Photo via NC State Athletics On Saturday afternoon, the 16th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-2) hosts the NC State Wolfpack (4-2). The Irish look to keep their CFP hopes alive amidst the chaos of last weekend. Meanwhile, the Wolfpack would love to prove they are back on track, following two early ACC losses, with a big-time road win. NC State Results (4-2): 24-17 vs East Carolina (W) 35-31 vs Virginia (W) 34-24 at Wake Forest (W) 33-45 at Duke (L) 21-23 vs Virginia Tech (L) 56-10 vs Campbell (W) It appears NC State and Head Coach Dave Doeren have put last season’s 6-7 finish behind them. This marked the worst record for the program since 2019. Doeren, the Wolfpack’s all-time winningest coach, has been with the program since 2013 as HC. Before taking over in Raleigh, Doeren spent time as Wisconsin’s Defensive Coordinator and Northern Illinois’ head coach. The defensive-minded HC made changes to the offense this past offseason, when he promoted Kurt Roper to replace Robert Anae at Offensive Coordinator. Roper has an extensive coaching history that dates back as a GA at Tennessee during the Volunteers’ 1998 BCS National Championship season. Since then, he has spent time as a QB coach within various programs, including Ole Miss, Duke, and South Carolina. Roper has split time as a QB and RB coach since arriving at NC State in 2019. This season, Roper’s first as NC State’s OC, the offense has been solid, featuring some explosive plays, led by talented passer CJ Bailey. See offensive team stats below with their respective national ranking: 33.8 points per game (tied-45th) 447.7 total yards per game (31st) 282.3 pass yards per game (26th) 6 pass plays of 40 or more yards (tied-13th) 165.33 rush yards per game (62nd) 3 rush plays of 50 or more yards (tied-6th) Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Offensive Personnel: Quarterbacks: CJ Bailey - NC State’s sophomore gunslinger stands at 6-6 and 213 pounds. Bailey is completing 74.6% of his throws for 1,660 yards and 13 touchdowns with four interceptions. Here is where the QB ranks amongst the rest of the country: 289.7 total yards per game (19th among FBS players) 276.7 passing yards per game (17th) 168.84 passer rating (14th) 13 passing TDs (tied-8th) 74.6% completion percentage (tied-4th) During the loss at Duke, Bailey threw for a season-high 364 yards while going 29/39 with two touchdowns. However, the sophomore did throw a season-high three interceptions on the road. Last week, he threw a season-high four touchdowns against Campbell while completing 20/23 attempts for 337 yards and no turnovers. An interesting note on NC State is that they are 4-0 when Bailey takes one or fewer sacks compared to 0-2 when he takes two or more. Overall, Bailey is a good passer. He is 13/23 on throws over 20 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. A key for the Irish defense will be to apply pressure on the QB, as all four of his interceptions have come under duress. On the ground, Bailey is an average scrambler with 40 carries for 78 yards and three touchdowns. His lost fumble at Duke marked his fourth turnover of the game. He rushed for a season-high 44 yards and two touchdowns on six carries against Virginia. Bailey can be tough to bring down with his size, and that is shown with nine missed tackles forced and seven carries of 10 or more yards. Others to watch: Will Wilson - has three goal-line touchdowns this season Running Backs: Hollywood Smothers - NC State’s premier RB is a 5-11, 195-pound redshirt sophomore. This season, Smothers has rushed for 693 yards and five touchdowns on 100 carries. He has finished with over 100 yards in four of his six games this year. Here is where the sophomore ranks nationally among FBS rushers: 115.5 yards per game (6th) 5 carries of 40 or more yards (tied-1st) 3 carries of 50 or more yards (tied-3rd) Smothers rushed for a season-high 164 yards at Wake Forest on 24 carries. He recorded a season-high two touchdowns against Virginia when he ran for 140 yards on 17 carries. Last week, the sophomore tallied 123 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown, on just four touches against Campbell. Smothers is a good, strong runner averaging a nice 6.9 yards per carry, including 4.72 yards after contact, with 32 missed tackles forced and no fumbles. He has 20 carries of 10 or more yards, and notably, 25% of his carries go outside the LT. Smothers also serves as a good receiving back, with 21 receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown through the air. He recorded a season-high five catches and 41 yards in the loss at Duke. Last week, the sophomore finished with two catches for 30 yards, including a 16-yard score. A reliable short-yardage option, Smothers has no drops across 22 targets and averages 8.1 yards after the catch per reception. As a blocker, he struggles against the pass rush but actually serves as a solid lead on Bailey’s designed scrambles. Others to watch: Jayden Scott Receivers: Terrell Anderson - Bailey’s top wideout is the 6-2, 192-pound sophomore. Anderson has 388 yards (leads team) and three touchdowns across 21 receptions this season. Here is where the right-side WR ranks