Highlights: Notre Dame 28, BYU 20 — Big running plays seal third straight Irish win

LAS VEGAS — Notre Dame’s offense may have enjoyed a new playmaking receiver in its 28-20 win against BYU on Saturday at Allegiant Stadium, but four players from two positions still did almost all the work for the Irish.

With 61 touches or targets, on 71 Notre Dame plays, for 361 of the 500 Irish yards, the running backs combined with junior Michael Mayer’s dominant day to set the tone for the third straight Notre Dame win. Add in their shares at North Carolina two weeks ago, and 77.3 percent of non-kneel down Irish plays have gone to Audric Estimé, Logan Diggs, Chris Tyree or Mayer and they have produced 74.3 percent of Notre Dame’s yards in its last two wins.

“Today is a result of having a critical eye in terms of evaluating everything we do,” Irish head coach Marcus Freeman said Saturday night. “That’s what I think sometimes we get misconstrued, that it’s all about the game. I know the result matters, that’s how we’re judged, but to get the result you want, you have to prepare the right way.

“That means having a critical eye, that means having uncomfortable conversations every day during the week and really challenging each other to find ways to improve, and that’s what I love most about what [offensive coordinator Tommy] Rees and that offensive staff has done. Really challenge each other to practice at a higher level and ultimately perform at a higher level.”

This trend evaded notice in Notre Dame’s first win, beating Cal 24-17 on Sept. 17. All attention went to Freeman getting his first victory as a head coach. But it very much did begin then, this quartet coming from two positions — more accurately, three positions, considering two running backs are often on the field; the three backs took a total of 84 snaps this