Notre Dame Dominates Pitt in Week 12 College Football Showdown

Notre Dame kept its winning streak alive with a commanding 37-15 victory over Pitt in a Top-25 college football showdown. That makes it eight straight wins for the Fighting Irish since their rough 0-2 start.

Key players stepped up, especially quarterback CJ Carr and running back Jeremiyah Love. Notre Dame’s win gives their College Football Playoff hopes a nice boost, and they’re still firmly in the postseason conversation.

Pitt, on the other hand, still has a shot at the ACC championship with two big games left, even after this loss.

Notre Dame’s Dominant Performance

The Fighting Irish put on a clinic on both offense and defense against Pitt. They jumped out to an early lead and just kept rolling, nearly doubling Pitt’s yardage and controlling the pace from start to finish.

Offensive Highlights

CJ Carr looked sharp, completing 21-of-32 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns. His connection with Malachi Fields really stood out—Fields hauled in seven catches for 99 yards and found the end zone twice.

Fields made some tough grabs, especially on those high 50-50 balls. He seemed to come up with a big play whenever Notre Dame needed it.

• CJ Carr: 21-of-32 passing, 212 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
• Malachi Fields: 7 catches, 99 yards, 2 TDs

Defensive Strength

Notre Dame’s defense didn’t let up. They held Pitt to just 219 total yards and kept the pressure on Pitt’s freshman quarterback, Mason Heintschel.

Heintschel struggled, completing only 16-of-33 passes for 126 yards and tossing a pick that Tae Johnson took 49 yards to the house.

• Total Yards: Notre Dame 387, Pitt 219
• Passing Yards: Notre Dame 212, Pitt 149
• Rushing Yards: Notre Dame 175, Pitt 70

Jeremiyah Love’s Impact

Jeremiyah Love was a force in the backfield, racking up 147 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. His 56-yard run in the first half really set the tone and showed just how explosive he can be.

• Jeremiyah Love: 23 carries, 147 yards, 1 TD
• Longest Run: 56 yards

Supporting Cast

Jadarian Price chipped in with eight carries for 21 yards. His numbers weren’t eye-popping, but he helped keep things moving and gave Love a breather when needed.

• Jadarian Price: 8 carries, 21 yards

Pitt’s Struggles and Future Outlook

Pitt’s rough patch against top-10 teams continued—they’ve now dropped seven straight in those matchups. Still, with two more games left, the ACC title isn’t out of reach just yet.

Quarterback Performance

Mason Heintschel had a tough outing against Notre Dame’s defense. He finished 16-of-33 for 126 yards and threw one interception, which Tae Johnson returned for a touchdown.

• Mason Heintschel: 16-of-33 passing, 126 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT

Remaining Schedule

Pitt’s next two games are huge for their ACC championship hopes. They’ll go on the road to face No. 16 Georgia Tech next Saturday, then wrap up at home against No. 15 Miami.

Coach Pat Narduzzi knows what’s at stake and stressed how much these games matter for the Panthers.

• Upcoming Games: Georgia Tech (Away), Miami (Home)

Notre Dame’s Path to the Playoffs

Notre Dame is now 8-2 and their playoff chances are looking brighter. They’re favored to win their last two games against Syracuse and Stanford, and if they handle business, their playoff resume should look pretty solid.

Key Factors

CJ Carr’s steady play at quarterback has been big for this team. The one-two punch of Love and Price in the backfield keeps defenses guessing, and the Irish defense just keeps shutting teams down.

• CJ Carr: Steady leadership and playmaking
• Jeremiyah Love: Explosive running back
• Defense: Dominant and reliable

Remaining Schedule

Notre Dame wraps up the regular season with Syracuse at home and then Stanford on the road. If they win out—barring any wild upsets—they’re probably in.

• Upcoming Games: Syracuse (Home), Stanford (Away)

Conclusion

Notre Dame just steamrolled Pitt, stretching that winning streak even further. Their playoff hopes? Looking brighter than ever right now.

Some key players really showed up, and honestly, the Irish seem set up for a strong postseason. Pitt, on the other hand, has to shake this one off and figure out their next move if they want to keep their ACC dreams alive.