Notre Dame routs Arkansas 56-13 as Carr, Love combine for 8 TDs

Notre Dame routed Arkansas 56-13 on the road Saturday, driven by a dominant first half that put the game out of reach and a pair of standout performances from freshman quarterback CJ Carr and running back Jeremiyah Love. The Fighting Irish scored on each of their first six drives, built a 41-13 halftime lead and coasted to their second win of the season at 2-2.

Carr completed 22 of 30 passes for 354 yards and four touchdowns, matching a 31-year-old Notre Dame freshman record for touchdown passes in a game. Love accounted for four touchdowns as well, catching two touchdowns and rushing for two more. The Irish piled up 641 total yards and averaged 8.9 yards per play, overwhelming the Arkansas defense early and turning a 3-0 Arkansas lead into an offensive outburst that decided the contest before halftime.

Notre Dame’s offense was especially efficient in the first half, with 294 of Carr’s 354 passing yards and all four of his scoring throws coming before intermission. The second half featured less production from the Irish, who nevertheless managed the clock and preserved the margin of victory. The win comes after a 0-2 start for Notre Dame that left the program and coach Marcus...