Hawai‘i Stuns Notre Dame in South Bend, Makes Early CFP Statement Beneath the glow of the Golden Dome and in the shadow of “Touchdown Jesus,” #15 Hawai‘i didn’t just pass its first major road test of the season — it dominated it.
Behind a poised performance from quarterback
Dermaricus Davis and a punishing fourth-quarter surge, the Rainbow Warriors stunned #2 Notre Dame, 34–13, announcing themselves as a legitimate College Football Playoff contender just two weeks into the season.
Hawai‘i improves to 2–0, while the Fighting Irish fall to 1–1.
From the opening drive, Hawai‘i showed no signs of intimidation in one of college football’s most hostile environments.
The Warriors marched down the field and capped the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run by Dylan Lee, quieting the South Bend crowd and grabbing a 7–0 first-quarter lead.
The physical tone established early carried throughout the night, as Hawai‘i consistently controlled the line of scrimmage and dictated tempo.
Notre Dame managed to settle in during the middle quarters, relying on kicker
Anthony Bojorquez, who connected from 30 and 51 yards to keep the Irish within striking distance.
But Hawaii’s defense delivered one of the game’s defining moments before halftime — forcing a critical fumble on a scramble by quarterback
Cameron Dyer to halt a promising Notre Dame drive.
The Warriors entered halftime with a 10–3 lead, maintaining control despite missed opportunities to extend the margin.
What had been a competitive game through three quarters turned into a statement in the fourth.
Leading just 10–6 entering the final period, Hawai‘i erupted for 24 points, overwhelming Notre Dame with efficiency and balance.
Sean McFarland opened the quarter with a 32-yard field goal. After a Notre Dame punt, Davis connected with tight end
Nate Roberts for a couple of huge gains, setting up a 5-yard touchdown run by
Dylan Lee, his second of the night.
Down two scores late in the fourth, Notre Dame elected to go for it on 4th down in their own territory. An incomplete pass forced the turnover on downs, and Davis connected with
Gage D’Imperio on an RPO for a 3-yard score to make it 27-6.
After a 21-yard highlight reel touchdown run by Notre Dame running back
Antwan Raymond, Hawai'i recovered the onside kick and marched down the field while chewing most of the remaining clock. The Fighting Irish used their final timeout and Davis sealed it with a 1-yard TD pass to
Kam Adams-Parker.
In a matter of minutes, a tight game turned into a rout.
PASSING LEADER
C. Dyer -- 14/26, 135 yds, 11 att, 74 yds
RUSHING LEADER
K. Young -- 14 att, 48 yds
RECEIVING LEADER
A. William -- 3 rec, 33 yds
PASSING LEADER
D. Davis -- 22/29, 200 yds, 2 TD, 7 att, 33 yds
RUSHING LEADER
D. Lee -- 16 att, 86 yds, 2 TD
RECEIVING LEADER
K. Adams-Parker -- 11 rec, 90 yds, TD
N. Roberts -- 4 rec, 71 yds
