Notre Dame football grades: Offense not perfect, but steps up in key moments

It wasn’t easy, and it certainly wasn’t pretty. But after an up-and-down effort for more than three-and-a-half quarters against Duke, the Notre Dame offense stepped up at just the right time, driving 95 yards in the final minutes for the game-winning touchdown. Here is a look at how each position group performed during the Irish’s thrilling 21-14 victory on Saturday night.

Quarterbacks

For the second straight game, Sam Hartman was quiet statistically, finishing 15 of 30 with 222 yards. After tossing 13 touchdowns through the Irish’s first four games, he’s thrown just one in the last two games combined. But Hartman was at his best when the Irish needed him the most, and his clutch fourth and 16 play during the final minutes was the difference between Notre Dame winning and losing.

Hartman has been dominant in two-minute scenarios all season. But most of those situations came with the Irish looking to tack on a score at the end of the first half. Important moments, certainly, but ones without the same stakes or pressure as a fourth-quarter two-minute drill to decide the game’s outcome.

With the Irish having been held to three points in their previous seven possessions and behind 14-13, there was reason to doubt their ability to drive down the field and regain the lead. But Hartman remained as cool as ever in the face of the roaring Duke crowd. He completed four of his first six passes for 52 yards to advance the ball into Blue Devil territory.

After three straight stops made it fourth and 16, Hartman made a season-saving play, escaping the pocket and narrowly picking up the first down with his legs. On the following play, Notre Dame would score the winning touchdown. Hartman’s leadership and clutch play were exactly what the Irish needed to bounce back from the Ohio State loss. He’ll look to be more productive through the air with several injured receivers expected to return to action next week.

Weekly Grade: B+; Season Grade: A-

Running Backs

It was a strong outing for the Irish running backs. Led by junior Audric Estimé and freshman Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame picked up 159 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 32 carries. Estimé and Love also supplemented the Irish passing attack, combining for 32 receiving yards.

For the most part, Duke was able to effectively contain the Irish on the ground. But Notre Dame was able to break through for a few key plays to start and finish the game. Facing fourth down near midfield on their opening drive of the game, Notre Dame opted to attempt a fake punt. The ball went to Love on a direct snap, and he accelerated around the edge to pick up 34 yards. On the next play, Love caught a seven-yard pass from Hartman, and Estimé finished the job with a six-yard touchdown rush.

The Blue Devils would keep the Irish out of the end zone for the ensuing 55 minutes. But immediately after Hartman’s critical fourth-down scramble, Estimé would rumble 30 yards to the end zone for the game-winning score, sealing a victory and maintaining his status as the nation’s leading rusher.

Weekly Grade: B+; Season Grade: A-

Wide Receivers

The Irish wide receivers saw limited production against Duke. That comes with an asterisk, though, as they were missing junior Jayden Thomas and freshman Jaden Greathouse due to injury. Those absences loomed large as the unit combined to catch just four passes on the day.

There were bright spots, specifically in the form of senior Chris Tyree and freshman Rico Flores Jr. Tyree finished with two receptions, including one for 22 yards that started an Irish scoring drive in the second half. After catching the near-game-winning score against Ohio State, Flores stepped up in crunch time again. During Notre Dame’s final possession, he made a crucial 24-yard grab that pushed the ball across midfield. After Estimé’s touchdown, he found space up in the back of the end zone and secured the two-point conversion to put the Irish ahead by seven.

Overall, it was an inconsistent effort from the wide receivers, part of an inconsistent effort from the entire offense. They’ll look to regain their rhythm at full strength next week against Louisville. Whether they can do so will play a big role in determining the Irish’s offensive ceiling over the second half of the season.

Weekly Grade: C+; Season Grade: B

Tight Ends

Mitchell Evans was outstanding against Ohio State and even better against Duke, serving as Hartman’s top target for the second straight game since returning from injury. The junior was responsible for more than half of the Irish’s receiving yards, racking up a career-high 134 on the day. He got started early, catching a pass for 28 yards on the second play of the game. On the ensuing drive, he added two more receptions for 35 yards to add to a strong first quarter.

After hauling in a memorable one-handed catch against the Buckeyes, he did so again on Saturday. In the second quarter, he used one hand to tip a high Hartman pass to himself, shaking off a tackle and rumbling for 36 yards after securing the ball. He was also crucial during Notre Dame’s final drive. With the Irish facing a third and 10 deep in their own territory, he made a 19-yard reception that kickstarted the offense.

The tight end group has surpassed all expectations this season, with Evans, Notre Dame’s leading receiver, and sophomore Holden Staes having grown into two of the team’s most reliable targets. Michael Mayer had 411 yards and five touchdowns through the first six games of Notre Dame’s 2022 season. Through six games this year, Evans and Staes have combined for 395 yards and four touchdowns. Those totals will rise as they continue to gain experience and comfort in the offense moving forward.

Weekly Grade: A+; Season Grade: A-

Offensive Line

It was not a mistake-free evening for the Irish offensive line. The unit allowed two sacks, though that was to be expected against the Blue Devils’ talented defense. Not expected, though, were the numerous pre-snap flags against the O-line that contributed significantly to Notre Dame’s offensive struggles.

Penalties aside, Hartman faced a fair amount of pressure throughout the game. However, that had as much to do with Duke’s strong secondary preventing Irish receivers from freeing up as it did with him not getting enough time. Notre Dame also struggled to create holes for their running backs and was limited on the ground for most of the game. But the line was at its best on the final drive, giving Hartman sufficient time to pick apart the defense and freeing up Estimé for his game-winning touchdown run. The Irish offensive line was expected to be among the nation’s best and has shown the ability to play at that level. But they will need to find more consistency and clean up the mistakes in order for Notre Dame’s offense to reach its potential.

Weekly Grade: B; Season Grade: A-