Notre Dame vs Arkansas: How the Irish Can Win
- Luciano Antonini
- 17 hours ago
- 7 min read
Photo by The Irish Tribune
Notre Dame heads west of the Mississippi for a first-time matchup against the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Irish are 50-27 overall against SEC teams and 20-9 in true road games against the conference. Notre Dame comes into their fourth regular-season game with notable concerns on the defensive side of the ball. The Irish defense has allowed 98 points in its first three games in 2025, which ranks as the 2nd-worst in program history through the first three games of the season since 2007 (102 points). It gets worse for the defense, though. Of 136 teams, Notre Dame ranks 118th in scoring defense (32.7 ppg), 101st in total defense (399 ypg), and 132nd in passing defense (289 ypg).
Our staff at The Irish Tribune gives you their pre-game analysis, predictions, and simply what Notre Dame needs to do to walk out of Fayetteville with a win and put the Irish at .500 on the season. Let's go!
The Analysis
From the top with Max Uretsky, Analyst at The Irish Tribune
I think there will be a lot of plays to be made in the middle of the field against an Arkansas defense that, on film, struggles with second-level coverage and losing assignments in Zone. The Notre Dame offense has enough firepower through the air and on the ground to go over the 30+ point mark again. On the defensive side of things, it's all about week-to-week progression. It's unlikely they can come out and look dominant against a dangerous Arkansas offense, but if they are able to limit the damage QB Taylen Green does with his legs, they should get some chances to take advantage of his inconsistency in the passing game and force a couple of key turnovers. I expect the aggressiveness in the front-seven to be turned up a notch in order to limit how long the secondary is being asked to cover on the backend.
Max's Prediction: 34-29 Notre Dame.
Gold talk from Brenden Duffy, Associate Editor & Senior Staff Writer
In a game featuring two teams with their backs against the wall for different reasons, I expect a shootout with thriving offenses going against struggling defenses.
As told by my score prediction, Notre Dame’s offense should continue to roll with big days from Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price on the ground against an Arkansas front that has not done a good job bringing down ball carriers. The Irish win after Razorbacks QB Taylen Green makes a late mistake, thanks to a much-needed clutch play from the defense.
The Irish passing offense should continue to roll under CJ Carr. It would be a nice day to get Jaden Greathouse going, considering we are nearly a quarter of the way through the season. Either way, Carr and his weapons should get loose against Arkansas linebackers, safeties, and starting CB Kani Walker, who have had major lapses in coverage. The Razorbacks’ best defensive position group is their edge group, led by Quincy Rhodes Jr. Anthonie Knapp and Aamil Wagner will need to have solid performances to keep Carr upright throughout the game.
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While Arkansas is certainly a step up from Purdue in almost every aspect, it is hard not to talk about the run game after last week. The Razorbacks’ run defense is better than their 157.5 yards per game allowed. In general, it is a solid group; however, Love and Price still outclass this defense and should be in line for another pair of good outings.
The Arkansas offense is scary and dangerous. QB Taylen Green’s dual-threat abilities help set up an explosive passing game. This contest could very likely be determined in the trenches. The Razorbacks’ offensive line has allowed just three sacks this season, but if you can get pressure on Green, you will be set up for success. Green is just 8/24 with two interceptions when under pressure, meaning the Irish pass rush needs to have a better showing than they did two weeks ago against Marcel Reed and Texas A&M. The Irish pass rush showed some life last week, even showing adjustments, including more exotic blitz packages, but this will need to continue against a much more talented Arkansas line. The Razorbacks are among the top in the country in explosive plays, and it is really hard to imagine this Notre Dame defense stopping these big-time plays. Leonard Moore needs to play, even if he is not at 100%, otherwise, Arkansas WRs O’Mega Blake and Jalen Brown will run free all day. Most of Green’s passing success has come between the numbers, something Purdue was able to do against the Irish last week. This should be another emphasis for Chris Ash and the defense.
Marcus Freeman said he does not want to play a spy this week. While the logic is sound, I fear he may have no choice at a certain point. Not that it had much of an impact against Reed and A&M, but Green’s 90 rush yards per game are going to be an issue unless the defense somehow drastically improved over the past week. Green is quick, elusive, tough, more experienced than Reed, and will have the benefit of a home crowd. Razorbacks RB Mike Washington will likely have one or two big gains. It will be interesting to see how he responds after costing Arkansas a win at Memphis last week.
