Notre Dame snapped its three-game losing streak in overtime games. The Irish had not won an overtime game since 2003. Notre Dame improves to 3-6 in overtime in school history.
Team Notes...
Notre Dame has now played four consecutive games decided a touchdown or less (combined total of 17 points). It is the first time since the 2000 season that the Irish have had four consecutive games decided by a touchdown or less. In those games against Nebraska, Purdue, Michigan State and Stanford, the total point difference was also 17.
Notre Dame has never in its storied history won a game in overtime the week following a victory in the last minute of regulation.
Notre Dame entered today's contest with 10 touchdowns in its previous 15 drives into the red zone, but the Irish managed only field goals on their first four red zone chances this afternoon. On the other hand, Washington registered touchdowns on its first two red zone chances.
In fact, Notre Dame had first-and-goal on three separate occasions this afternoon and failed to register a touchdown in any of those opportunities.
The Huskies were denied on their third red zone attempt of the game when Notre Dame stuffed Washington on consecutive quarterback sneaks on third and fourth down and goal from the one-yard line late in the third quarter.
Washington was again held to a field goal late in the fourth quarter due to an Irish goal-line stand. The Huskies ran six offensive plays from inside the Irish six-yard line, including five inside the two-yard line, but were not able to score a touchdown.
Washington's field-goal drive to push its lead to 27-22 in the fourth quarter went for 69 yards on 19 plays and ate up 9:19 on the clock.
Washington took the opening kickoff and drove 56 yards on nine plays to grab a 7-0 lead. The Huskies converted a pair of third downs on the drive. Washington and Purdue each recorded touchdowns on their opening drives of the game.
Washington totaled 56 and 53 yards on its first and last drives of the first half, but Notre Dame limited the Huskies to 59 total yards on their other five drives of the half (17 plays).The Irish forced four punts and a turnover on those five drives.
Clausen finished with a career-high 422 yards passing.
It marks the second time he has surpassed 400 yards passing in his career. His previous career-high was 401 yards against Hawai'i in the 2008 Hawai'i Bowl.
Clausen is the third Irish quarterback to ever eclipse 400 yards passing in a game, joining Joe Theismann and Brady Quinn. He is the second Notre Dame signal caller to accomplish the feat more than once in a career (Quinn).
The 422 yards passing ranks seventh-best in single-game Irish history.
Clausen's 13.61 yards per attempt ranks as the second-best in single-game school history. He already holds the school record for yards per attempt (15.42), set against Hawai'i in last season's Hawai'i Bowl.
Clausen guided the Irish on a go-ahead touchdown drive in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter for the second straight week. On the drive, Clausen went 4-for-4 for 57 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown pass to Rudolph with 1:20 left in regulation.
Clausen was 7-for-9 for 119 yards and one touchdown in the fourth quarter and overtime against the Huskies. He has been at the top of his game in the fourth quarter and overtime all season. Clausen is 29-for-45 for 396 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in the final quarter against Nevada, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue and Washington. Here is Clausen's fourth quarter breakdown:
Game
Comp.
Att.
Comp. %
INT
Yds
TDs
Nevada
1
1
100.0
0
15
0
Michigan
9
17
52.9
0
77
1
Michigan State
5
8
62.5
0
113
1
Purdue
7
10
70.0
0
72
1
Washington
7
9
77.8
0
119
1
Totals
29
45
64.4
0
396
4
Clausen continued his stellar play in the first quarter this season. He completed 4-of-5 passes for 41 yards over the first 15 minutes this afternoon. On the season, Clausen is completing 73.8% (31-for-42) of his passes for 397 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter of Notre Dame's first five games this season.
Clausen hooked up with Tate for a 67-yard touchdown pass with 3:27 remaining in the first half to give Notre Dame a 16-14 lead.
Clausen has now registered three touchdown passes this season of over 60 yards.
Clausen and Tate again connected on the first play of the second half. The play went for 77 yards to set up another Irish field goal. It was Clausen's sixth completion of 50 yards or longer this season.
Clausen now has seven career 300-yard passing games and four this season.
Finished the afternoon with a career-best 244 yards receiving on a career-high tying nine receptions.
The 244 yards receiving are the second most in single-game Irish school history and the most since Jim Seymour set the school record with 276 yards receiving against Purdue in 1966.
Tate's 27.1 yards per catch average ranks as the seventh-best in single-game Irish school history. Tate now has three of the top seven games in school history in that category.
Tate ripped off a 31-yard rush on a reverse on Notre Dame's first offensive play from scrimmage. The carry was the longest of his career (besting a 24-yard reverse against Michigan State in 2008).
Hauled in a 67-yard touchdown catch from Clausen with 3:27 remaining in the first half to give Notre Dame a 16-14 lead. The 67-yard catch was the third longest of his career.
The touchdown reception was Tate's fourth of the season and the 15th of his career.
Tate and Clausen again connected on the first play of the second half. The play went for 77 yards to set up another Irish field goal. It marked Tate's longest career reception.
Tate eclipsed 200 yards receiving midway through the third quarter. He became the sixth Irish wideout to ever surpass 200 yards receiving and first since Maurice Stovall against BYU in 2005.
Tate is now tied with Ken MacAfee (1974-77) for seventh on Notre Dame's all-time receiving touchdowns list.
Tate also eclipsed 100 yards receiving in the first half alone. He had five receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown before halftime. The 100-yard receiving game is Tate's third of the season and ninth of his career. He is now tied with Derrick Mayes (1992-95) and Jeff Samardzija (2003-06) for second on Notre Dame's all-time 100-yard receiving games list.
Connected on a 34-yard field goal with 7:11 remaining in the first quarter to cut the Washington lead to 7-3.
Drilled a 40-yard field goal with 14:08 to go in the second quarter to bring the Irish within a score of 7-6.
Converted his third field goal of the game with 7:20 remaining in the first half to give Notre Dame a 9-6 advantage.
Made his fourth field goal of the afternoon on Notre Dame's first drive of the second half (21 yards).
Equaled the school record with his fifth field goal of the game with 12:23 to go in the fourth quarter to make the score 24-22 in favor of Washington.
After missing the first field goal attempt of his career at Michigan, Tausch has connected on 10 consecutive field goals. It is longest such streak by an Irish kicker since at least 1995.
Tausch is the first Irish place kicker to register five field goals in a single game without a miss.
