Jimmy Clausen threw for 340 yards and five touchdowns and Golden Tate caught 10 passes for 201 yards and three scores, but the Irish defense couldn't slow Stanford's Toby Gerhart, as the Cardinal prevailed 45-38.
Notre Dame held a 24-20 halftime lead and extended its advantage to 31-20 after its first drive of the second half ended with Michael Floyd's second touchdown catch, but from there, Gerhart would run for two more touchdowns (after scoring one in the first half) and throw for one as well, as the Heisman hopeful rushed for 205 yards.
Tate's third touchdown grab — a 28-yarder in which he caught a short pass to the left and cut across the entire defense for a highlight-reel run — gave Notre Dame its final points with 12:56 to play, as the Irish led 38-30.
But Gerhart's touchdown pass and his third scoring run with a minute remaining cemented the game, as Clausen's final Hail Mary try would fall incomplete as time expired.
