Notre Dame dominates NC State 36-7 in Week 7 matchup
Notre Dame defeated NC State 36-7 on Saturday, with the Fighting Irish controlling the game from start to finish. Notre Dame scored in every quarter, opening with 7 points in the first, adding 3 in the second, 14 in the third, and 12 in the fourth. NC State managed only a single touchdown in the second quarter.
C.J. Carr led Notre Dame's offense with 342 passing yards, while Jeremiyah Love rushed for 86 yards. The Irish defense proved suffocating throughout, with several critical stops recorded across all four quarters. NC State's offensive output was limited, with Justin Joly leading receivers with 8 catches.
Despite four lead changes during the game, Notre Dame's dominance was evident in play-by-play execution. The Irish offense generated significant gains, including a 42-yard completion from Carr to Will Pauling in the first quarter. NC State showed brief offensive life late, including a 26-yard completion from CJ Bailey to Teddy Hoffmann in the fourth quarter, but it proved insufficient against Notre Dame's overwhelming performance.
The victory saw Notre Dame cover the 23.5-point spread decisively.
AI-generated recap · Aug 9, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 NC State | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
 Notre Dame | 7 | 3 | 14 | 12 | 36 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | NC State | Notre Dame |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 18-31 | 19-31 |
| Pass Yards | 182 | 342 |
| Rush Yards | 51 | 145 |
| Total Yards | 233 | 487 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| 3rd Down | 5-16 | 6-14 |
| Penalties | 5-60 | 6-55 |
| Possession | 28:47 | 31:13 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Erik Schmidt kickoff for 64 yds , Jayden Scott return for 17 yds to the NCSU 18
Hollywood Smothers run for 5 yds to the NCSU 23
CJ Bailey sacked by Boubacar Traore for a loss of 9 yards to the NCSU 14
Hollywood Smothers run for 1 yd to the NCSU 15
Caden Noonkester punt for 43 yds, fair catch by Jordan Faison at the ND 42
CJ Carr pass complete to Will Pauling for 32 yds to the NCSU 26 for a 1ST down
Jeremiyah Love run for 2 yds to the NCSU 24
CJ Carr pass complete to Will Pauling for 19 yds to the NCSU 5 for a 1ST down
Jeremiyah Love run for no gain to the NCSU 5
Jeremiyah Love run for 3 yds to the NCSU 2
Jeremiyah Love run for 2 yds for a TD (Noah Burnette KICK)
Hollywood Smothers run for 4 yds to the NCSU 29
Hollywood Smothers run for 2 yds to the NCSU 31
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Keenan Jackson
Caden Noonkester punt for 38 yds
CJ Carr pass complete to Eli Raridon for 1 yd to the ND 32
CJ Carr pass complete to Will Pauling for 42 yds to the NCSU 26 for a 1ST down
Jeremiyah Love run for 2 yds to the NCSU 24
PENALTY UND False Start (Washington,Ty) 5 yards from NCS24 to NCS29. NO PLAY.
Jeremiyah Love run for 3 yds to the NCSU 26
CJ Carr pass complete to Jordan Faison for 10 yds to the NCSU 16 for a 1ST down
Jeremiyah Love run for 4 yds to the NCSU 12
Jeremiyah Love run for 5 yds to the NCSU 7
Jeremiyah Love run for no gain to the NCSU 7
CJ Carr sacked for a loss of 10 yards to the NCSU 17
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Justin Joly
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for 1 yd to the NCSU 18
CJ Bailey pass complete to Jayden Scott for 15 yds to the NCSU 33 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Noah Rogers
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Keenan Jackson
CJ Bailey pass complete to Keenan Jackson for 9 yds to the NCSU 42
Will Wilson run for 2 yds to the NCSU 44 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers run for 2 yds to the NCSU 46
CJ Bailey run for 3 yds to the NCSU 49
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 6 yds to the ND 45 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Terrell Anderson for 45 yds for a TD (Kanoah Vinesett KICK)
Charlie Birtwistle kickoff for 64 yds , Jadarian Price return for 22 yds to the ND 23
Jadarian Price run for 20 yds to the ND 43 for a 1ST down
(13:12) No Huddle-Shotgun Carr,CJ pass complete short left to Fields,Malachi caught at NCS48, for 17 yards to the NCS40 (Johnson,JJ; Nelson, II,Brian), out of bounds PENALTY UND Holding (Price,Jadarian) 10 yards from UND43 to UND33. NO PLAY.
