No. 16 Notre Dame vs. No. 15 Louisville live updates, score

Notre Dame begins another must-win game Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in South Bend. Follow us for live updates and a running score as the Irish take on the Louisville Cardinals.

First quarter

• Louisville won the toss and elected to defer. Riley Leonard and the Notre Dame offense starts with the football.

• Devyn Ford fumbled the opening kickoff return and the Cardinals started inside the 25-yard line. Disastrous start for the Irish.

• The home team’s nightmare continues: Louisville quarterback Tyler Hough completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Brown in the back left corner of the end zone. Louisville 7, Notre Dame 0.

•Touchdown, Fighting Irish. Sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love finishes off a crazy drive made possible by Riley Leonard’s 55 total yards (31 passing, 24 rushing). Leonard looks sharp early, converting a fourth-and-3 to senior wide receiver Jayden Thomas. Great response for the Irish. Notre Dame 7, Louisville 7.

• It’s the Irish’s turn to recover a fumble. Leonard Moore knocked it out of Shough’s hands after a long run and Jaiden Ausberry recovered. The home team takes over the near midfield.

•Touchdown, Fighting Irish. Leonard to Jaden Greathouse over the middle for a 34-yard score. Greathouse has 3 receptions for 58 yards so far and Leonard is 6 of 7 for 65. We have a barn burner on our hands. Notre Dame 14, Louisville 7.

• There’s a lot to unpack here. Thanks to big hits from Adon Shuler and Jordan Clark, the Irish got a defensive stop. The Cardinals then airmailed a snap on the ensuing punt attempt, which was tied up inside the 5 by Kennedy Urlacher. Leonard then ended the sequence on the ground. A wild play on Peacock now means a two-touchdown lead. Notre Dame 21, Louisville 7.

Second quarter

• Notre Dame was able to get off the field, thanks in large part to Shuler’s efforts on a third-and-long blitz. Shuler forced a rushing throw over the middle that was blocked by sophomore safety Xavier Watts. The Irish will take over at their own 7-yard line.

• Jadarian Price fumbled. Louisville takes over in a goal-to-go situation.