ATLANTA – Riley Leonard boosted No. 12 Notre Dame’s playoff hopes by rushing for two touchdowns and the Fighting Irish’s defense was dominant after a slow start in a 31-13 win over Georgia Tech on Saturday.

Jeremiyah Love added a TD run and defensive back Adon Shuler had a 36-yard interception return for Notre Dame (6-1). The Fighting Irish held Georgia Tech (5-3) to 64 rushing yards.

Leonard ran for 51 yards and Notre Dame extended its winning streak to five games. Leonard completed 20 of 29 passes for 203 yards with one interception in the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.

With Haynes King sidelined with a shoulder injury, quarterback Zach Pyron had a strong performance early in his first start for Georgia Tech since his freshman season in 2022.

Pyron completed his first nine passes, including six completions on a touchdown drive. Jamal Haynes’ 1-yard scoring run as time expired in the first quarter gave the Yellow Jackets a 7-0 lead. Notre Dame led 31-7 before Pyron scored a 7-yard touchdown pass to Chase Lane with 33 seconds left.

Led by Leonard, the Fighting Irish were in control in the second quarter with nine plays of 10 or more yards. Leonard’s first scoring run from 1st capped a 14-play drive. He added another TD run from 12th down and gave the seniors 10 rushing scores this season.

Georgia Tech thwarted a 39-yard field goal attempt with 11 seconds left in the half when David Shanahan dropped the snap. Late in the third quarter, Notre Dame’s Bryce Young blocked a 35-yard attempt by Aidan Birr.

Leading 21-7, the Fighting Irish faked a punt and Love gained 27 yards to set up Zac Yoakam’s 42-yard field goal, the first of his career. Yoakam filled in for Mitch Jeter, who missed the game with a hip injury.

Notre Dame’s special teams had more trick plays. Late in the game, defending champion Chris Salerno ran for 4 yards and a first down on a fake field goal.

The takeaway food

Notre Dame: The defense played the starring role, even after giving up Pyron’s 60-yard pass to Abdul Janneh at the Notre Dame 16 late in the third quarter. A third-down sack of Pyron by Rylie Mills set up Young’s blocked field goal. Safety Xavier Watts added an interception in the fourth quarter, his third of the season.

Georgia Tech: Cornerback Warren Burrell set up the Yellow Jackets’ first-quarter touchdown by intercepting a deep pass from Leonard. Leonard returned the pick from the end zone to the 29th line. Pyron couldn’t maintain the momentum of his strong first quarter, throwing two interceptions and a scoring pass. He completed 20 of 36 passes for 269 yards.

Impact on the survey

Notre Dame could move into the top 25 after an impressive road win over the Yellow Jackets, who have won back-to-back Atlantic Coast Conference wins over Duke and North Carolina.

Next

Notre Dame: Plays next Saturday at another NFL stadium against No. 25 Navy at MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and New York Jets.

Georgia Tech: Returns to the Atlantic Coast Conference schedule when it plays at Virginia Tech next Saturday.

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