among FBS pass-catchers: 64.7 receiving yards per game (83rd) 18.48 yards per reception (37th) 4 receptions of 30 or more yards (tied-21st) Anderson recorded season-highs at Duke when he tallied six catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75-yard screen pass which he took to the house. Additionally, the sophomore has at least two catches in each game this year. The talented WR shifts to the slot about 25% of the time. He has just one drop on 26 targets and can beat defenses in a variety of ways, including over the top. Anderson struggles as a run blocker. Keenan Jackson - The second of this trio of starting sophomore receivers is NC State’s slot-man. Jackson has 17 catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns this season. The 6-3 weapon has at least one reception in each game, including a season-high five receptions against Virginia Tech, where he finished with 35 yards, including a 13-yard score. Jackson recorded a season-high 46 yards at Wake Forest on three receptions, including a 12-yard touchdown. The sophomore is a solid receiver with a team-high two drops across 24 targets. He serves best as a short-yardage, yard-after-catch option. Jackson’s run-blocking is solid. Noah Rogers - Opposite of Anderson out wide, is the 6-2, 197-pound redshirt sophomore. Rogers has 15 receptions for 235 yards and one touchdown entering this weekend. He has at least one catch in each game, including a season-high of four receptions at Wake Forest when he finished with 52 yards. Rogers recorded a season-high 62 yards last week on three catches. Overall, the redshirt sophomore is a good, reliable receiver with one drop on 20 targets and averages 15.7 yards per reception. While not as dangerous as Anderson, Rogers offers a similar skillset as he is 4/5 on contested catch attempts. His run-blocking is okay for a wideout. Wesley Grimes - This 6-2 senior usually comes off the bench but has played a significant role in the offense halfway through the season. Grimes has 243 yards and a touchdown on 14 catches in five games played (out at Duke). His 17.36 yards per reception are tied 62nd among qualifying FBS pass-catchers. The senior has at least two catches in each game played, and has seven receptions for 188 yards and a score across 12 targets of 10 or more yards. Grimes set season-highs against East Carolina when he finished with 121 yards and a touchdown on just four catches in the win. Bailey’s favorite deep target has no drops across 20 targets and is a solid run-blocker. Others to watch: Teddy Hoffman, Ethan Dowdy, Ashton Locklear Tight Ends: Justin Joly - Bailey’s top target this season is the 6-3 senior receiving tight end. Joly’s 28 receptions lead the team as he has garnered 256 yards and three touchdowns. His 4.7 receptions per game are tied-74th among qualifying FBS pass-catchers, and he has hauled in at least four catches in each game. Joly recorded a season-high six receptions against Virginia Tech, which he took for 60 yards. He set a season-high of 63 yards at Duke across five receptions. Then, at Wake Forest, he set a season-high two touchdowns on four receptions for 22 yards. Obviously, the 263-pounder is a talented receiving TE. 47.8% of his pass snaps come out of the slot as a safe, short-yardage option. He has just one drop across 39 targets and has been solid as a run-blocker so far this year. Others to watch: Cody Hardy, Dante Daniels Offensive Line: LT Jacarrius Peak, LG Anthony Carter Jr., C Jalen Grant, RG Spike Sowells Jr., RT Teague Andersen - This group has, overall, been solid this season. Their pass-block is stronger than their run-block. LT Peak is the best pass-blocker of the group, setting up a potential challenge for Notre Dame’s premier pass-rusher, Boubacar Traore. RT Andersen has allowed the most pressures on this line, so the Irish should attack him. Both OGs really struggle with the run. RG Sowells Jr deserves a bit of leeway as he is a true freshman who earned his first start just two weeks ago. But again, this could be another facet that the Irish defense would like to expose. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Defensive Personnel: NC State’s defensive brain trust is made up of HC Doeren and first-year Wolfpack Defensive Coordinator, D.J. Eliot. Doeren had some work to do this past offseason after his top two defensive assistants earned promotions at new programs. Former DC/LB Coach Tony Gibson is now the HC at Marshall, and former Nickels Coach Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay returned to his alma mater, Sam Houston, to be the DC.  Enter D.J. Eliot. Like Doeren, Eliot has a long coaching history that includes various roles and stops throughout the years since being a GA at Wyoming in 1999. Most notably, Eliot has served as DC at Kentucky, Colorado, Kansas, and Temple. Last year, he was a senior analyst at Baylor before getting the call from Doeren.  Unfortunately, Eliot’s first year in Raleigh has been far from ideal. He has not had any help from a health standpoint, with four key defenders out last week and three DBs already ruled out with season-ending injuries. I noted this earlier in the week in my keys to the game for the Irish to attack.  