Notre Dame vs. Duke final score, result: Irish, Sam Hartman rally back for last-minute victory over Blue Devils

Emily Dozier

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Notre Dame vs. Duke final score, result: Irish, Sam Hartman rally back for last-minute victory over Blue Devils image

That's how you bounce back.

Notre Dame had another last-minute finish, but this time, it pulled out the win behind an Audric Estime touchdown. He found an open 30 yards to get the six with 30 seconds remaining.

Sam Hartman had one of his worst performances of the season, completing half of his passes for 222 yards and no touchdowns. He came up big in crucial moments, though, including a first down when the Irishmen faced fourth-and-16 with 40 seconds remaining. While Notre Dame didn't play its best football of the season, its grit was enough for the win against a tough Duke squad that led only in the fourth quarter.

An exciting end to a game that began with, to be honest, some bad football, was heartbreaking for the Blue Devils in many ways. The program's heart and soul, Riley Leonard, went down with what appears to be a serious injury. The QB was strip-sacked on the final play of the game and suffered an ankle injury on the way down. He limped off the field and was given crutches.

Like Hartman, Leonard didn't have his best day on paper, but his impact came in the moments Duke needed the most, including the go-ahead touchdown early in the third quarter. His injury status is unknown, and a bye week for Duke should ease any pressure of the QBs. Hartman made sure to check on his opposing QB after interviews.

Notre Dame is hoping its gutsy win is enough to return to the AP top 10, while Duke's perfect start to the season comes to a crushing end. 

MORE: Latest injury updates on Duke QB Riley Leonard

The Sporting News tracked live updates from Notre Dame vs. Duke at Wallace Wade Stadium. Scroll below to see read about all the action.

Notre Dame vs. Duke score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 F
Notre Dame 7 3 3 8 21
Duke 0 0 7 7 14

Notre Dame vs. Duke results, highlights from Week 5 game

Final: Notre Dame 21, Duke 14

11:03 p.m. – That's game! Howard Cross III forces the fumble from Leonard, and Notre Dame recovers the ball for possession. Hartman takes a knee, and this time it's a last-minute victory for the Irish. Unfortunately for Duke, Leonard is helped off the field with what appears to be an ankle injury.

Notre Dame 21, Duke 14

10:58 p.m. TOUCHDOWN – Estime time! The Irishman finds the opening for a 30-yard touchdown with 30 seconds remaining in the game. Notre Dame goes for two and scores, retaking the lead 21-13. 

10:57 p.m. – Sam. Hartman. Unable to find an open receiver on fourth-and-16, the QB runs it himself 17 yards for a first down.

10:55 p.m. PENALTY – That just may be costly. A pass interference on the Irish pushes the offense back 15 yards to its own 44. It's first-and-25 with just over a minute remaining.

10:44 p.m. – Notre Dame takes a timeout with 2:41 left in the game. It's fourth-and-six, forcing Duke to punt.

Notre Dame 13, Duke 14

10:28 p.m. TOUCHDOWN – Duke takes the lead! Leonard finds Jordan Moore for a touchdown, and the Blue Devils take the one-point lead.

10:25 PENALTY – Jordan Botelho is done for the night. The Irishman was ejected for targeting. Duke takes over at the eight on first down.

10:23 p.m. – More for Moore! The pass is complete to Jordan Moore who gains 26 yards on the play. Leonard follows it up with a 33-rushing yards to reach the Notre Dame 17. Duke needs to score here for a chance at the upset.

End of third quarter: Notre Dame 13, Duke 7

10:08 p.m. – Notre Dame and Duke both go three-out-out on their possessions. Only 42 seconds remain in the third quarter.

Notre Dame 13, Duke 7

9:55 p.m. TOUCHDOWN – Don't count the Blue Devils out yet! Jordan Waters just barely gets the necessary yard over the line for a Blue Devil touchdown and his fifth straight game with one. With 3:36 to go in the third quarter, Notre Dame leads by 6.

9:50 p.m. – Jaquez Moore gives Duke some hope on this drive, running 24 yards for a first down just short of the red zone.

