(Photo: AJ Houk)
Phil’s Fighting Irish Focus: “Three Decades Covering the Irish, a Lifetime Living Them“
Pat Narduzzi said early in the week that the Notre Dame game really didn’t matter to Pittsburgh, after all Pittsburgh plays in a conference! The mighty ACC! And, Pitt no matter what against Notre Dame, can still win the ACC! Taking on a non-conference opponent like the Irish? Well it’s of no real importance to us at all. Turns out Pitt fans agreed with their Coach — because once the Irish took control in the first quarter on Saturday, Acrisure Stadium went library-quiet. By the middle of the third quarter, the only noise in the place came from the traveling Irish faithful and the PA system. Pitt fans weren’t just subdued; they were gone, as in headed to early setting dinner reservations.
And Notre Dame, now winners of eight straight, took full advantage of the opportunity Pat Narduzzi had so graciously provided them.
And just to belabor the point, because it’s my column and I can: Gee, Coach Naduzzi you were so uninterested in this game that you called a timeout with five seconds to go so your team could score an utterly meaningless TD against ND’s third team. You go, Coach!
Okay, let it go Phil. Let’s talk about what went well for the Irish, and what needs to be fixed.
Notre Dame’s 37–15 victory was built on overwhelming defense and a handful of spectacular offensive moments. The Irish held Pitt to 219 total yards, smothered the quarterback with 14 hurries and four sacks, and pitched a perfect 0-for-13 shutout on third down. Joshua Burnham’s two sacks set the tone, Tae Johnson jumped a pass for a pick-six, and Jalen Sneed led the unit with six tackles.
Offensively, Malachi Fields delivered his best day in blue and gold with seven catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns, including two circus-grade grabs. After the game, Jeremiyah Love laughed that one of them was “crazy,” adding, “I don’t think even Malachi thought he could make that catch.”
Love added the offensive moment of the game: a breathtaking 56-yard touchdown run, exploding through the second level and uncorking a spin move so sudden it looked like a hockey pivot on fresh ice. His 167 total yard performance powered an attack that kept Pitt chasing shadows.
But for all the fireworks, this was not a perfect performance — and if Notre Dame wants to turn this season into one worth remembering into January, there are still boxes to check. That brings us to…
Three Things I Want to See the Irish Do This Week Against Syracuse
1. Fix Short-Yardage — No Exceptions
If Notre Dame gets into first-and-goal, they need to finish the drive with a touchdown. Period. And any 3rd- or 4th-and-1 should be an automatic conversion. Go heavy, go “12” personnel, and impose your will. If short yard and goal line struggles continue, it won’t just stall drives — it will cost Notre Dame a playoff game.
2. Make a Field Goal. Seriously.
The Irish haven’t made a field goal since the NC State game and have only five all season. A contender must reliably hit from 40 yards in(see: Mitch Jeter, Orange Bowl). Notre Dame can’t keep passing up points — sooner or later, in a tight playoff environment, that gamble wil burn you.
3. A Two-for-One Wish List:
Eli Raridon Touchdown + A Defensive Shutout
Call it a combo platter.
Eli Raridon deserves a touchdown — 30 catches, 473 yards — he’s been too productive, too steady, and too central to the offense not to finally cash in. Heck maybe Rairdon should be handed the ball in goal line/short yardage situations?
And this defense, playing as well as anyone in the country, is overdue to hang a zero on somebody.
Syracuse next week, Senior Day in the House that Rockne built, gives ND a prime opportunity to do both.
A Playoff Run in the Making?
Fix the issues — short-yardage power, field-goal reliability, and the Raridon TD/shutout combo that would signal cleaner execution on both sides of the ball — and Notre Dame won’t just look like a playoff contender, they’ll play like a team to be feared.
The Irish already have the profile of a squad built for a playoff run: elite defense, explosive weapons, and momentum. Clean up those final details, and Notre Dame 2025 becomes the kind of team nobody in the country will want to line up against.