Sat Sep 28 23:32:26 UTC 2024: ## Notre Dame Rallies Past Louisville, Keeping Playoff Hopes Alive

**South Bend, IN** – The No. 16 Notre Dame Fighting Irish secured a 31-24 victory over the No. 15 Louisville Cardinals on Saturday, keeping their College Football Playoff aspirations alive.

The game saw a dominant first quarter from Notre Dame, with Riley Leonard leading the charge. The Irish scored 21 unanswered points after Louisville’s initial touchdown, with Leonard himself finding the end zone on a 4-yard run.

Louisville fought back throughout the game, but Notre Dame proved resilient. A late touchdown by Ja’Corey Brooks for Louisville brought the Cardinals within a touchdown with 5:17 left in the fourth quarter. However, the Irish defense held strong, forcing a turnover on downs and sealing the win.

Leonard was a standout performer for the Irish, completing 17 of 23 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 52 yards and another score on the ground.

The victory comes after a disappointing Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois, which had cast doubt on Notre Dame’s playoff potential. However, the Irish have since responded with three consecutive wins, demonstrating their ability to bounce back from adversity.

Despite the win, Notre Dame’s playoff hopes remain precarious. The loss to Northern Illinois remains a significant hurdle, and the team will face further challenges in their remaining schedule. However, with a strong finish, Notre Dame has the potential to make a late push for a playoff berth.

The Fighting Irish now have a week off before hosting Stanford on Saturday, October 12th.

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