In a game with severe playoff implications, whoever loses will most likely miss out on the newly expanded College Football Playoff, while the other will live to play for a title another day. The Irish Tribune staff make their official predictions below.
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Notre Dame Football faces one of its toughest battles yet as they take on their historic (And undefeated) rival -- The Navy Midshipmen -- at MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and Jets from the NFL. Our staff make their official game predictions and hot takes.
Peter Mulroy - First & Gold Podcast Host
Score Prediction: 31-17 Notre Dame
This is one of those games (as it tends to be most seasons) that worries Notre Dame Nation. And while the major reasons for that are Navy’s triple-option and precision when it comes to running the veer, this season, Al Golden’s defense will have to prep for the Naval Academy’s latest wrinkle: the pass, and more so, operating out of the shotgun.
While I expect the Irish defense -- despite documented injuries to key pieces along the depth chart -- to be up to the challenge, it won’t be easy. But if they’re able to get pressure on Navy’s outstanding QB Blake Horvath from the likes of Josh Burnham, Cross, Mills, and Drayk Bowen, and finally play with an early lead, compliments of the Irish offense, then it’s my opinion ND will simply be too strong for Navy to overcome. This is a big test for Notre Dame. And it’s Navy’s biggest of the season.
Clayton Stohler - First & Gold Podcast Co-Host
Score Prediction: 42-17 Notre Dame
I jostled around on this one a lot, but it’s just a feeling that can’t be ignored. Notre Dame is disruptive in the run game, and Jeremiyah Love has the best yardage output of the season. They do what they want, whenever they want. In what was supposed to be a dogfight, Notre Dame takes care of business yet again. It should’ve been close on paper, but it wasn't close on film.
Noah Wehby - Writer
Score Prediction: 34-17 Notre Dame
Although Navy has looked great this year and their offense has been hard to stop, Notre Dame will just be too much for them. Notre Dame’s fast, athletic defense will be able to keep up with Navy’s unique offense and hold them in check for most of the game. Riley Leonard will continue to put another solid game together with the help of a couple of long runs from Love and Price. This game will come down to Notre Dame’s ability to tackle and stay ahead of the sticks avoiding third and longs.
Bruce Straughan - Recruiting Writer
Score Predictions: 35-10 Notre Dame
The National Media continues to hype up Navy, but that’s usually the story for any team that plays Notre Dame. Navy has yet to play anyone with a pulse in my opinion and I believe that Notre Dame will be too much to handle for the Naval Academy. This is the only day of the year that I wish for our military to lose. The other 364 days of the year I and hopefully all Notre Dame fans root for them to dominate the world, but tomorrow, that'll be different.
Liam Farrell - Associate Editor & Senior Football Writer
Score Prediction: 31-17 Notre Dame
Once again, the Irish will go down 7-0 and respond. Navy scores on two early drives, but Al Golden the young linebacking unit adapts to Navy’s tricky scheme. On the offensive side of the ball, Notre Dame fires on all cylinders. The Notre Dame rushing attack dominates the Midshipmen upfront and while Riley Leonard may not have the most glamorous box score, he continues to learn how to operate Mike Denbrock’s offense.
Brenden Duffy - Associate Editor & Senior Staff Writer
Score Prediction: 45-28 Notre Dame
Navy will pick up one or two explosive plays but I trust the Irish defense to contain the triple-option attack. Offensively for the Irish, I expect them to successfully establish the run early. It would not shock me if this was another outing featuring three Irish 100-yard rushers (Love, Price, and Leonard). This game should be close until around the fourth quarter as ND takes another rivalry victory over Navy.
Brady Burden - Social Media Intern
Editors Note: Please welcome Brady Burden to The Irish Tribune team. Brady is an accomplished sports media figure who has success and experience in helping manage various media brands' social media channels in the world of sports, and even in the Notre Dame world. Brady will be an important part of our continued goal of delivering exceptional content to millions of Notre Dame fans in innovative and traditional forms.
Score Prediction: 38-24 Notre Dame
Notre Dame defense struggles early at times but Al Golden makes his adjustments and gets things situated in the second half. Riley Leonard’s arm helps the slow-starting offense get going after a prolonged first quarter. He throws for 250+ yards with multiple touchdowns and shows the Irish fans what they’ve wanted to see from his passing abilities.
What are your predictions for this highly impactful game, Notre Dame Nation?
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