Keep an eye on any Wolfpack injury reports this week. Starting up front, NC State’s lack of a pass rush is apparent with just nine sacks on the year, with 1.5 per game tied-107th among FBS teams in this stat. In the back, the secondary has failed to make needed plays. Their 3.5 passes defended per game are tied-91st among FBS defenses, and 0.5 interceptions per game are tied-100th. To add on to the lack of turnovers, this group has forced just one fumble and has failed to recover any. Here is where the defense ranks nationally:  25 points per game allowed (tied-77th) 375 total yards per game allowed (77th) 131.83 rush yards per game allowed (57th) 3 carries of 60 or more yards allowed (1st) 243.2 pass yards per game allowed (99th) 44.09% 3rd-down conversion rate allowed (113th) Interior Line: Travali Price - The smaller of the two starting interior linemen is the 6-4, 285-pound NC State graduate. Price has 10 tackles, three for a loss, and 1.5 sacks this season. He recorded a season-high three tackles against East Carolina and at Duke. He picked up his sack in the win at Wake Forest. Price is a solid, all-around DT with just one missed tackle on the year. He has seven pressures on 145 pass rush attempts and four stops with no misses against the run. Brandon Cleveland - In my opinion, the better of the two DTs is the 6-4, 315-pound senior. Cleveland has 14 tackles, four for a loss, and one sack this year. He tallied a season-best five tackles and a sack in the loss at Duke. The senior has nine pressures, including two QB hits, across 121 pass rushes. Against the run, he has been really good with nine stops and just two missed tackles. Others to watch: Isaiah Shirley (had a pick-six vs Wake Forest), Josiah Victor, Chazz Wallace Edge Rushers: Sabastian Harsh - The first of two graduate transfer edge rushers is the 6-3, 263-pounder from Wyoming. This season, Harsh has 21 tackles, six for a loss, 2.5 sacks, and two pass breakups. He enters this weekend leading the team in tackles for loss and sacks. His one tackle for loss per game is tied-75th among FBS defenders. Harsh had a season-high seven tackles with a pass breakup against East Carolina. Across the past two weeks, the former Cowboy has tallied seven tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a pass breakup. He does have four missed tackles this season, with three coming against the run. In general, Harsh is an all-around good edge rusher who offers versatility. His pass rush has been impressive as he leads the team with 17 QB pressures across 161 pass rush attempts. He has come up with six stops against the run, in addition to the three misses previously mentioned. The edge rusher has dropped into coverage eight times this season and allowed an 11-yard touchdown on his only target. Cian Slone - Another grad-transfer edge defender from the Mountain West, Slone came over from Utah State this offseason. The 6-4, 252-pound OLB has 28 tackles, four for a loss, one sack, an interception, and a pass breakup this season. He has at least two tackles in each game, including a season-high of seven against East Carolina and Virginia Tech. In the matchup with the Hokies, Slone added a sack but also finished with a season-high three missed tackles in the contest. The former Aggie came up huge against Virginia when he racked up four tackles and hauled in the game-saving interception. Last week, Slone had five tackles and a pass breakup against Campbell. Overall, he is a pretty good defender, but his six missed tackles are an issue. You can find Slone rushing the passer on nearly 80% of pass plays. He has recorded 15 pressures, including a team-high four QB hits, across 134 pass rushes. Against the run, the grad-transfer has come up with 10 stops, but five of his six missed tackles have occurred here. In coverage, the OLB has been fairly lockdown, having allowed three catches for just 16 yards across six targets, in addition to his interception and pass breakup. Others to watch: Tra Thomas Linebackers: Caden Fordham - NC State’s leading tackler through six games is the 6-1, 230-pound ILB. Fordham has 59 tackles, five for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and a pass breakup this season. The graduate’s 9.83 tackles per game currently rank 13th among FBS defenders. He has had at least six tackles in each game, including three contests with 11 or more. Fordham recorded a season-high 15 tackles against Virginia Tech. He had 11 tackles and notched his sack versus East Carolina. And he tallied his pass breakup, in addition to six tackles, in the loss at Duke. Compared to the other starting LB, Soares Jr., Fordham is more of a cover backer who can move out to slot corner when needed. However, he has struggled in coverage, having allowed 19 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown across 26 targets. The LB has been good against the run, with a team-leading 22 stops, but all five of his missed tackles have come here. Fordham’s pass rush has been solid with three pressures, including the 1.5 sacks, across just 31 attempts. Kenny Soares Jr. - Another veteran ILB to keep an eye on is the Northwestern grad-transfer. Soares has 22 tackles, including