Stanford, CA

The Cardinal remained in the conversation for a BCS at-large bid thanks to Andrew Luck, whose career night helped the fourth-ranked Stanford claim a 28-14 decision over the No. 22 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Saturday at Stanford Stadium.

Luck threw four TD passes and shattered John Elway's school record for career touchdown passes to culminate his Heisman Trophy campaign. Luck also eclipsed his own single-season mark.

Luck has thrown for 80 touchdowns in three years, topping Elway's 77. It took all four year years for the Denver Broncos great to set the previous school mark.

The Cardinal's 22-year-old signal-caller, runner-up for the 2010 Heisman Trophy, has thrown 35 TD passes this season.

In his regular season finale Saturday, Luck finished with 233 yards and an interception on 20-of-30 efficiency. He hooked up with Coby Fleener four times for 97 yards and two scores in the Cardinal's (11-1) victory.

Three of those TD passes came in the first half as Stanford ran to a 21-0 lead at the break. Those TD also came against Norte Dame blitzes.

He capped a sterling outing with his for TD pass -- a 55-yard TD to Fleener that hiked Stanford's lead to 28-7 at the 5:40 mark of the fourth period.

With Luck constantly on the Fighting Irish's radar, Stepfan Taylor got enough space to anchor the Cardinal ground game, logging 196 yards with 118 yards on 20 carries. Stanford amassed 429 yards of offense.

The Fighting Irish were outgained 287-88 in the first half, forcing Notre Dame to switch to Andrew Hendrix at quarterback after intermission.

Hendrix steered the Irish into Stanford territory five times in the second half, with only two resulting in touchdowns. Hendrix completed 11-of-24 for 192 yards with a TD and an interception for the Fighting Irish (8-4).

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