SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Riley Leonard threw two touchdown passes and ran for another, and No. 16 Notre Dame capitalized on No. 15 Louisville’s first three turnovers of the season to hold on for a 31-24 victory Saturday.
Notre Dame (4-1) relied on a last-minute defensive stand to hand the Cardinals their first loss. Louisville (3-1) had a delay-of-game penalty on a fourth-and-1 at the Notre Dame 46, and an incomplete pass ended the Louisville comeback attempt.
Leonard was 17-for-23 for 163 yards. Louisville’s Tyler Shough was 24-for-41 for 264 yards and three touchdowns and an interception. Shough had thrown 88 passes without a pick this season.
Louisville committed its three turnovers in the first half and trailed 24-14 entering the third quarter.
After a 56-yard Brock Travelstead field goal with 11:25 left in the game pulled Louisville within 24-17, Notre Dame regained a two-touchdown lead.
Leonard’s screen pass to Jeremiyah Love turned into a 32-yard scoring play, and the Fighting Irish were in front 31-17 with 9:16 remaining.
Louisville fought back with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Shough to Ja’Corey Brooks with 5:17 left.
Louisville grabbed the early advantage in a rainy start at Notre Dame Stadium. T.J. Capers forced a fumble by Notre Dame returner Devyn Ford on the opening kickoff. Tamarion McDonald pounced on the ball at the Fighting Irish 24.
The Cardinals needed only three plays to cash in. Shough threw a 10-yard strike to Isaac Brown for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
Notre Dame then went ahead 21-7 in a span of 5 minutes, 42 seconds.
The Irish answered on their next possession, driving 75 yards on 12 plays. Love bulled his way into the end zone from the 6 for the tying touchdown.
What looked like a huge gain for Louisville turned into the Cardinals’ first turnover of the season. Shough bolted out of the backfield on a misdirection play and raced 43 yards, but Notre Dame’s Leonard Moore caught up to Shough and forced a fumble. Jaiden Ausberry recovered for Notre Dame at its 47. Leonard put the Irish ahead with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Greathouse.
Leonard raced up the middle for the touchdown after another turnover, and the Fighting Irish were up 21-7.
Notre Dame’s second fumble, on a Jadarian Price run, led to the Cardinals pulling within 21-14 with 12:28 left in the second quarter when Shough hit Brooks for a 5-yard touchdown pass.
Louisville’s third turnover came when Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts, who led the nation last season with seven interceptions, picked off a pass and returned it 34 yards to the Louisville 36.
The takeaway
Notre Dame: The Irish hope their upcoming week off will allow defensive lineman Boubacar Traore, defensive backs Benjamin Morrison and Christian Gray and receiver Jordan Faison to heal after all missed time during the game with injuries. Leonard missed one play after a hit to the shoulder.
Louisville: The Cardinals will have to work on eliminating mistakes. They had three turnovers and were 1-for-5 on fourth down.
Up next
Notre Dame: hosts Stanford on Oct. 12
Louisville: hosts SMU on Saturday.
