C.J. Carr passed for 342 yards and two touchdowns and No. 16 Notre Dame pulled away from N.C. State in the second half for a 36-7 victory.

Notre Dame's defense flexes its muscles, holds NC State to 233 total yards en route to 36-7 win in South Bend.

RALEIGH — NC State's defense held together as long as it could against Notre Dame. As the offense sputtered out of control in the second half, the Wolfpack was on the field far too much and ultimately collapsed under the pressure, losing 36-7.

Your Notre Dame Fighting Irish have escaped upset free from a string of get-right games and now head into a huge matchup against their arch-rival with a shot to get back into the CFP conversation (officially) on the line. Let’s look at three things that happened during the last game before that titanic showdown, a 36-7 home win over NC State.

Knock off the Trojans next Saturday and the Irish will get a fresh look from outside South Bend. And there’s a lot worth watching.

NC State's defense kept it in the game, forcing a turnover on downs and intercepting Fighting Irish freshman quarterback CJ Carr in the end zone in the first half. Even with the extra possessions, the Wolfpack offense sputtered throughout the game and failed to put enough points on the board.

The Fighting Irish held the Wolfpack to a three-and-out to start the game, and they had no trouble moving the ball after NC State punted it away. Notre Dame's first play from scrimmage was a 32-yard pass from quarterback CJ Carr to wide receiver Will Pauling. Pauling, starting for an injured Jaden Greathouse, also had a 19-yard catch on the drive.

NC State bent the Irish defense in the first half. Notre Dame never broke. In the second half, Notre Dame barely bent at all. They even scored, grabbing a safety with NC State’s offense backed up on its own two.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are currently trying (and mostly being successful) to overcome a dreadful 0-2 start. They missed their chance to get two huge resume wins over top opponents, but what matters now is turning the season around.