Nov. 10, 2013

Recap | Final Stats | Photo Gallery

TEAM NOTES

• With the loss, the all-time series against Pittsburgh now stands at 47-21-1 in favor of the Irish, snapping a three-game Notre Dame winning streak. At 69 meetings, it is the fifth-longest series in school history, trailing only Navy (87 games), Purdue (85), USC (85) and Michigan State (77).
• The Irish slip to 11-2 in the month of November under Brian Kelly.
• Tonight is just the fifth loss for the Irish in their last 32 games (27-5).
• With the loss, Notre Dame falls to 424-138-15 all-time when ranked and 19-8 as a ranked team against unranked Pittsburgh teams.
• The Irish now stand at 134-56-3 against current ACC teams all-time.
• The loss snaps a steak of 10 consecutive wins for Notre Dame in games decided by a touchdown or less. That was the third longest such streak in the nation since 1980 and the longest active streak in the nation. ND’s last loss in a close game was an 18-14 loss to Florida State in the 2011 Champs Sports Bowl.
• The Notre Dame defense forced nine punts tonight, the most it has forced this season and the best over since forcing Wake Forest to punt 10 times on Nov. 17, 2012 in Winston-Salem.
• The Irish offense had five plays of at least 33 yards tonight. The previous high this year was three done against both Temple and Air Force.
• Turnovers have proven critical this fall for the Irish. In seven wins, ND has turned the ball over a total of five times. In three losses, ND has committed a combined eight turnovers.
• TJ Jones became the fifth different Notre Dame player to rush for a touchdown this year, joining Cam McDaniel, George Atkinson III, Tarean Folston and Andrew Hendrix.
• Notre Dame’s two scoring drives of at least 80 yards tonight give it a total of 12 on the year.
• Eilar Hardy became the 17th different Notre Dame player to start a game on defense this fall.
• Prior to the ejection of Stephon Tuitt on the first play of the second half, ND’s defense had allowed 55 yards on 15 plays (3.7 ypp). The team allowed 56 yards on the following seven plays (8.0 ypp) of Pitt’s touchdown drive but then settled down and allowed just 54 yards on 17 plays for the rest of the half (3.2 ypp). Pitt gained 190 yards on 37 plays (5.1 ypp) in the second half.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• TJ Jones now has a touchdown catch in each of Notre Dame’s last seven contests. The school record is eight games, set by Jeff Samardzija in 2005 and matched by Golden Tate in 2009.
• Jones’ efforts today moved him into eighth place in school history for career receiving yards (2,212) and a tie for seventh for the most career touchdown catches with 18.
• Tonight marked the fifth 100-yard game of both Jones’ 2013 season and his career. The five in a season match Michael Floyd (2009), Golden Tate (2008) and Jeff Samardzija (2005) for fourth in school history. The five in a career match Rhema McKnight (2002-06) for ninth place in Irish lore.
• TJ Jones recorded a catch in his 37th consecutive game for the Irish. Including today’s effort, Jones has had multiple catches in 33 of those 37 contests.
• Jones’ 149 receiving yards were a career high, eclipsing his 138 in the season opener against Temple.
• Jones’ 35-yard rush in the first quarter was by far a career long, topping an eight-yard carry against Purdue in 2012.
• Jones’ second quarter rushing touchdown was the first of his career on the ground.
• Jones’ receiving yardage tonight is the most by an Irish receiver against Pitt since Bobby Brown gained 208 yards on 12 catches on Nov. 13, 1999, the final game at Pitt Stadium.
• Tommy Rees had three more pass of at least 32 yards tonight, giving him 17 on the season. ND signal callers had just 11 last year.
• Rees became the second Notre Dame quarterback to ever throw two 80-yard touchdown passes in the same season (Dayne Crist, 2010) and the first to do it on the road.
• Rees had his fourth 300-yard passing game of the season tonight, tying Brady Quinn’s 2006 campaign for the third most in school history.
• Rees passed Ron Powlus (1994-97) and took over third place in ND history with his 569 career completions.
• Prince Shembo’s fourth quarter sack was the 18th of his career, moving him into a tie with Bryant Young (1990-93) for eighth place in school history.
• Jaylon Smith led the Irish with his career-high 11 tackles.
• Kyle Brindza’s 55-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter was Notre Dame’s longest field goal attempt since D.J. Fitzpatrick tried (and missed) from 55 yards against Boston College on Oct. 23, 2004.
• Ben Koyack’s 38-yard near-touchdown catch in the second quarter was his career long reception.
• Koyack’s 76 receiving yards more than doubled his previous career high of 34 set last week against Navy.
• Eiler Hardy made his first career start tonight at safety.