FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — For much of Saturday’s first half, Navy looked ready to give No. 5 Notre Dame more trouble than anyone expected. The Midshipmen controlled the clock, moved the ball consistently on the ground, and took a six-point lead late in the second quarter.
But Notre Dame needed less than a minute to change the direction of the game.
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Behind two rushing touchdowns from Nolan James Jr. and a much stronger defensive effort after halftime, the Fighting Irish pulled away for a 35–13 victory at Gillette Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Navy opened the game by doing what it does best: running the football and keeping the opposing offense on the sideline. The Midshipmen put together a 14-play opening drive that ended with a 38-yard field goal from Nolan Bartley.
Notre Dame answered with a touchdown pass from CJ Carr to Micah Gilbert, but Navy continued to find success offensively. A second Bartley field goal cut the deficit to one, and quarterback Jackson Gutierrez later scored on a two-yard run to put the Midshipmen ahead 13–7 with under two minutes remaining before halftime.
For a moment, it appeared Navy might carry that momentum into the break.
James Jr. had other plans.
The Notre Dame running back broke free for a 52-yard touchdown run, giving the Irish a 14–13 halftime lead and providing the spark their offense had been missing.
The difference between the two halves was clear.
Navy had dictated the pace early, running 41 plays in the first half compared with just 19 for Notre Dame. However, the Irish began taking control after halftime, both offensively and defensively.
Notre Dame opened the third quarter with a 78-yard scoring drive, capped by Jonaz Walton’s three-yard touchdown run. The Irish defense then forced Navy to punt for the first time, setting up another opportunity for James Jr.
He delivered again, scoring from 23 yards out to extend Notre Dame’s advantage to 28–13.
Navy’s offense, which had been effective at sustaining drives early, could no longer find the same rhythm against the Irish defense. Notre Dame continued to pressure the Midshipmen and eventually forced a turnover on downs.
Carr took advantage, connecting with Jerome Bettis Jr. for a 31-yard touchdown that pushed the lead to 35–13.
James Jr. finished with 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns on nine carries, providing the explosive plays Notre Dame needed to overcome its difficult start.
For Navy, the final score was disappointing considering how well the Midshipmen competed throughout the opening half. Their ability to control possession and keep Notre Dame’s offense off the field initially gave them a chance to challenge one of the nation’s top-ranked programs.
However, Notre Dame’s second-half adjustments proved too much to overcome.
The victory improved the Fighting Irish to 7–1, while Navy dropped to 2–6.
Notre Dame will now turn its attention to a major matchup against top-ranked Miami on November 7, with the Irish looking to build on Saturday’s second-half performance.
For Navy, the loss was another reminder of how quickly momentum can shift against a nationally ranked opponent. The Midshipmen showed they could compete, but Notre Dame ultimately had too much offensive firepower.
Saturday’s game may have been closer than expected for two quarters, but by the final whistle, Notre Dame had done enough to leave Foxborough with its seventh win of the season.