Notre Dame 13, Duke 0

9:43 p.m. FIELD GOAL – Make it 13 for the Irish. Shrader's 45-yard field goal veers right but is good.

9:35 p.m. – Mike Elko and Co. can't catch a break. On a punt from Duke, the ball bounces out of Chris Tyree's hands on the reception. Duke defenders bounce on it, but it slips away and Ramon Henderson recovers the ball for Notre Dame.

9:23 p.m. – The game is closer than it maybe should be. The Irish are out-receiving Duke 132 yards to 93.

End of second quarter: Notre Dame 10, Duke 0

9:11 p.m. – This time it's Notre Dame with the luck. Pelino misses another field goal, this time from the 25-yard line. Duke remains scoreless at the half.

9:09 p.m. – Looks like the Blue Devils got a little bit of luck from the Irish. Leonard fumbles, but it's recovered by Duke. It's fourth down on the Notre Dame 6.

9:04 p.m. – With no receivers open, Leonard gets the first down himself, rushing for 21 yards to the Notre Dame 22. Less than a minute is left in the first half.

8:50 p.m. – Shrader takes a field goal from 37 yards, but it's just wide right. Duke takes over with 6:28 remaining in the second quarter.

8:58 p.m. – Mitchell Evans, are you kidding! The tight end uses one hand to receive the ball, bobbles it but maintains enough control to get the 36-yard catch.

8:30 p.m. – Leonard is sacked! Javontae Jean-Baptiste and Marist Liufau combine for a 12-yard loss, forcing Duke to punt.

8:26 p.m. FIELD GOAL – Spencer Shrader nails it between the posts from 35 yards to extend Notre Dame's lead to 10.

End of first quarter: Notre Dame 7, Duke 0

8:21 p.m. – The Blue Devils take down Hartman! Ja'Mion Franklin takes down the Irish QB to force a fourth down. Notre Dame takes over at the Duke 16 to start the second quarter.

8:18 p.m. INTERCEPTION – Xavier Watts comes up big for the Irish! Leonard throws his first interception of the season. Notre Dame takes over the ball at the Duke 13-yard line.

8:03 p.m. – After a solid first drive, the Blue Devils come up short after a missed 38-yard field goal from Todd Pelino.

7:57 p.m. – Riley Leonard starts his night off with his eyes on the prize, finding Jordan Moore for 27 yards with his first pass of the evening.

Notre Dame 7, Duke 0

7:51 p.m. TOUCHDOWN – That's a Notre Dame touchdown! Audric Estime runs into the end zone to get his team on the board early.

7:50 p.m. – Sometimes you have to fake it to make it. The Irish throw off Duke's special teams by faking a punt of fourth down. Jeremiyah Love runs for 34 yards and a first down.

7:47 p.m. – Sam Hartman wastes no time showing off his skills. His first pass of the game is a 28-yard dagger to Mitchell Evans.

7:45 p.m. – And we're off! Duke is looking for its first 5-0 season since 1994 while putting an end to Notre Dame's 29-game win streak against ACC opponents.

6:57 p.m. – Bad news for Notre Dame. Jaden Greathouse is out against Duke due to an injury sustained this week. It's a major blow to it's receiver room, as other top receivers Jayden Thomas and Deion Colzie are also out with injuries.

6:42 p.m. – They might be Irish but they don't need luck.

6:25 p.m. – The Blue Devils are ready to show what they're made of against Notre Dame. 

How to watch Notre Dame vs. Duke

  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 30
  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, North Carolina
  • TV channel: ABC
  • Live stream: ESPN+, Fubo

The top-25 matchup kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 30. Viewers can watch the game live from Wallace Wade Stadium on ABC. Streaming options are available on ESPN+ and Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Emily Dozier

Emily Dozier Photo

Emily Dozier is a live events and lifestyle writer at The Sporting News, covering everything from sporting events and music festivals to broadway shows and stand-up comedy. Based out of New York, she graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. When not covering the SN tickets beat, Emily enjoys playing volleyball and cooking. Prior to joining The Sporting News in 2023, Emily covered the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup for the Associated Press.