Notre Dame Dominates Navy 35-13: Irish Rally for a Much-Needed Victory, But Miami Awaits

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish got back into the win column on Saturday, October 31, 2026, defeating the Navy Midshipmen 35-13 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. While the final score looks like a comfortable victory, the performance was anything but comfortable for much of the afternoon.

Coming off a disappointing 28-24 loss to BYU, Notre Dame desperately needed a win. The Irish eventually delivered, putting together an impressive second-half performance and outscoring Navy 28-0 after halftime. However, there were plenty of reasons for concern, particularly with the play calling on both sides of the football.

Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and defensive coordinator Chris Ash both have areas that need serious attention. Notre Dame cannot afford to start slowly, make questionable decisions, or allow opponents to dictate the pace of games if the Irish have legitimate College Football Playoff aspirations.

And now comes the game that could define Notre Dame’s entire season: Miami.

Notre Dame Gets Back on Track, But the First Half Was Concerning

For approximately the first 28 minutes, Notre Dame looked like a team still struggling to recover from its loss to BYU.

Navy controlled the football, established its rushing attack, and kept the Irish defense on the field for extended periods. The Midshipmen even took a 13-7 lead late in the second quarter, putting Notre Dame in an uncomfortable position.

The Irish offense wasn’t exactly clicking either. There were missed opportunities, questionable play selection, and a three-and-out possession that gave Navy another opportunity to control the game.

Fortunately, Notre Dame finally found some momentum just before halftime.

Quarterback CJ Carr and running back Nolan James Jr. helped spark the turnaround, with James breaking loose for a spectacular 52-yard touchdown run. That play completely changed the momentum and gave Notre Dame a 14-13 halftime advantage.

The second half was a different story. Notre Dame scored 21 points in the third and fourth quarters while shutting out Navy’s offense.

The Irish ultimately finished with four consecutive touchdown possessions, turning what had been a frustrating afternoon into a 35-13 victory.

Check out the game highlights:

The Notre Dame Players Who Made the Difference

Nolan James Jr. Delivers a Career-Defining Performance

Nolan James Jr.

• 9 carries
• 107 rushing yards
• 2 rushing touchdowns

If there was one player who changed the direction of this football game, it was Nolan James Jr.

James was spectacular, averaging nearly 12 yards per carry. His 52-yard touchdown run just before halftime was arguably the most important play of the afternoon. Instead of entering the locker room trailing Navy, Notre Dame suddenly had the lead.

James wasn’t finished, either. He added another touchdown with a 23-yard run in the second half, demonstrating his explosiveness and ability to make defenders miss.

Notre Dame needs to continue giving James opportunities. His combination of speed, vision, and ability to break long runs gives this offense an important weapon.

CJ Carr Shows Leadership and Makes Big Plays

CJ Carr

• 19 completions on 29 attempts
• 210 passing yards
• 2 touchdown passes

Carr had an important bounce-back performance following the BYU loss. He completed 19 of 29 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns.

He connected with Micah Gilbert for an 11-yard touchdown in the first half and later found Jerome Bettis Jr. for a 31-yard touchdown that put the game out of reach.

Carr still has things to improve, particularly when it comes to consistency and avoiding unproductive possessions. However, his ability to lead the offense through adversity was encouraging.

Jerome Bettis Jr. Has His Breakout Moment

Jerome Bettis Jr.

• 6 receptions
• 78 receiving yards
• 1 touchdown

Bettis Jr. had one of his best performances in a Notre Dame uniform, recording six catches for 78 yards and his first career touchdown reception.

His 31-yard touchdown catch from Carr was an important moment because it gave Notre Dame a commanding 35-13 advantage.

Notre Dame needs more production from its receiving corps, and Bettis showing that he can make plays is an encouraging development.

Jonaz Walton Adds Another Important Touchdown

Jonaz Walton

• 3-yard rushing touchdown
• Helped establish second-half control

Walton scored on a three-yard touchdown run early in the second half, extending Notre Dame’s lead to 21-13.

His contribution was important because Notre Dame needed to establish its running game and put pressure on Navy after halftime.

Having multiple running backs capable of making an impact should benefit the Irish as they enter the most important stretch of their season.

Micah Gilbert Gets the Offense Started

Micah Gilbert

• 11-yard touchdown reception
• Helped Notre Dame score its first touchdown

Gilbert gave Notre Dame an early offensive spark with his touchdown reception from Carr.

The Irish need receivers who can consistently get open and make plays, and Gilbert provided an important contribution.

