Notre Dame Dominates Florida State in One-Sided College Football Matchup

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish hosted the Florida State Seminoles on November 9, 2024, at Notre Dame Stadium, and the game was marked by a significant disparity in performance between the two teams. The Fighting Irish, with a strong 7-1 record, were clear favorites against the struggling Seminoles, who entered the game with a 1-8 record[2][4].

The game aired on NBC and kicked off at 7:30 PM ET. Notre Dame’s potent rushing game, led by sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love, was a key factor. Love has scored at least one touchdown in every game this season and continued this streak against Florida State. The Irish rushing attack ranks second in the country in expected points added (EPA) per rush, making it a formidable force that the Seminoles’ vulnerable rush defense struggled to contain[4].

Notre Dame’s defense also played a crucial role, ranking seventh-best in the FBS by allowing only 282.9 yards per game. They have been particularly effective in passing defense, allowing just 156.1 yards per game, which is the fourth-best in the FBS. This defensive prowess limited Florida State’s already struggling offense, which has managed to score just 14 touchdowns in nine games.

The betting lines reflected the expected outcome, with Notre Dame favored by 25.5 points. The Irish have shown a tendency to blow out opponents, winning by at least three possessions in five of their last six games. This trend suggested that Florida State would face significant challenges in keeping the game competitive.

Florida State’s offense, which has struggled to mount methodical drives and achieve explosive scores, was further hampered by their quarterbacks’ poor performance. Splitting time between sophomore Brock Glenn and freshman Luke Kromenhoek, they have completed just 40.8% of their passes in their last three games, throwing four interceptions. This inefficiency was expected to be exploited by Notre Dame’s defense, which has been relentless in capitalizing on turnovers.