Before running down how Notre Dame’s past and future opponents fared in Week 2, a quick power rankings of the teams on this year’s Irish schedule:
1. Stanford (1-0)
2. Michigan State (1-0)
3. Texas (2-0)
4. Miami (2-0)
5. Navy (2-0)
6. Army (2-0)
7. USC (1-1)
8. Virginia Tech (1-1)
9. Syracuse (1-1)
10. N.C. State (1-1)
11. Duke (1-1)
12. Nevada (1-1)
It’s still early, but Army being up there at No. 6 ahead of USC, Virginia Tech, N.C. State and Duke is…unexpected. But without a loss yet, the Black Knights haven’t shown any cracks, unlike those four teams.
On to the weekend’s results:
Texas: Won, 41-6, vs. UTEP
Shane Buechele completed 22 of 27 passes for 244 yards with four touchdowns to make sure Texas’ run game (47 carries, 171 yards — Tyrone Swoopes only rushed two times for three yards) wasn't needed. But this was merely a tune-up for next weekend’s trip to Cal, which could be a mildly tricky game for a Longhorns side that all of a sudden might be carrying the flag for the Big 12’s playoff hopes after TCU and Oklahoma State lost to unranked opponents.
Michigan State: Bye
The Spartans got the weekend off after beating FCS side Furman in Week 1. More importantly, linebacker Ed Davis was granted a sixth year of eligibility last week, bolstering the perennially-strong Michigan State defense.
Duke: Lost, 24-14, to Wake Forest
Duke opened ACC play with a home loss to a Wake Forest side that completely shut down the run. Duke totaled 37 yards on 30 carries (1.2 yard per carry), and combined with three turnovers the Blue Devils weren't able to mount a comeback against the perennially-poor Deacs. Duke travels to Northwestern this weekend to face a Wildcats team that’s lost to Western Michigan and Illinois State this season.
Syracuse: Lost, 62-28, to Louisville
Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson — who looks like an early Heisman contender — torched the Orange’s defense for 411 passing yards and a touchdown, and 199 rushing yards and four scores. But Syracuse’s Baylor-style spread hurry-up offense looked like it could give Notre Dame some problems — quarterback Eric Dungey completed 25 of 51 passes for 255 yards with three touchdowns and an interception, and Syracuse stuck around within two touchdowns until No. 13 Louisville pulled away in the second half. Long story short: Don’t sleep on Dino Babers’ Orange.
N.C. State: Lost, 33-30, at East Carolina
The Wolfpack’s toughest non-conference game of the Dave Doeren era ended with a gutting loss. With nine seconds to go, N.C. State quarterback Ryan Finley completed a pass to receiver Bra’Lon Cherry, who broke a tackle and took too long to get down to stop the clock on a first down that would’ve put the Wolfpack in field goal range. The clock expired, dealing N.C. State a loss in which they averaged 7.9 yards per play and won the turnover battle (two to one). That’s rough.
Stanford: Bye
David Shaw’s side got a week off to rest up before a difficult three-game stretch against USC, at UCLA and at Washington to begin Pac-12 play.
Miami: Won, 38-10, vs. Florida Atlantic
Mark Walton (17 carries, 155 yards, four touchdowns) and Joseph Yearby (20 carries, 121 yards, touchdown) throttled FAU on a day in which star quarterback Brad Kaaya (17/31, 191 yards, 2 INTs) was surprisingly ineffective. After cruising past FAMU and FAU, Miami faces a weird trip to Appalachian State next weekend that looks like the ‘Canes first real test of the season.
Navy: Won, 28-24, vs. UConn
Former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco came under fire for his late-game clock management in this one. UConn drove to the Navy one-yard line with 12 second left, and after the clock stopped, Diaco called for a timeout. The Huskies’ play coming out of the timeout was a run, which was stuffed and the clock expired to hand Navy a win. Mids quarterback Will Worth, replacing the injured Tago Smith, rushed for two touchdowns as Navy averaged 4.7 yards per carry. Navy travels to Tulane next week.
Army: Won, 31-14, over Rice
Army equaled its 2015 win total (two) by jumping out to an early lead and dominating time of possession with its triple option offense. It’s still early, but wins over Temple and Rice are promising signs for a program that hasn’t had much positivity recently (their last 2-0 start was 20 years ago). The Black Knights travel to UTEP and Buffalo in the next two weeks before facing their first Power Five opponent in a road game at Duke Oct. 8.
Virginia Tech: Lost, 45-24, to Tennessee
In front of an NCAA record crowd of 115,109 at Bristol Motor Speedway, the Hokies jumped out to a 14-0 lead…and Tennessee then scored the next 31 points. Virginia Tech had some opportunities to get back into the game, but gave the ball back to Tennessee after a Josh Hobbs interception when Cam Phillies fumbled at the Tennessee 21-yard line. After forcing a three-and-on on the ensuing possession, Virginia Tech muffed the punt, which Tennessee recovered. The Vols then drove into the end zone for a touchdown that effectively put Virginia Tech away midway through the fourth quarter. Virginia Tech welcomes the all-defense-no-offense Boston College Eagles to Blacksburg next weekend.
USC: Won, 45-7, over Utah State
The Trojans moved past their embarrassing loss to Alabama on Saturday, but starting left tackle Chuma Edoga was ejected for making contact with an official.
Earlier in the week, star wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster got in a fight during practice and briefly left the field. Despite this win, there seem to be a lot of dark clouds over Troy — and a trip to Stanford looms next weekend.