FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of preseason expectations, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish delivered a commanding performance on Saturday, September 27, 2025, dismantling the Arkansas Razorbacks 56-13 before a crowd of 75,111 at a stunned Razorback Stadium.

The game, which saw the visiting Irish explode for 28 points in the second quarter, served as a powerful statement from a Notre Dame team that entered the contest with a 0-2 record. The victory improved Notre Dame to 1-2 on the young season, while Arkansas fell to an even 2-2.

Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior from Saline, Michigan, was the catalyst for the offensive onslaught. He dissected the Arkansas secondary with precision, completing 22 of 30 passes for 354 yards and four touchdowns. His performance was a study in efficiency, spreading the ball to multiple receivers and capitalizing on nearly every scoring opportunity.

The Fighting Irish set the tone early, taking the opening kickoff and marching methodically down the field. The drive culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Jeremiyah Love, capping a 13-play, 75-yard possession that consumed over half of the first quarter. After forcing an Arkansas punt, Notre Dame needed just six plays to find the end zone again, with Carr connecting with Love on a 7-yard scoring pass to take a 14-0 lead.

Arkansas managed to get on the board with a 39-yard field goal from Scott Starzyk on their initial drive, but the Razorbacks’ offense struggled to find consistency against a resurgent Notre Dame defense. Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green, a 6-foot-6, 220-pound signal-caller from Lewisville, Texas, showed flashes of his dual-threat ability, rushing for 81 yards on 10 carries, including a 54-yard scamper. However, he was held to 207 yards through the air on 17-of-32 passing and was sacked three times.

The second quarter belonged entirely to Notre Dame. Carr extended the lead to 21-3 with a 23-yard touchdown strike to Will Pauling. Following another quick Arkansas possession, Carr needed just two plays to strike again, finding Love for a 34-yard touchdown pass and a 28-3 advantage.

Arkansas briefly interrupted the onslaught with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by JacQawn McRoy, but the Irish responded with two more scores before halftime to put the game out of reach. Carr engineered a masterful two-minute drill, finishing with a 3-yard touchdown run by Love with 35 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Arkansas receiver Raylen Sharpe fumbled after a 20-yard catch, with Notre Dame’s Adon Shuler forcing the turnover and DeVonta Smith recovering. With just 19 seconds left, Carr needed only two plays, hitting Jadarian Price for a 35-yard touchdown pass to send the Irish into the locker room with an improbable 42-13 lead.

The second half saw Notre Dame manage the clock effectively. Price added a 16-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and backup quarterback Kenny Minchey, a Hendersonville, Tennessee native, entered the game in the fourth quarter and connected with Matt Jeffery on a 37-yard pass to set up a 17-yard touchdown run by Aneyas Williams to cap the scoring.

Defensively, Notre Dame was led by safety Adon Shuler, who recorded nine tackles and a critical forced fumble. The Irish defense held the Razorbacks to just 10 points after the first quarter and consistently pressured Green.

For Arkansas, linebacker Larry Worth III and safety Miguel Mitchell were busy all afternoon, each recording seven tackles, with Mitchell leading all players with 12 total stops. Receiver O’Mega Blake was a bright spot for the Razorbacks, catching six passes for 73 yards.

The lopsided result defied the pregame projections. Interstat’s game simulator had predicted a nail-biter, with Notre Dame winning 26-25, and the site’s ELO system gave the Irish an 83 percent probability to win. However, oddsmakers had installed Arkansas as a 4.5-point favorite. The combined score of 69 points went over the betting over/under line of 63.5.

Notre Dame will look to build on this momentum when they return home to face Boise State on Saturday, October 4. Arkansas, meanwhile, enters a bye week before facing a tough Southeastern Conference road test at Tennessee on October 11.