at least one in each game, and one tackle for loss this season. The 6-2, 233-pound LB recorded a season-high nine tackles last week in his first start of the year against Campbell. Soares was starting in place of the injured Sean Brown, who is averaging 8.8 tackles per game. Brown will likely be questionable for this weekend. For Soares, though, he has played good all-around, other than his four penalties, which are tied for the most on the defense. He has nine pressures, including two QB hits, across 69 pass rush attempts. The grad-transfer has 10 stops against the run with no missed tackles. When in coverage, which is on about 38% of pass plays, Soares has allowed four receptions for just 17 yards on four targets. Others to watch: Sean Brown (out last week with injury), LaCorian Hodge Defensive Backs: Jamel Johnson - The first starting wide CB to highlight is the 5-11 Temple transfer. Johnson has 13 tackles, one for a loss, and three pass breakups this year. He has recorded two or more tackles in four games, including a season-high of five against East Carolina. Notably, all three of his pass breakups occurred in the loss to Virginia Tech. Johnson has been solid in coverage thus far, having allowed 12 receptions for 146 yards across 23 targets, in addition to the passes defended. The senior transfer has had minimal impact against the run with no stops, and one of his two missed tackles happened in this spot. Devon Marshall - Opposite of Johnson is another 5-11 senior who leads the team in pass breakups with four. In addition, Marshall added 21 tackles this season, including at least one in each game. He recorded season-highs in tackles (five) and pass breakups (two) against East Carolina. Like Johnson, Marshall has been solid in coverage, with 14 catches allowed for 152 yards across 26 targets. The senior also has minimal impact against the run with just one stop and no misses this season. Jivan Baly - The first of three freshmen DBs that have been thrust into key roles due to injuries this season is the 5-11, 172-pound slot corner/LB hybrid. Before last week’s contest against Campbell, Baly had only appeared on special teams. Last week, the redshirt freshman notched his first defensive snaps and start of the year when he racked up seven tackles with none missed. He allowed two receptions for 20 yards across five targets and made one stop against the run. This week will be quite the step up in competition for a DB that, at one point, looked to be just a key special teams player for this year.  Ronnie Royal III - At safety is the 5-9, 185-pound redshirt freshman. Royal has 24 tackles, an interception, and a pass breakup this season. He has at least one tackle in each game, including a season-high of eight last week against Campbell, where he also recorded a pass breakup. Royal had a nice outing at Wake Forest when he finished with four tackles and an interception. However, the freshman DB has struggled overall with a team-high seven missed tackles and four penalties. Royal has been burned in coverage for 211 yards and a touchdown on 16 receptions across just 20 targets. He has not been much better against the run, with just one stop, and four of his missed tackles have occurred here. Royal can play slot corner occasionally. Asaad Brown Jr. - The third freshman DB to highlight is the six-foot, 199-pound Safety. Brown has 14 tackles in five games played, including starts the past three weeks. Notably, the young DB did not receive any defensive snaps in the team’s first two games. Brown recorded a season-high nine tackles against Virginia Tech and has not missed a tackle this season. He has been solid in coverage so far, with four catches for 35 yards allowed across five targets. Brown has had little impact against the run with just one stop. Others to watch: Brian Nelson II, JJ Johnson, Brody Barnhardt (out last week with injury), Jackson Vick (out last three weeks with injury) RIP Drue Eliot Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Although it was a game marked by penalties and inconsistent offensive play, Notre Dame managed to put together a performance good enough to coast by Boise State to move to 3-2. Who is to thank for the comfortable win, and who may need to improve heading into this week's matchup? Photo by The Irish Tribune Notre Dame Defensive Line: A This has to be the best this defensive line has looked all year. As a group, they seemed to be getting pressure on almost every dropback in the passing game, and in the running game, they held Boise State to just 100 yards rushing. The defensive line did a much better job of not letting Boise State running backs get into the second and third levels, usually bringing them down at or close to the line of scrimmage. Against the pass, the defensive line was all over Maddux Madsen. Madsen has good athleticism, which can cause a lot of problems for defensive lines, but the Irish front did a great job keeping Madsen contained and in the pocket. Because Madsen was confined so often, it made it a lot easier for the line to get home for the sack. Speaking of, Notre Dame combined for four sacks total, which is the most they have totaled all year. Whether it is a change in attitude or scheme, this defensive line seems to be starting to find its groove. They appeared to be faster, more aggressive, and explosive by all accounts. Against Boise State, it is expected that Notre Dame controls the line of scrimmage, and the Notre Dame defensive line did just that. