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Watch Aneyas Williams find the end zone for Notre Dame at Purdue
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- Watch Aneyas Williams find the end zone for Notre Dame at Purdue
Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams had a bit of a rough week against Michigan State -- he was flagged for celebrating a touchdown excessively and then spent a lot of the remainder of the game watching from the bench.
Whether that was punishment for the penalty or because backup Nolan James was playing well, or both, it led to some talk that perhaps James should supplant Williams. Indeed, James started against Purdue , though Williams has gotten more involved as the game has gone on.
Notre Dame safety Luke Talich (28) intercepts a pass during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Notre Dame running back Nolan James Jr. (2) rushes the ball during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, left, hugs quarterback CJ Carr before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Michigan State basketball head coach Tom Izzo walks on the sidelines during a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
General view of fireworks before the game between Michigan State Spartans and Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams stretches out to score a touchdown against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr looks to pass against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Aneyas Williams runs against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Notre Dame leprechaun leads the team onto the field before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr warms up before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman looks on before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame wide receiver Micah Gilbert rushes the ball during a game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend, Indiana.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame defensive lineman Tionne Gray celebrates after getting a sack against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend, Indiana.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr (13) warms up before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Nolan James Jr. scores a touchdown against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
Fans cover up as rain starts to fall during a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Fans crowd to watch the Notre Dame football team enter Notre Dame Stadium before a NCAA football game against Michigan State on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Micah Gilbert runs against Michigan State Spartans cornerback Tyran Chappell during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams (22) rushes the ball during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Jordan Faison makes a catch against Michigan State Spartans cornerback Tre Bell during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame safety Luke Talich (28) intercepts a pass during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame safety Luke Talich (28) intercepts a pass during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame running back Nolan James Jr. (2) rushes the ball during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, left, hugs quarterback CJ Carr before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State basketball head coach Tom Izzo walks on the sidelines during a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
General view of fireworks before the game between Michigan State Spartans and Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams stretches out to score a touchdown against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr looks to pass against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Aneyas Williams runs against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
The Notre Dame leprechaun leads the team onto the field before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr warms up before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman looks on before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame wide receiver Micah Gilbert rushes the ball during a game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend, Indiana.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame defensive lineman Tionne Gray celebrates after getting a sack against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend, Indiana.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr (13) warms up before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Nolan James Jr. scores a touchdown against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Fans cover up as rain starts to fall during a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Fans crowd to watch the Notre Dame football team enter Notre Dame Stadium before a NCAA football game against Michigan State on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Micah Gilbert runs against Michigan State Spartans cornerback Tyran Chappell during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams (22) rushes the ball during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Jordan Faison makes a catch against Michigan State Spartans cornerback Tre Bell during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
That conversation might be on hold after Williams scored a touchdown against Purdue on a 22-yard touchdown run. That was Notre Dame's first run over 20 yards this season.
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The TD run finished off a 4-play drive that covered 86 yards and took 1:22 off the clock.
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Watch Aneyas Williams find the end zone for Notre Dame at Purdue
