Notre Dame Football Rolls Past Rice 52-0 in Dominant Home Opener
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish totally dominated the Rice Owls in their 2026 home opener at Notre Dame Stadium. It was a total thrashing by the Irish and they won 52-0.
Ranked No. 3 in the country, Notre Dame wasted virtually no time taking control of the game. The Irish scored just 14 seconds into the afternoon and continued piling on points throughout the first half before cruising through the second half with their backups getting valuable playing time.
The victory moved Notre Dame to 2-0 on the season and gave the Irish consecutive convincing wins to open the year after their 41-13 victory over Wisconsin at Lambeau Field.
Notre Dame Defense Sets the Tone Immediately
The game was essentially headed in one direction from the opening series.
Rice running back Davis Lane fumbled after being hit by Notre Dame safety Adon Shuler, and defensive lineman Boubacar Traore scooped up the loose ball and raced 24 yards for a touchdown.
It took only 14 seconds for Notre Dame to grab a 7-0 lead.
That play established the tone for what became an outstanding afternoon for the Irish defense. Notre Dame forced four turnovers, all of them fumbles, and converted those takeaways into 21 points.
The Irish defense also recorded eight tackles for loss while keeping Rice from finding any rhythm offensively.
Rice finished with only 128 total yards, including just 64 passing yards. The Owls managed only seven first downs and never found the end zone.
The ability to create turnovers while simultaneously limiting big plays was one of the biggest reasons Notre Dame was able to turn the game into a rout so quickly.
C.J. Carr Continues Strong Start to the Season
Quarterback C.J. Carr was once again one of the biggest stars for the Fighting Irish.
Carr completed 16 of 20 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns before giving way to Noah Grubbs in the third quarter. His accuracy and decision-making helped Notre Dame move the ball consistently throughout the first half.
Head coach Marcus Freeman praised Carr’s command of the offense following the game, particularly his ability to make the correct reads, protections and checks at the line of scrimmage.
Carr’s performance also continued what has been an impressive beginning to the 2026 season for the junior quarterback.
Against Rice, Carr connected with several different receivers and helped Notre Dame build a 42-0 halftime advantage.
Jordan Faison Makes His Presence Felt
Wide receiver Jordan Faison was another major contributor to the offensive explosion.
Faison caught four passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns, with both scores coming from Carr during the first quarter.
His first touchdown was a 25-yard reception that pushed Notre Dame’s lead to 14-0. The pair connected again later in the opening period on an 11-yard touchdown pass.
Faison’s ability to create separation and make plays in the red zone gave Carr a reliable target and helped Notre Dame quickly put the game out of reach.
Even more encouraging for the Irish offense was the overall distribution of the football. Twelve different Notre Dame receivers recorded catches, showing the depth available in the passing game.
Nolan James Jr. Scores Twice
The Irish ground game also contributed to the offensive showcase.
Running back Nolan James Jr. scored two touchdowns in the second quarter, both coming on one-yard runs.
James’ two short touchdown runs helped Notre Dame turn its early 21-0 advantage into a 35-0 lead before halftime.
The Irish didn’t need to rely on one running back throughout the afternoon. Jonaz Walton led Notre Dame with 48 rushing yards on eight carries, while Aneyas Williams and James each finished with 29 rushing yards.
That kind of distribution allowed Notre Dame to keep its running backs fresh while continuing to control the game.
More Big Plays Before Halftime
Notre Dame continued attacking even after establishing a huge lead.
With just over a minute remaining in the first half, Carr connected with Micah Gilbert for a 39-yard touchdown. The big play pushed the Irish advantage to 42-0 heading into halftime.
That first-half performance was particularly impressive considering Notre Dame had already established complete control on both sides of the ball.
The Irish entered halftime having turned Rice’s mistakes into points while repeatedly finding ways to create explosive plays on offense.
Cooper Flanagan Adds Another Touchdown
Carr remained in the game early in the third quarter and added another touchdown pass to the stat sheet.
