Notre Dame has a habit of losing key defenders in second quarters. Cornerback Julian Love’s head injury that cost him the second stanza of the 2018 College Football Playoff famously coincided with Clemson turning a 3-0 lead into a 23-0 blowout, but go back further than that and less noteworthy Irish moments come to mind, as well.
There was defensive end Stephon Tuitt’s targeting penalty on the first play of the second quarter at Pittsburgh in 2013. The Panthers marched down the field to tie that early November contest at 7 as part of outscoring Notre Dame 28-14 after Tuitt’s ejection.