In a transformative game against Stanford, Notre Dame showcased a newfound mentality that could redefine its approach for the remainder of the season.

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard, right, and wide receiver Jaden Greathouse celebrate touchdown scored by Leonard during a NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in South Bend.

Notre Dame’s passing offense showed significant improvement in a dominant win over Stanford, setting the tone for the rest of the season.

Notre Dame football came off their bye week, and proceeded to dominate the Stanford Cardinal 49 to 7 after a bit of a slow start. Some people will call that contest a “get right” game. Others will call it a tune up.

No. 11 Notre Dame entered its bye week hopeful of making a playoff push. It returns to the field Saturday in control of its playoff fate. The next step: Beating Stanford.

Notre Dame is back on track with a strong win over Louisville as part of a three-game winning streak, and now it’s rested a bit with two weeks off before getting its final home game before dealing with Florida State a month from now.

South Bend. / MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images For Notre Dame to expand the passing game and make it more consistent, I think getting more players involved would be wise.