Grading Out Notre Dame's Win Over the Broncos
- Noah Wehby
- Oct 7
- 4 min read
Although it was a game marked by penalties and inconsistent offensive play, Notre Dame managed to put together a performance good enough to coast by Boise State to move to 3-2. Who is to thank for the comfortable win, and who may need to improve heading into this week's matchup?
Photo by The Irish Tribune
Notre Dame Defensive Line: A
This has to be the best this defensive line has looked all year. As a group, they seemed to be getting pressure on almost every dropback in the passing game, and in the running game, they held Boise State to just 100 yards rushing. The defensive line did a much better job of not letting Boise State running backs get into the second and third levels, usually bringing them down at or close to the line of scrimmage. Against the pass, the defensive line was all over Maddux Madsen. Madsen has good athleticism, which can cause a lot of problems for defensive lines, but the Irish front did a great job keeping Madsen contained and in the pocket. Because Madsen was confined so often, it made it a lot easier for the line to get home for the sack. Speaking of, Notre Dame combined for four sacks total, which is the most they have totaled all year. Whether it is a change in attitude or scheme, this defensive line seems to be starting to find its groove. They appeared to be faster, more aggressive, and explosive by all accounts. Against Boise State, it is expected that Notre Dame controls the line of scrimmage, and the Notre Dame defensive line did just that.
Notre Dame Secondary: A-
The Notre Dame Secondary has had a rough start to the 2025 season, but they once again showed improvement in Notre Dame's win against Boise State. Although they did give up two plays for 28 yards, they did a much better job of reducing the big play compared to earlier in the season. For the entire game, the Irish secondary only gave up 215 passing yards. That total is solid considering that this Boise State offense is known for its explosive passing attack. In recent weeks, this secondary was getting accustomed to giving up well over 300 yards through the air, so 215 yards allowed is a step in the right direction. The highlight of the game for this unit were the turnovers forced, however. For the first time since 2023, the Notre Dame secondary recorded four interceptions. This is one area that the entire defense needed to improve upon going forward, and the secondary was up to the task in this one. Leonard Moore was responsible for two of the picks, as the first one came when Moore did a great job blanketing his matchup, essentially running his route for him. Redshirt freshman safety Tae Johnson once again stood out, as he was responsible for one of the other interceptions and some key tackles. Although this unit still has things to improve upon, especially with more dynamic offenses down the stretch, this secondary is continuing to show improvement.
CJ Carr: B+
This may have been the worst game CJ Carr has had as the starting quarterback so far in his young career, although he wasn't "bad" at all. For the most part, Carr has been lights out this year, but on Saturday, Carr seemed just a little bit off with his timing and decision-making. For the game, Carr went 15-23 for 189 yards and two touchdowns, a fairly efficient game with a couple of scores. While his stats were anything but egregious, they don't tell the full story. The first sign that something was amiss showed up when he was just off the mark for a wide-open touchdown to Will Pauling on fourth down. Carr had not missed a throw like that so far this season, and might have panicked a little bit seeing the receiver that wide open. While Carr has been impressively accurate this season, a miss like that does work as a reminder of his young age and inexperience. Carr missed another big throw later in the game, but this time it was intended for Micah Gilbert downfield. Carr was just a little late to see Gilbert breaking open, causing him to underthrow a pass that could have easily been a touchdown. Carr also forced a pass into double coverage intended for Malachi Fields near the sideline, which could have been an interception against stiffer competition. Even with these plays, Carr played a perfectly fine game, but did make a few mistakes that were magnified by the gravity of the result. Two missed touchdown passes could certainly make all the difference in a game. But if this is what a mediocre game looks like for Carr, this offense will be just fine moving forward.
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