at least 80 years.
Syracuse only mustered 207 yards of total offense. Joseph Filardi returned as the starting quarterback for the Orange and finished 14/26 with 83 yards and three interceptions, along with 14 carries for 33 yards and a last second touchdown. Luke Carney briefly entered in place of Filardi at two different points of the game. He ended the day 3/4 for 12 yards and one rush for six yards.
As for Notre Dame, the running back duo of Jeremiyah Love (eight carries for 171 yards and three touchdowns) and Jadarian Price (four carries for 70 yards and one TD) led the way for an offense that really didn’t need to see much time on the field. CJ Carr only threw nine times for 39 yards and a score.
Syracuse’s losing streak now sits at seven heading into its regular season finale.
It took around five minutes of game time for Syracuse to quickly fall into a 21-point hole, and Notre Dame’s offense never had to take the field for that to happen.
Syracuse began at its own 41 after a solid return from Davien Kerr, but two plays later, disaster struck. After Will Nixon was stuffed on his first run, Notre Dame’s Jalen Stroman picked off Filardi’s first pass that was intended for Dan Villari and returned it all the way to the end zone.
Syracuse’s next drive fared no better. Another run by Nixon went for one yard, then a negative pass play followed by an incompletion forced Syracuse to punt. The Fighting Irish broke through the line of scrimmage and blocked Jack Stonehouse’s kick, with Luke Talich bringing the ball back for the Fighting Irish’s second non-offensive touchdown of the first quarter.
The Orange’s third drive finally saw the team get a first down after a nine-yard catch by Darius Johnson set up Villari for a short run up the middle. But three players later, Notre Dame’s defense stepped up once more, as it was Leonard Moore’s turn to jump cut a pass from Filardi and bring it back to the house to complete the pick-six.
Just like that, Syracuse trailed 21-0 and there was still 9:37 left in the first quarter.
After that second pick, it was Carney’s turn to be under center in place of Filardi. Carney had a six-yard run up the middle but Syracuse once again had to punt after a quick three-and-out.
With just over seven minutes left in the first quarter, Notre Dame’s offense finally took the field, and it only needed 36 seconds to find the end zone. Carr connected with Jordan Faison for 14 yards to get the Fighting Irish into Syracuse territory. One play later, Love exploded through the Orange defense for 45 yards and a touchdown, putting Syracuse in a 28-point hole.
The deficit only grew larger for the Orange. After another three-and-out, it once again took under a minute for the Notre Dame offense to find the end zone for a second time. This time, it was Price’s turn to score. After an 11-yard run, Price dashed right up the middle for a 58-yard touchdown, and the first quarter would end with Syracuse allowing Notre Dame to score its most points ever in the first quarter in program history.
After Carr found Will Pauling for another Notre Dame touchdown at the start of the second quarter, Filardi took over again at quarterback. He would scramble for nine yards and later connect with Vilari to get Syracuse into Notre Dame territory. That drive, however, would quickly stall as another pass to Vilari came up short on fourth down. Four plays later, Love scored again and Syracuse now trailed 49-0.
That score would stay the same heading into halftime. Syracuse had a chance to put some points on the board after an over four-minute drive got to the Notre Dame 30, but a 48-yard field goal from Tripp Woody bounced off the goal post and was no good. The Orange were out-gained 202-81 despite possessing for 21 of the 30 minutes of the first half.
Love would open the third quarter with another chunk run, going right by the Orange defense for 68 yards and his third touchdown of the game.
Syracuse would get its first drive of the second half trailing by 56 points. A defensive pass interference by Notre Dame got the Orange a first down, but the drive again stalled. By this point, Notre Dame inserted its backups for the rest of the way.
Including Saturday, in the 12 games in the all-time series, this is the most points Syracuse has ever allowed to Notre Dame and its largest loss versus the Fighting Irish.
The Orange will conclude the 2025 season at home next Saturday versus the Boston College Eagles (1-10, 0-7).
