Freshman quarterback DeShone Kizer threw five touchdowns to lead No. 5 Notre Dame (8-1) to a 42-30 victory over Pittsburgh (6-3, 4-1 ACC). The win, the largest margin of victory by either team in the series, keeps Notre Dame in the thick of the College Football Playoff conversation, and sets up a favorable run heading down the stretch of the regular season.
Notre Dame did not win this game at full strength though. Running back C.J. Prosise had to leave the game with a possible shoulder injury. There were early reports of a possible concussion, but all head coach Brian Kelly said after the game was Prosise was day-to-day. With Prosise out of action for most of the game, Josh Adams came in to lead the running game, and he did so running for 147 yards on 20 carries.
In the battle of star receivers, the nod also went to Notre Dame. Will Fuller caught seven passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns, compared to Pitt’s Tyler Boyd and his 84 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Notre Dame debuted in the College Football Playoff rankings as the first team out at No. 5 this week, and they could push into the top four next week after LSU or Alabama lose. It goes without saying Notre Dame is a playoff contender, and a pretty darn good one. the next two games come at home, against Wake Forest and Boston College. If all goes according to plan, that should set up a 10-1 Notre Dame in the regular season finale at Stanford in what could very well be a playoff elimination game between the Irish and Cardinal.
This was the second straight loss for the Panthers, but losing a game to Notre Dame means nothing int terms of the ACC Coastal race. Despite losing at home to UNC last week, the Panthers still have a chance to grab the division crown, although they need some help. With the Tar Heels smacking Duke at the same time this game was happening, UNC still needs to lose twice in order for Pitt to creep back to the top of the ACC Coastal, which also means Pitt needs to win their remaining conference games.
Pitt gets a week off to prepare for a road game against Duke. Pitt ends the season with home games against Louisville and Miami.
