Touchdowns won’t be the only way to score when the Blue meets the Gold on Saturday.
As Notre Dame wraps up spring practice with the 94th edition of its Blue-Gold Game, presented by Meijer, fans inside Notre Dame Stadium and watching on Peacock will witness a creative twist on scoring that goes beyond the box score. The scrimmage, set for 2 p.m. ET, features a modified format where both the offense (Blue) and defense (Gold) can rack up points based on performance metrics—not just traditional results.
In this format, the offense earns points for touchdowns, first downs, explosive plays (20+ yards), and field goals. Meanwhile, the defense can swing momentum with takeaways, sacks, fourth-down stops, and even a blocked field goal. A defensive score? That’s worth 12 points on its own.
Head coach Marcus Freeman and his staff have embraced the situational scoring model to simulate real-game pressure while keeping all phases engaged. Each drive will begin in a pre-determined scenario, with quarterbacks wearing non-contact green jerseys and the play clock reset after every series. It's designed to emphasize execution under duress—and give younger players meaningful reps in critical moments.
Among those looking to make an impression are quarterbacks Kenny Minchey, CJ Carr, Steve Angeli, and Blake Hebert, all part of the competition to fill the void left by Riley Leonard. On the other side of the ball, defenders like Drayk Bowen, Leonard Moore, and Adon Shuler are poised to thrive under a system that rewards aggression and situational dominance.
Saturday’s scoring structure is less about final totals and more about tone-setting. In a program coming off a 14-2 season and national championship appearance, the spring finale offers a preview not only of personnel—but of the competitive philosophy powering the next run.
Kickoff is at 2 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live on Peacock, with radio coverage via WSBT 960 AM.
Learn more about what to expect at the 94th annual Blue-Gold Game at the Len Zone!