| 2011 Schedule | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Result TV | Time | Series | Site (ND Rank #AP / #ESPN-USA Today) |
| Sept. 3 | SOUTH FLORIDA | 20-23 NBC | 3:30 | 0-1-0 | NOTRE DAME STADIUM (#16/#18) |
| Sept. 10 | #37 Michigan | 31-35 ESPN | 8:00 | 15-23-1 | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI (#36) |
| Sep. 17 | #15 MICHIGAN STATE | 31-13 NBC | 3:30 | 46-28-1 | NOTRE DAME STADIUM |
| Sep. 24 | Pittsburgh | 15-12 ABC | 12:00 | 47-20-1 | Pitt. Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Oct. 1 | Purdue | 38-10 ESPN | 8:00 | 55-26-2 | Ross-Ade Stadium, W. Lafayette, IN |
| Oct. 8 | AIR FORCE | 59-33 NBC | 3:30 | 23-6-0 | NOTRE DAME STADIUM |
| Oct. 22 | USC | 17-31 NBC | 7:30 | 44-34-5 | NOTRE DAME STADIUM (#28) |
| Oct. 29 | NAVY | 56-14 NBC | 3:30 | 73-12-1 | NOTRE DAME STADIUM |
| Nov. 5 | Wake Forest | 24-17 ABC | 8:00 | 1-0-0 | BB&T Field, Winston-Salem, N.C. (#33) |
| Nov. 12 | MARYLAND | 45-21 NBC | 7:30 | 2-0-0 | FedEx Field, Landover, Md (#32) |
| Nov. 19 | BOSTON COLLEGE | 16-14 NBC | 4:00 | 12-9-0 | NOTRE DAME STADIUM (#24) |
| Nov. 26 | #4 Stanford | 14-28 ABC | 8:00 | 17-9-0 | Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto, CA (#22) |
| Champs Sports Bowl | |||||
| Dec. 29 | #25 FLORIDA STATE (8-4) | 14-18 ESPN | 5:30 | 2-5-0 | Citrus Bowl Stadium, Orlando, FL (#26) |
| Total | 8-5 | 380-268 | |||
10-08-2011 Tommy Rees threw four TD passes in the first half, Notre Dame built a big early lead and the Irish rolled to their fourth straight victory Saturday, routing Air Force 59-33. It marked the most combined points ever for a game at Notre Dame Stadium. And the 59 points were the most by ND since beating Rutgers 62-0 in 1996 in Lou Holtz's final home game as Irish coach. The two teams combined for 1,125 yards total offense - 565 by Air Force and 560 by Notre Dame. Rees's four TD passes went to four different receivers and he completed 19 of 25 for 208 yards in the first half. He finished 23 of 32 for 261 yards. Rees wasn't the only Notre Dame quarterback that played in the game. Andrew Hendrix made his Irish debut and he did so starting in the 2nd possession of the game. Irish coach Brian Kelly says Hendrix was ready to give the Irish a limited look. Hendrix provided a running threat out of the quarterback position that Rees cannot. The sophomore rushed for 111 yards including a 78 yard dash late in the game where he was tripped two yards shy of a touchdown. Hendrix is the first Notre Dame quarterback in a decade to rush for more than 100 yards in a game. After an 0-2 start, the Irish are now on the bye and have two weeks to prepare for arch rival USC in what will be the first night game at Notre Dame Stadium in two decades. Notre Dame scored on all six of its 1st half possessions, leading 42-16 at halftime. The game began with an opening drive touchdown from Rees to Michael Floyd for 34 yards. Asher Clark then rushed for 29 yards on the first play for Air Force, but Jamoris Slaughter stripped him of the ball and Robert Blanton recovered. It's the 2nd game in a row where the Irish have forced a turnover on the opposing team's first play. Hendrix provided a change of pace, rotating with Rees for random appearances over the next two drives resulting in touchdown passes to Tyler Eifert and Robby Toma. Notre Dame led 21-3 after the 1st quarter. Tim Jefferson rushed for a touchdown to make it 21-9. Air Force then attempted an onside kick and nearly recovered it, but as they waited for it to cross 10 yards--Bennett Jackson jumped on it to recover for Notre Dame. The Irish took advantage of the short field and gameday Jonas Gray rushed in for the first of his two touchdowns on the day to make it 28-9. Still in the 2nd quarter, Slaughter would come through again making an incredible interception off Jefferson after tipping the ball to himself. Notre Dame would again take advantage of the short field---as Cierre Wood rushed in for a TD. After Air Force scored to make it 35-16, Notre Dame added another touchdown--- Rees to Theo Riddick to make it 42-16 at the half.