Syracuse football’s nightmare start at No. 9 Notre Dame leads to historic 70-7 beatdown.

Syracuse football’s (3-8, 1-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) visit to No. 9 Notre Dame (9-2) was over almost as soon as it had begun. A catastrophic start for the Orange put the game away in the first quarter, and led to a 70-7 ND victory, SU’s most lopsided defeat since its 66-0 loss to Union 1893.

After wrapping up its Senior Day festivities, No. 9 Notre Dame won the coin toss and elected to kickoff to Syracuse. By the time the Irish took the field on offense, 8 minutes of gametime had passed…and ND led 21-0.

On Syracuse’s second play from scrimmage, Notre Dame safety Jalen Stroman jumped in front of SU QB Joseph Filardi’s pass and took it back for a pick-six. Just a minute in, the 7-0 deficit was only beginning for the Orange.

On its ensuing possession, Syracuse went three-and-out and Stroman got a hand on an SU punt. The ball was deflected into the hands of another ND player and returned 22 yards for the second Fighting Irish score in under three minutes.

“[Jalen] Stroman did a really good job to start it off for [Notre Dame] on defense,” SU head coach Fran Brown said while addressing the media. “He took the momentum away early.”

Unfortunately for Brown and Syracuse, the momentum only went further in Notre Dame’s favor.

The Orange took the field again, and after finally getting a first down, SU found itself in a 3rd & 4 situation near midfield. Filardi’s throw never gave the receiver a chance, and the Fighting Irish picked it off and returned it for their third score in just over five minutes.

“This is the thing about turnovers,” Brown said. “We’re giving too many turnovers, and not getting any takeaways. We have to be able to switch that.”

From then on, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love stole the show. On the Fighting Irish’s second play from scrimmage, the Heisman hopeful ripped off a 45-yard rushing score to put ND up 28-0. Love found the endzone twice more and finished the day with 171 rushing yards on just 8 carries.

“What made it difficult! He’s the best running back in the country,” Brown said. “I think it’s difficult for everyone to tackle him, it probably looked worse with us today. With just one gap, he makes one guy miss and he's able to take it. He has that breakaway speed that most people don't have.”

The last chance his team has to win the turnover battle is next Saturday against Boston College. Hear how the Orange fare in their season finale at 3:00 p.m. on WAER.