SOUTH BEND, Ind. _ This was the kind of victory that can split Notre Dame fans into two camps:
1. We survived and advanced.
2. We barely beat Ball State and Vanderbilt. Our offense stinks.
All that matters, really, is that Notre Dame improved to 3-0, an uncomfortable performance on an uncomfortably warm Saturday. The 22-17 victory was in doubt until 67 seconds remained.
That's when Vanderbilt's Kyle Shurmur fired to Kalija Lipscomb on a fourth-and-4. Lipscomb appeared to have it for an instant, but safety Jalen Elliott knocked it away.
Notre Dame's offense was unimpressive, particularly in the second half. Still this qualified as a victory over an SEC team that came to majestic Notre Dame Stadium unafraid. As coach Derek Mason put it: "Yeah, we play in the SEC. I don't worry about going to South Bend."
The Irish were two-touchdown favorites but some prominent voices liked Vanderbilt. ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit predicted an outright upset in the "close, low-scoring game."
That it was.
Notre Dame led 16-0 in the second quarter but merely survived after that.
The only offensive highlight of the second half came when tight end Nic Weishar extended his arms to make a terrific catch in the end zone. Ian Book delivered the ball. Book curiously dropped in and out of the game, subbing for Brandon Wimbush, who did not exactly light it up.
Wimbush hit on 13 of 23 passes for 122 yards. He also ran exceptionally well _ 84 yards and a score on 19 carries _ but it was barely enough.
Notre Dame led 16-3 at the half, but some of that was luck. Vanderbilt nearly scored two touchdowns.
The first came on this wild sequence: Shurmur hit Donaven Tennyson, who fought his way to the 1, but Alohi Gilman stripped him. The ball went soaring into the sky and eventually bounced into the end zone, where Vanderbilt's Khari Blasingame was about to roll on it. But Julian Love saved the day (and the touchdown) by jarring the ball loose.
The game's craziest play prompted the game's shortest replay review.
Touchback, Notre Dame.
Then, just before halftime, Tennyson dropped a bunny near the goal. Mason opted for a field goal rather than trying for a touchdown on the final play from the 3.
