Zaire throws for 313 yards, Notre Dame beats Texas 38-3

Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire, left, hands off to running back Tarean Folston during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Texas, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire, left, hands off to running back Tarean Folston during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Texas, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

By Associated Press September 5, 2015 3 min read

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – Malik Zaire had Irish eyes smiling. The Longhorns had the eyes of Texas wishing they could look away.

Zaire passed for 313 yards in his first home start, and No. 11 Notre Dame held Texas to 163 yards of total offense in a 38-3 victory Saturday night.

Zaire was 19 of 22 passing, an 86.6 percent completion rate that was second-best in school history. Steve Beuerlein completed 10 of 11 passes against Colorado in 1984, a 90.9 percent completion rate.

Will Fuller caught a pair of touchdown passes – one a 66-yarder – and finished with 142 yards receiving. Chris Brown added a 6-yard touchdown catch. Freshman Josh Adams ran for a pair of TDs, including 14-yard score on his first career carry, and C.J. Prosise added 98 yards rushing on 20 carries.

Notre Dame took advantage of an inexperienced Longhorns squad starting three players who were in high school a year ago, amassing 527 yards of total offense.