3 reasons why Notre Dame football beat Miami University, 52-17

SOUTH BEND – Notre Dame likes the identity it's establishing and it's sticking to it.

After figuring out what’s working through the first quarter of the season, the Fighting Irish (4-1) continued to run the ball and stop it on the other side, force turnovers and score points off them, and capitalize in the red zone to beat Miami (Ohio) 52-17 on Saturday.

Here’s a more in-depth look into why Notre Dame won:

1. Josh Adams

Notre Dame’s top running back ran for 159 yards on eight carries and two touchdowns — in the first quarter. He darted for a 73-yard score on the second play of the game and bolted for a 59-yard rushing touchdown nine minutes later. He’s now ranked eighth on Notre Dame’s all-time rushing list.

Any lingering stiffness from this past week’s Michigan State game certainly looked gone. Adams, who ranks No. 14 nationally by averaging 124.7 yards per game, sat out the second half of last week’s win over the Spartans as precaution. However, he was caught holding his left knee after rushing for a 3-yard loss on first-and-goal at the end of the first quarter. Trainers were looking at him on the sideline, and he never returned to the game.

Notre Dame was without Dexter Williams (ankle) and lost Tony Jones Jr. after a helmet-to-helmet hit late in the second quarter. The pace slowed after that. After rushing 23 times for 224 yards in the first half, the Irish had 16 carries for 109 in the second.

The Irish have now scored 20 rushing touchdowns through five games. They scored 18 total rushing touchdowns through 12 games in 2016.

The running game is certainly flourishing under new offensive coordinator Chip Long.

2. Again with the turnovers

One of the most integral parts of Notre Dame’s new identity this season is its ability to not just force turnovers, but score points off them. The Irish scored 14 points off two turnovers Saturday, and in five games so far have scored 70 points off 10 turnovers. Notre Dame has 11 takeaways this season. The 2016 team gained 14 total turnovers through 12 games and scored just 53 points.

Linebacker Greer Martini made his first career interception six minutes into the game and returned it 42 yards to the Miami 36-yard line. On the ensuing possession, Brandon Wimbush led the offense on seven-play touchdown drive, which he capped with a 1-yard rushing touchdown — his eighth of the season.

Later in the first quarter, Jerry Tillery strip sacked Redhawks quarterback Gus Ragland and Jay Hayes recovered the fumble. Wimbush again led the offense on a touchdown drive, which ended in a 7-yard completion to Chase Claypool in the back left corner of the end zone to give Notre Dame a comfortable 28-7 lead with 38 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Irish are outscoring opponents 70-3 off turnovers through five games.

3. Stopping the run

Notre Dame’s defense made Miami one-dimensional, forcing Ragland to take shots downfield to be successful. He was, sometimes, picking on cornerback Nick Watkins twice when he connected with receiver James Gardner for 14 points in the first half. But the front seven chopped off all lanes for the ground game: Of 377 total yards, 262 were by pass, 115 by rush. 

Only once was running back Alonzo Smith able to break away for a 27-yard rush down the middle of the field. It was late in the third quarter when Notre Dame already had a 45-17 edge. The drive ended with the Redhawks turning the ball over on downs.

Earlier this week  coach Brian Kelly said he’d grade the Irish defensive line with an A- up to this point. Hayes accepted the compliment, but also said “we need to get better.” Heading into this weekend, the unit was ranked No. 73 in the country, allowing 151.5 rushing yards per game. Notre Dame was again able to hold its opponent to zero rushing touchdowns — it’s allowed one all season (only Virginia Tech has given up fewer with zero).

Follow IndyStar Notre Dame Insider Laken Litman on Twitter and Instagram: @lakenlitman.

Notre Dame 52, Miami (Ohio) 17

Miami (Ohio)  7    7   3  0  —  17 
Notre Dame  28  17  0  7  —  52 

ND—J.Adams 73 run (Yoon kick), 14:35

ND—Wimbush 1 run (Yoon kick), 11:36

MOH—Gardner 34 pass from Ragland (Sloman kick), 7:59

ND—J.Adams 59 run (Yoon kick), 6:06

ND—Claypool 7 pass from Wimbush (Yoon kick), :38

ND—St. Brown 14 pass from Wimbush (Yoon kick), 12:50

MOH—Gardner 14 pass from Ragland (Sloman kick), 10:09

ND—FG Yoon 43, 6:09

ND—Boykin 54 pass from Wimbush (Yoon kick), :37

MOH—FG Sloman 38, 6:40

ND—McIntosh 26 run (Yoon kick), 8:10

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Miami (Ohio), A.Smith 10-66, Bester 5-26, K.Young 5-25, Niemiec 5-9, Hill 1-3, (Team) 1-(minus 2), Ragland 6-(minus 12). Notre Dame, J.Adams 8-159, T.Jones 4-48, McIntosh 12-47, Book 3-37, Wimbush 11-36, M.Young 1-6.

PASSING—Miami (Ohio), Ragland 19-37-1-262. Notre Dame, Wimbush 7-18-0-119, Book 3-5-0-51.

RECEIVING—Miami (Ohio), Gardner 5-115, R.Smith 3-55, J.Murphy 3-27, Martin 3-23, A.Smith 3-14, K.Young 1-14, Becker 1-14. Notre Dame, St. Brown 3-42, Claypool 2-28, Boykin 1-54, Finke 1-48, M.Young 1-6, Stepherson 1-(minus 3), McIntosh 1-(minus 5).

MISSED FIELD GOALS—Notre Dame, Yoon 44.