Luke Talich Leads the Defensive Effort

Luke Talich

Team-high 10 tackles

Important second-half defensive stops

Talich continued to demonstrate why he deserves significant playing time. He led Notre Dame with 10 tackles and was a major contributor to the defensive turnaround.

With Notre Dame dealing with injuries in its secondary, Talich has stepped up and provided valuable experience and physicality.

Jaiden Ausberry and the Defensive Front Step Up

Jaiden Ausberry

Ausberry was another important defensive contributor, finishing with eight tackles.

The defense deserves credit for what it accomplished after halftime. Holding Navy to just 56 total yards in the second half and stopping all four of its third-down attempts was an impressive turnaround.

Mike Denbrock’s Offensive Play Calling Needs to Improve

Let’s be honest: Notre Dame’s offense should not have struggled as much as it did against Navy.

Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has plenty of talented players at his disposal, including CJ Carr, Nolan James Jr., Jonaz Walton, and a receiving corps that showed its potential against the Midshipmen.

Yet the first-half play calling was frustrating.

Why wasn’t Notre Dame more committed to running the football earlier?

James averaged nearly 12 yards per carry. That is an incredible number, and it makes you wonder why the Irish didn’t make a greater effort to establish him sooner.

There were also questionable passing situations and an especially frustrating three-and-out possession that gave Navy another opportunity to control the football.

Against a team like Navy, which relies heavily on controlling possession and keeping opposing offenses off the field, every offensive possession matters.

Denbrock needs to recognize what is working and make adjustments sooner. Notre Dame cannot afford to spend entire quarters trying to figure out how to attack an opponent.

The second-half offensive performance was much better, but the Irish need to bring that same urgency and execution from the opening kickoff.

The upcoming Miami game will require a much more consistent offensive approach.

Chris Ash’s Defensive Play Calling Also Needs Improvement

The defense deserves credit for shutting out Navy in the second half, but the first-half performance was concerning.

Defensive coordinator Chris Ash and his defensive unit allowed Navy to control the football, run its option offense effectively, and dictate the tempo.

Navy entered halftime with 189 total yards and had Notre Dame’s defense struggling to get off the field.

The Midshipmen used long possessions to wear down the defense and eventually took a 13-7 lead.

This is where Ash needs to take a hard look at his defensive approach.

Notre Dame should be better prepared to defend Navy’s offensive system. The Irish know what Navy wants to do. They have faced this offense many times, and there is no excuse for looking so unprepared for long stretches.

The defensive adjustments after halftime were encouraging, but why did it take so long?

Ash needs to find ways to create more disruption, get Navy behind the chains, and force opponents into uncomfortable passing situations.

Miami is a completely different offensive challenge. The Hurricanes have explosive playmakers and the ability to score quickly. Notre Dame cannot afford to give Miami the same opportunities it gave Navy in the first half.

Both coordinators need to be better. A 35-13 victory is great, but Notre Dame’s coaching staff should not overlook the problems that were exposed.

Here is the Marcus Freeman post game press conference:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What was the final score of the Notre Dame vs. Navy football game on October 31, 2026?
Notre Dame defeated Navy 35-13 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

2. What was Notre Dame’s record after defeating Navy?
The Fighting Irish improved to 7-1 overall following their 35-13 victory.

3. Who was Notre Dame’s leading rusher against Navy?
Nolan James Jr. led Notre Dame with 107 rushing yards on nine carries and scored two touchdowns, including runs of 52 and 23 yards.

4. How did CJ Carr perform against Navy?
CJ Carr completed 19 of 29 passes for 210 yards and two touchdown passes.

5. Who caught a touchdown pass for Notre Dame against Navy?
Micah Gilbert caught an 11-yard touchdown pass, while Jerome Bettis Jr. caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from CJ Carr.

6. How did Notre Dame’s defense perform against Navy?
Notre Dame struggled in the first half but made significant adjustments after halftime. The Irish held Navy to just 56 total yards in the second half and did not allow another point.

7. How many tackles did Luke Talich record against Navy?
Luke Talich led Notre Dame with 10 total tackles.

8. Who are Notre Dame’s offensive and defensive coordinators?
Mike Denbrock is Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator, while Chris Ash serves as the defensive coordinator.

9. When does Notre Dame play Miami in 2026?
Notre Dame hosts Miami on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern.

10. Why is the Miami game so important for Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff hopes?
Miami is undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country. A victory would give Notre Dame an important win against an elite opponent and significantly strengthen its playoff résumé following the loss to BYU.

11. Can Notre Dame still make the College Football Playoff?
Yes. Notre Dame remains in contention at 7-1, but beating Miami would be extremely important to its chances of earning a playoff berth.