Notre Dame averaged 8.5 yards per carry. And lost. They averaged 9.4 yards per pass attempt. And lost. They outgained Stanford by over 100 yards, scored a special-teams TD, and lost.
This hurts.
For the second time this season, there can be no doubt: Notre Dame handed a game away that they put themselves into prime position to win.
It will sound like sour-grapes whining, but that's just a fact. Notre Dame's complete and total inability to execute and take care of the ball in the red zone cost them the Clemson game, it cost them style points last week against BC, and tonight it cost them whatever tiny chance was left for them to reach the College Football Playoff.