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It's been an interesting journey for the Notre Dame offense through five games this season. Big picture, this unit was getting the job done through the first four outings but there was a looming question: could this unit carry the team if the defense had an off day? We got the answer to that question after yesterday's 37-26 victory over the Tar Heels on the road. It was a dominant display from Notre Dame's offense against a Bill Belichick-led defense yesterday afternoon in Chapel Hill. Here are my key takeaways from the Fighting Irish offense. 

RUN GAME COMES ALIVE

Through the first four games of the season, Notre Dame's ground attack left a lot to be desired. They failed to eclipse the 200-yard mark in their first four matchups and only averaged over 5.0 yards per carry against Purdue, one of the worst rush defenses in college football. With poor weather conditions on the horizon, we knew going into this matchup the Irish ground game would have to step up, and step up they did. They rushed for 241 yards on 45 carries and averaged 5.4 yards on the ground as a team. 

Out of their 241 rushing yards, 166 of them came in the second half when the rain really started to come down. Yes, on the box score, the running backs had a great performance with all three of Aneyas Williams, Nolan James Jr. and freshman Jonaz Walton all averaging over 5.0 yards per carry, but it was the dominant performance of the offensive line that really set the tone against a solid defensive front from North Carolina. We needed to see this offense stack performances after their promising outing against Purdue. Yesterday, the Notre Dame offensive line proved to be the dominant unit we believed them to be back in July. 

BEST GAME OF CARR'S CAREER

The run game was dominant against North Carolina, but junior quarterback CJ Carr is coming off his best performance in a Notre Dame uniform. His passing yards number won't blow people away, but if that's the only thing you're focused on, you're missing the point. The 6-2, 215-pound signal caller completed 72% of his passes going 21-29, threw for 234 passing yards, rushed for 15 yards, threw four touchdown passes and rushed for an additional score. 

Carr's performance in back to back weeks is the first time in 30 years a Notre Dame quarterback has thrown for at least three scores and rushed for an additional score in back to back games. And he did it against Belichick, one of the best defensive minds in football who had an extra week to prepare for Carr and the Mike Denbrock offense. This was an absolute monster performance from the Saline, Michigan native. 

JONAZ WALTON COMING OUT PARTY

With all of the speculation around Notre Dame's ground attack, the call for various players to step into the No. 1 running back role has grown louder and louder each week. Walton, a freshman, threw his name into the hat and put on a stellar performance inside of Kenan Stadium yesterday afternoon. In the most pivotal drive of the game, Notre Dame relied on the 5-9, 200-pound freshman to lead the rushing attack and he didn't disappoint. The Irish put together a 17-play, 75 yard scoring drive that featured the Georgia native. 

Walton finished the afternoon with 23 carries and 120 rushing yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. The offensive line played a key role in the running back room as a whole having the best performance of the 2026 season, but watching Walton, one thing is clear: he moves a little different than the other backs in the room. He has a bright future with the Irish and after this performance, we know that the future is now. 

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