This time, tight end Cooper Flanagan caught a two-yard touchdown pass, increasing Notre Dame’s lead to 49-0.
Carr was then replaced by Grubbs, allowing Notre Dame to give its backup players meaningful snaps with the outcome no longer in doubt.
Spencer Porath added a 36-yard field goal later in the third quarter to complete the scoring.
Notre Dame ultimately held Rice scoreless for all four quarters.
A Complete Performance From the Fighting Irish
The final statistics illustrated just how thoroughly Notre Dame controlled the afternoon.
The Irish finished with 478 total yards, compared with only 128 for Rice. Notre Dame also held a substantial advantage through the air, producing 360 passing yards compared with Rice’s 64.
The Irish defense forced four turnovers and did not commit a turnover of its own.
Notre Dame also played a relatively clean game, committing only two penalties for 20 yards.
Perhaps most importantly, the Fighting Irish never allowed Rice to build momentum.
After the opening defensive touchdown, Notre Dame’s offense quickly turned the game into a rout. By halftime, the Irish had scored 42 points and effectively removed any doubt about the outcome.
Notre Dame Looks Ready for a Big 2026 Season
The 52-0 victory gives Notre Dame a 2-0 record and provides plenty of encouragement heading into the next portion of the schedule.
The Irish have now defeated Wisconsin and Rice by a combined score of 93-13.
While Rice presented a different challenge than Wisconsin, Notre Dame handled the Owls exactly as a top-three team would be expected to handle an opponent.
The offense was explosive, Carr continued to look comfortable running the attack, multiple receivers made contributions and the defense created turnovers while pitching a shutout.
There is still a long season ahead, but the first two games have given Notre Dame fans plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
The biggest takeaway from the Rice game may be the overall depth of the roster. Notre Dame was able to build a massive lead, get contributions from numerous players and give younger players valuable experience without sacrificing its defensive intensity.
For a team with championship aspirations, that’s an excellent way to open the home schedule.
Check out the game highlights:
Notre Dame vs. Rice FAQ
What was the final score of Notre Dame vs. Rice in 2026?
Notre Dame defeated Rice 52-0 on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.
Who was Notre Dame’s quarterback against Rice?
C.J. Carr started at quarterback for Notre Dame. He completed 16 of 20 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns before leaving the game in the third quarter.
How many touchdowns did C.J. Carr throw?
Carr threw four touchdown passes against Rice. He connected with Jordan Faison twice, Micah Gilbert once and Cooper Flanagan once.
Who led Notre Dame in receiving against Rice?
Jordan Faison led the Irish receiving corps with four catches for 54 yards and two touchdowns.
Who scored Notre Dame’s first touchdown?
Defensive lineman Boubacar Traore scored Notre Dame’s first touchdown after recovering a fumble and returning it 24 yards for a touchdown.
How did Notre Dame force the first turnover?
Safety Adon Shuler forced a fumble by Rice running back Davis Lane on the second play of the game. Traore recovered the ball and returned it for a touchdown.
How many turnovers did Notre Dame force?
The Irish defense forced four Rice turnovers, all on fumbles. Notre Dame converted those turnovers into 21 points.
Who scored Notre Dame’s rushing touchdowns?
Nolan James Jr. scored two rushing touchdowns, both on one-yard runs.
How many yards did Notre Dame gain against Rice?
Notre Dame finished with 478 total yards, including 360 passing yards and 118 rushing yards.
What was Notre Dame’s record after beating Rice?
The victory improved Notre Dame’s record to 2-0 to begin the 2026 season.
Did Notre Dame shut out Rice?
Yes. Notre Dame’s defense held Rice scoreless in all four quarters to record a 52-0 shutout.
What was the biggest takeaway from Notre Dame’s win?
The most encouraging aspect was the complete nature of the performance. Notre Dame dominated offensively, forced four turnovers, controlled the line of scrimmage and allowed its backups to gain significant playing time after building a huge halftime lead.