Notre Dame notches OT win over Stanford thanks to goal-line stand

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame knew what was coming. Stanford doesn't get cute inches from the goal line. And after three years of getting pushed around by the Cardinal, the Fighting Irish pushed back, winning the most important shoving match they've had all season. Or did they? A wall of Notre Dame defenders stopped Stepfan Taylor inches from the end zone on fourth down in overtime and the seventh-ranked Irish remained unbeaten with a 20-13 victory against the No. 17 Cardinal on a soggy Saturday in South Bend. Taylor went up the middle and was knocked back, but kept reaching and turning with bodies underneath him. His knee never did hit the ground before reaching the ball across the goal line. But the officials ruled it was too late. The whistle had blown, and that meant the play was stopped. Taylor finished with 102 yards on 28 carries. He needed 103.