No. 9 Notre Dame Routs Syracuse 70-7, Sets Records

SOUTH BEND, Ind. No. 9 Notre Dame routed Syracuse 70-7 on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium, setting school records in a dominant performance that featured three defensive and special teams touchdowns before the offense even took the field.

The Fighting Irish, now 9-2, extended their winning streak to nine games following an 0-2 start to the season. Syracuse fell to 3-8 with its seventh consecutive loss. Notre Dame scored 35 points in the first quarter, tying the program's single-quarter record from 1921, and led 49-0 at halftime. The 70 points marked the most for the Irish since a 73-0 win over Haskell in 1932 and the highest total for Syracuse to allow since 1891.

The game began with Syracuse's offense self-destructing. On the Orange's second play from scrimmage, senior safety Jalen Stroman, starting in place of injured teammate Tae Johnson, intercepted freshman quarterback Joseph Filardi and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown, giving Notre Dame a 7-0 lead. Four plays later, after a three-and-out, Stroman blocked punter Jack Stonehouse's kick, which traveled just 7 yards. Fellow safety Luke Talich caught the ball in the air and returned it 22 yards for another score, making it...