SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Freshman running back Jonaz Walton announced his arrival on the national stage in historic fashion on Saturday, powering No. 3 Notre Dame to a dominant 58-7 rout of Stanford.
Walton finished the afternoon with 181 rushing yards, the highest single-game total for a Fighting Irish running back this season. The highlight of his explosive performance came when he burst through the Cardinal defense for a 97-yard touchdown run. It stands as the third-longest offensive play in the history of Notre Dame Stadium, trailing only the 98-yard scoring runs by Josh Adams in 2015 and Jeremiyah Love earlier this season. Walton also added a 40-yard scoring dash earlier in the game.
With the victory, the Fighting Irish (6-0) extended their winning streak to 16 games. Notably, every win during this streak has come by a double-digit margin. Notre Dame is now closing in on a rare historical benchmark: the record of 21 consecutive double-digit victories set by Army between 1944 and 1946. Miami currently holds the second spot with 17 straight from 2000 to 2001.
The Irish offense proved impossible to contain, recording five different touchdowns of 30 yards or more. Quarterback C.J. Carr was surgical, completing 14-of-20 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns while adding 41 yards on the ground. Aneyas Williams highlighted his day with a 70-yard touchdown reception from Carr, and Nolan James Jr. provided a steady presence in the backfield, rushing for 73 yards and two scores.
Notre Dame’s defense set the tone immediately. Just 12 seconds into the game, Boubacar Traore sacked Stanford quarterback Davis Warren and forced a fumble that Jaiden Ausberry recovered. The Irish capitalized instantly, with James punching in a three-yard touchdown just moments later. Traore’s monster performance continued throughout the game, as he added an interception and a tackle for loss to his stat line.
Stanford (2-4) struggled to find any rhythm against the relentless Irish defense. The Cardinal’s only moment of success came in the third quarter when Warren connected with Caden High for a 52-yard gain, setting up a three-yard touchdown pass to Benji Blackburn. However, the score served as little consolation for a Stanford team that has now dropped 14 consecutive road games, tying them with Ball State for the longest active road losing streak in the nation. The Cardinal have been outscored 115-10 over their last two contests, underscoring the massive gap in talent and execution on display in South Bend.
As Notre Dame remains unbeaten, the team continues to solidify its case as a premier national title contender, fueled by a deep roster and a penchant for overwhelming opponents in every facet of the game.
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