CJ Carr completed 19 of 31 passes for 342 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, and No. 16 Notre Dame pulled away for a 36-7 win over North Carolina State on Saturday afternoon in South Bend, Ind.
Jeremiyah Love rushed for 86 yards and two touchdowns for Notre Dame (4-2), which won its fourth game in a row. Will Pauling had 105 receiving yards and a touchdown.
CJ Bailey completed 17 of 30 passes for 186 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions for North Carolina State (4-3, 1-2 ACC). Terrell Anderson had 57 receiving yards and a touchdown.
The Fighting Irish outgained the Wolfpack 485-233.
Notre Dame opened the scoring early in the first quarter. Love punched through the middle of the line of scrimmage and scored standing up for a 2-yard touchdown.
North Carolina State pulled even at 7-all with 13:48 to go in the second quarter. Bailey fired a strike down the right sideline for Anderson, who caught the pass around the 15-yard line and jogged into the end zone for a 45-yard touchdown.
The Fighting Irish took a 10-7 lead on Noah Burnette’s 48-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. Malachi Fields caught a 20-yard pass with 12 seconds remaining to set up the score.
Carr threw his first touchdown pass of the game to put Notre Dame on top 17-7 midway through the third quarter. He connected with KK Smith for an 18-yard touchdown.
Carr struck again with a 12-yard touchdown pass, this time to Pauling, on Notre Dame’s next possession. The play gave Notre Dame a 24-7 lead with 2:46 to go in the third quarter.
Burnette added a 34-yard field goal to make it 27-7 with 12:48 remaining.
The Fighting Irish put the game out of hand with a safety and a touchdown in the final 10 minutes. Bailey fumbled a snap deep in Wolfpack territory and fell on the ball for a safety with 9:37 left, and Love capped the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run with 5:13 to go.
