Notre Dame crushes Arkansas, 56-13

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas — The historic first meeting between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, a game long anticipated after the original 2020 matchup was scrapped, unfolded on Saturday as a statement victory for the No. 22 Irish.

In front of a full house at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Notre Dame dismantled Arkansas with a relentless offensive barrage, winning 56-13.

The tone was set early, defying the pre-game hype that had briefly shaded the betting line toward the home-standing Razorbacks. While Arkansas briefly took a 3-0 lead on a 39-yard field goal, that was the extent of their competitive edge. Notre Dame responded with six consecutive touchdown drives in the first half, showcasing explosive balance on the ground and through the air.

The star of the day was undeniably junior running back Jeremiyah Love, who became the first Notre Dame player in decades to record two rushing and two receiving touchdowns in a single half. Love’s ability to turn screen passes and short runs into major scores shattered the confidence of the Arkansas defense, contributing to a 42-13 halftime lead.

Equally impressive was sophomore quarterback CJ Carr. The signal-caller shredded the Razorback secondary, going 22-of-30 for a career-high 354 yards and matching a freshman program record with four touchdown passes before exiting in the fourth quarter. Carr’s command of the offense was masterful, helping the Irish pile up 420 yards of total offense in the first half alone.

For the Razorbacks, the 56-13 score—the program’s second-largest loss to an SEC team in program history—raised significant questions. Quarterback Taylen Green entered the game among the national leaders in total offense but struggled against the disciplined Irish secondary, finishing with 207 passing yards and an interception late in the game by safety Luke Talich. A second-quarter power drive that ended with an offensive lineman touchdown plunge was a brief moment of defiance, but it was quickly eclipsed by the Irish’s relentless scoring pace.

Notre Dame’s defense pitched a shutout in the second half, allowing the Irish to roll to the dominant 56-13 final margin. The win moved the Irish to 2-2, injecting confidence back into their season, while the 2-3 Razorbacks face a difficult road ahead with a demanding SEC schedule looming. The first chapter of the Arkansas-Notre Dame rivalry was a decisive declaration, but not the one the Razorback faithful had hoped for.