Notre Dame scored on its first two drives and jumped out to a 14-0 lead on Temple in the first quarter.
Senior quarterback Tommy Rees hit junior receiver DaVaris Daniels on two 32-yard touchdown passes as he opened the game 3-for-3 for 115 yards and two scores.
Notre Dame held the ball for a combined six plays and 2:27 in the first two series of the season. In those two drives, the Irish only had two plays less than 30 yards.
Three different Irish running backs saw action in the first quarter with juniors Amir Carlisle, George Atkinson and Cam McDaniel all getting carries. Carlisle led the bunch with 54 yards in the first quarter, including a 45-yard burst up the left side on the first play from scrimmage.
Notre Dame racked up 207 yards of offense in the first quarter while Temple managed just 81.
On defense, freshman linebacker Jaylon Smith became the first true freshman to start at linebacker in the season opener since Kory Minor did it in 1995. Temple did not cross midfield until about three minutes remained in the first quarter.
Owls freshman kicker Jim Cooper missed a 32-yard field goal attempt wide right as the end of the quarter.