Brenden's Prediction: 48-40 Notre Dame.
Predictions & Insights
From Connor Regan, Associate Editor, First & Gold Podcast Co-Host
Arkansas is similar to Notre Dame this year: a high-powered, high-scoring offense and a subpar defense with blatant holes. This one will be a shootout for most of the game until the Irish offense makes the difference late. Arkansas has enough talent to keep up with Notre Dame in this one, but its defense will ultimately not be able to contain CJ Carr, Jeremiyah Love, and Jadarian Price. If Chris Ash and Notre Dame's defense can improve just a bit over their last performance, it should be enough to take care of the Razorbacks.
Connor's Prediction: 41-30 Notre Dame.
From Bruce Straughan, Insider for The Irish Tribune
Notre Dame has been a very up-and-down team this year, with spurts of greatness and spurts of deficiency mostly on the defensive side of the ball. The offense has had no trouble scoring, and I fully expect that to continue against Arkansas.
The problem here, which has been the problem all season, is the defense and its inability to stop the opposing offenses. Notre Dame will now face a 2-2 Arkansas team with both losses coming from two very good teams in (17) Ole Miss and Memphis. Notre Dame has given up 1,211 total yards of offense in just 3 games.
I do believe Notre Dame will win this game and cover the spread (-3.5), but I see it being a high-scoring game, and I really like the over (63.5) here. I believe this game comes down to whoever has the ball on the final possession, as neither team has been able to consistently stop the opposing team's offense.
Bruce's Prediction: 35-31 Notre Dame.
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Thoughts from Clayton Stohler, Co-Host of the First & Gold Podcast
Who's really calling the shots on defense moving forward? Is Chris Ash the DC, or is he wearing the headset merely to be able to regurgitate the plays to Drayk Bowen that he's told to call? Saturday will go a long way in providing the answers to those ever-pressing questions.
No, the defense isn't going to look like a finished product on Saturday.
There will be drifts in zone coverage by Mark Zachary. There's sure to be more than one rep where the collective defensive line attacks Arkansas's O-line squarely in the chest, offering little to no 4-man pressure.
Tae Tae Johnson might make a mistake. Madden Faraimo might have a missed run fit. Dallas Golden might get burnt. But it's not about the unfortunate hand this talented young defense might draw anymore. It's about how they respond. And for every mistake that gets made on Saturday by this borderline humiliated defense, there will be signs of a real shift.
Aggressive 4 man fronts, pressure being brought in the double digits...turnovers, havoc, passion, exhalation, and imminent celebration. Back are the Marcus Freeman fist pumps that feel like they mean something. Back are the ravenous team celebrations that remind us of the few shreds of wholesomeness this sport, in this "league", has.
A breath of life breathed into a defense gasping for air will be felt by all sides of the ball, and all fans that have been ruminating in existential displeasure since that fateful day at Hardrock. Who else hasn't slept right this entire season?
Fear not- you will rest deeply and soundly knowing for a fact that after this game, your gut was right. Chris Ash is only Notre Dame's defensive coordinator by name. Marcus Freeman is really calling the shots. With Mike Mickens waiting closely for his day to come next year...or sooner.
Clayton's Prediction: 38-24 Notre Dame.
Finally, from Liam Farrell, Associate Editor, Senior Football Writer
Mike Denbrock and CJ Carr will have the Irish offense picking up exactly where they left off against Purdue from a week ago. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price will continue to be electric in the Irish's rushing attack as they will combine for four touchdowns in this game.
On the defensive side of the ball, Chris Ash and the Notre Dame defense will continue to struggle and get exploited by one of the nation's best quarterbacks, Taylen Greene. Greene will provide two touchdowns in the air along with two on the ground, and the Irish will be trailing at halftime.
Much like against Purdue last week, Notre Dame will find answers in the second half through more exotic blitz packages and will force the talented quarterback into a late-game interception that turns the tide in favor of Notre Dame.
The Irish will leave Fayetteville bruised, but still fighting another week to continue their playoff aspirations. I see Notre Dame vs Arkansas coming out in the Irish's favor.
Liam's Prediction: 42-38 Notre Dame.
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