NOTRE DAME, Ind. – With its offense going nowhere in the opening 15 minutes of the game, Notre Dame turned to its special teams to make something happen.

A blocked punt led to a 7-0 lead for the Fighting Irish heading to the second quarter.

• Notre Dame received the opening kickoff and drove the ball near midfield before facing a fourth and short. Utah was able to stop the Fighting Irish on downs and took over at its own 47-yard line.

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  The Utes moved the ball early on the Irish defense, but bogged down inside the 30-yard line and had to settle for a Joe Phillips 47-yard field goal.

• The Irish offense has not looked good so far in this game and has been three-and-out several times.

• Notre Dame’s Harrison Smith picked off a Utah pass near midfield, his third of the season and his career. Unfortunately, the Irish can do nothing with it and are forced to punt.

• The Fighting Irish special teams get involved, blocking a punt and returning it for a touchdown. Robert Blanton blocks the punt and returns it six yards for the score. It’s the first blocked punt for a touchdown since 1988 against Navy.