Jadarian Price run for 10 yds to the ND 43
CJ Carr pass incomplete to Malachi Fields
CJ Carr pass incomplete to Will Pauling
James Rendell punt for 42 yds , Terrell Anderson returns for 2 yds to the NCSU 17
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Wesley Grimes
Hollywood Smothers run for 3 yds to the NCSU 20
CJ Bailey pass complete to Teddy Hoffmann for 21 yds to the NCSU 41 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey run for 6 yds to the NCSU 47
Jayden Scott run for 7 yds to the ND 46 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for 7 yds to the ND 39
(09:00) No Huddle-Shotgun Smothers,Hollywood rush left for 1 yard gain to the UND38 (Burnham,Joshua) PENALTY NCS Holding (Peak,Jacarrius) 10 yards from UND39 to UND49. NO PLAY.
CJ Bailey pass complete to Justin Joly for 2 yds to the ND 47
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Hollywood Smothers
Caden Noonkester punt for 37 yds, fair catch by Jordan Faison at the ND 10
Jeremiyah Love run for 5 yds to the ND 15
PENALTY UND False Start (Knapp,Anthonie) 5 yards from UND15 to UND10. NO PLAY.
Jeremiyah Love run for 6 yds to the ND 16
CJ Carr pass incomplete to Malachi Fields
James Rendell punt for 47 yds, fair catch by Terrell Anderson at the NCSU 37
Hollywood Smothers run for 6 yds to the NCSU 43
CJ Bailey sacked by Elijah Hughes for a loss of 3 yards to the NCSU 40
CJ Bailey sacked by Jalen Stroman for a loss of 8 yards to the NCSU 32
Caden Noonkester punt for 36 yds
CJ Carr pass complete to Eli Raridon for 23 yds to the NCSU 45 for a 1ST down
CJ Carr pass complete to Eli Raridon for 30 yds to the NCSU 15 for a 1ST down
CJ Carr pass incomplete to Malachi Fields
Jadarian Price run for 8 yds to the NCSU 7
Jadarian Price run for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 8
CJ Carr pass intercepted, touchback. Asaad Brown Jr. return for no gain
Hollywood Smothers run for 2 yds to the NCSU 22
CJ Bailey pass complete to Jayden Scott for 4 yds to the NCSU 26
CJ Bailey pass complete to Terrell Anderson for 11 yds to the NCSU 37 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Terrell Anderson for 1 yd to the NCSU 38
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Wesley Grimes
CJ Bailey run for 1 yd to the NCSU 39
Caden Noonkester punt for 54 yds , Jordan Faison returns for 23 yds to the ND 30
(00:25) Shotgun Carr,CJ pass incomplete short right to Faison,Jordan thrown to UND45 PENALTY NCS Pass Interference (Vick,Jackson) 15 yards from UND30 to UND45, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
CJ Carr pass complete to Malachi Fields for 20 yds to the NCSU 35 for a 1ST down
CJ Carr pass incomplete
CJ Carr pass complete to Eli Raridon for 3 yds to the NCSU 32
CJ Carr pass complete to Eli Raridon for 2 yds to the NCSU 30
Noah Burnette 48 yd FG GOOD
End of 2nd Quarter
Jeremiyah Love run for no gain to the ND 25
CJ Carr pass incomplete to Malachi Fields
CJ Carr pass incomplete to Will Pauling
James Rendell punt for 43 yds, fair catch by Wesley Grimes at the NCSU 32
Hollywood Smothers run for 4 yds to the NCSU 36
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Wesley Grimes
CJ Bailey pass incomplete to Noah Rogers
Caden Noonkester punt for 54 yds, fair catch by Jordan Faison at the ND 10
Jadarian Price run for 5 yds to the ND 15
(12:13) No Huddle-Shotgun Carr,CJ pass incomplete deep right to Fields,Malachi thrown to UND35 PENALTY NCS Pass Interference (Marshall,Devon) 15 yards from UND15 to UND30, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
CJ Carr sacked by Travali Price for a loss of 5 yards to the ND 25
Jadarian Price run for 3 yds to the ND 28
PENALTY UND False Start (Craig,Ashton) 5 yards from UND28 to UND23. NO PLAY.
CJ Carr pass complete to Jordan Faison for 15 yds to the ND 38
Tyler Buchner run for 3 yds to the ND 41 for a 1ST down
CJ Carr pass complete to KK Smith for 10 yds to the NCSU 49 for a 1ST down
(09:16) No Huddle-Shotgun Carr,CJ pass incomplete deep middle to Raridon,Eli thrown to NCS14 PENALTY NCS Pass Interference (Soares, Jr.,Kenny) 15 yards from NCS49 to NCS34, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Jadarian Price run for 3 yds to the NCSU 31
Jadarian Price run for 11 yds to the NCSU 20 for a 1ST down
Jadarian Price run for 2 yds to the NCSU 18
Jadarian Price run for no gain to the NCSU 18
CJ Carr pass complete to KK Smith for 18 yds for a TD (Noah Burnette KICK)
CJ Bailey pass complete to Keenan Jackson for 4 yds to the NCSU 29
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for 9 yds to the NCSU 38 for a 1ST down
Hollywood Smothers pass complete to CJ Bailey for 4 yds to the NCSU 34
NC State Penalty, Offensive Holding (Caden Fordham) declined
CJ Bailey run for 10 yds to the NCSU 44
Caden Noonkester punt for 56 yds for a touchback
CJ Carr pass incomplete to Will Pauling
Jeremiyah Love run for 24 yds to the ND 44 for a 1ST down
CJ Carr pass complete to KK Smith for 31 yds to the NCSU 25 for a 1ST down
Jeremiyah Love run for 13 yds to the NCSU 12 for a 1ST down
CJ Carr pass complete to Will Pauling for 12 yds for a TD (Noah Burnette KICK)
Hollywood Smothers run for 10 yds to the NCSU 35 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey pass complete to Keenan Jackson for 14 yds to the NCSU 49 for a 1ST down
CJ Bailey sacked by Boubacar Traore for a loss of 12 yards to the NCSU 37
CJ Bailey pass complete to Jayden Scott for 7 yds to the NCSU 44
CJ Bailey pass complete to Hollywood Smothers for 4 yds to the NCSU 48
CJ Bailey pass intercepted Adon Shuler return for 44 yds to the NCSU 17
Jadarian Price run for 2 yds to the NCSU 15
Jadarian Price run for a loss of 1 yard to the NCSU 16
CJ Carr pass incomplete to Malachi Fields
Noah Burnette 34 yd FG GOOD
Hollywood Smothers run for 7 yds to the NCSU 32
Hollywood Smothers run for no gain to the NCSU 32
CJ Bailey pass intercepted Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa return for 20 yds to the NCSU 14
NC State Penalty, Defensive Holding (CJ Bailey) declined
Jadarian Price run for 3 yds to the NCSU 17
CJ Carr pass incomplete to Jordan Faison
CJ Carr pass complete to Eli Raridon for 14 yds to the NCSU 3 for a 1ST down
Jadarian Price run for 1 yd to the NCSU 2
Jadarian Price run for no gain to the NCSU 2 Jadarian Price fumbled, recovered by NCSU Cian Slone
Team Safety
PENALTY UND UNS: Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Traore,Boubacar) 15 yards from NCS20 to NCS35. NO PLAY.
Charlie Birtwistle kickoff for 64 yds , Jadarian Price return for 17 yds to the ND 18
CJ Carr run for 5 yds to the ND 23
CJ Carr pass incomplete to Jeremiyah Love
CJ Carr pass complete to Jordan Faison for 17 yds to the ND 40 for a 1ST down
Jeremiyah Love run for 5 yds to the ND 45
CJ Carr pass incomplete to KK Smith
CJ Carr pass complete to Jordan Faison for 7 yds to the NCSU 48 for a 1ST down
Jeremiyah Love run for 7 yds to the NCSU 41
Jeremiyah Love run for 4 yds to the NCSU 37 for a 1ST down
CJ Carr pass complete to Eli Raridon for 36 yds to the NCSU 1 for a 1ST down
Jeremiyah Love run for 1 yd for a TD (Erik Schmidt KICK)
(05:11) Shotgun Smothers,Hollywood rush left for 1 yard loss to the NCS24 (Dawson,Jared; Young,Bryce) PENALTY UND UNS: Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Young,Bryce) 15 yards from NCS25 to NCS40, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Jayden Scott run for no gain to the NCSU 40
Jayden Scott run for 1 yd to the NCSU 41
CJ Bailey pass complete to Teddy Hoffmann for 26 yds to the ND 33 for a 1ST down
Jayden Scott run for no gain to the ND 33
Jayden Scott run for 7 yds to the ND 26
Will Wilson run for 2 yds to the ND 24
PENALTY NCS False Start (Hardy,Cody) 5 yards from UND24 to UND29. NO PLAY.
CJ Bailey pass intercepted Karson Hobbs return for 11 yds to the ND 20
CJ Bailey pass intercepted Karson Hobbs return for 11 yds to the ND 20
K. Minchey takes a knee
K. Minchey takes a knee