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Notre Dame Secondary: A- The Notre Dame Secondary has had a rough start to the 2025 season, but they once again showed improvement in Notre Dame's win against Boise State. Although they did give up two plays for 28 yards, they did a much better job of reducing the big play compared to earlier in the season. For the entire game, the Irish secondary only gave up 215 passing yards. That total is solid considering that this Boise State offense is known for its explosive passing attack. In recent weeks, this secondary was getting accustomed to giving up well over 300 yards through the air, so 215 yards allowed is a step in the right direction. The highlight of the game for this unit were the turnovers forced, however. For the first time since 2023, the Notre Dame secondary recorded four interceptions. This is one area that the entire defense needed to improve upon going forward, and the secondary was up to the task in this one. Leonard Moore was responsible for two of the picks, as the first one came when Moore did a great job blanketing his matchup, essentially running his route for him. Redshirt freshman safety Tae Johnson once again stood out, as he was responsible for one of the other interceptions and some key tackles. Although this unit still has things to improve upon, especially with more dynamic offenses down the stretch, this secondary is continuing to show improvement. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle CJ Carr: B+ This may have been the worst game CJ Carr has had as the starting quarterback so far in his young career, although he wasn't "bad" at all. For the most part, Carr has been lights out this year, but on Saturday, Carr seemed just a little bit off with his timing and decision-making. For the game, Carr went 15-23 for 189 yards and two touchdowns, a fairly efficient game with a couple of scores. While his stats were anything but egregious, they don't tell the full story. The first sign that something was amiss showed up when he was just off the mark for a wide-open touchdown to Will Pauling on fourth down. Carr had not missed a throw like that so far this season, and might have panicked a little bit seeing the receiver that wide open. While Carr has been impressively accurate this season, a miss like that does work as a reminder of his young age and inexperience. Carr missed another big throw later in the game, but this time it was intended for Micah Gilbert downfield. Carr was just a little late to see Gilbert breaking open, causing him to underthrow a pass that could have easily been a touchdown. Carr also forced a pass into double coverage intended for Malachi Fields near the sideline, which could have been an interception against stiffer competition. Even with these plays, Carr played a perfectly fine game, but did make a few mistakes that were magnified by the gravity of the result. Two missed touchdown passes could certainly make all the difference in a game. But if this is what a mediocre game looks like for Carr, this offense will be just fine moving forward. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

(Left) Photo via NC State Athletics; (Right) Photo via Notre Dame Athletics This Saturday afternoon, the 16th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish hosts 4-2 NC State. The Irish look to extend their win streak to four as College Football Playoff hopes are in the air in South Bend following an upset-filled weekend.  The Wolfpack were able to get back on track with a dominant win against Campbell following back-to-back ACC losses to Virginia Tech and Duke. Here are some early-week keys that Notre Dame could take advantage of this weekend: Pressure CJ Bailey It is not a shocker that Notre Dame’s defense has looked better the past few games, given their pass rush has improved week-over-week. After posting just one total sack in their first two contests, the Irish have racked up nine sacks across the past three games.  This will be another key against NC State QB CJ Bailey. The talented passer is at his worst when under duress, completing 29/50 attempts with four touchdowns; however, all four of his interceptions have also arisen from pressure.  NC State’s offensive line has been pretty good so far as a pass-blocking unit, but their weakness is at RT with Teague Andersen, who has allowed a team-high 14 QB pressures this year. I really like matching up Irish DE Boubacar Traore, who has 3.5 sacks this season, against the struggling OT. Otherwise, throw him off with some exotic packages and stunts that will leave the lineman confused. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Gang-Tackling Rushers The Wolfpack offense, led by Bailey, prefers to pass, but they are certainly a capable rushing team with the QB and starting RB, Hollywood Smothers.  At 6-6 and 213 pounds, Bailey is tough to bring down once he gets going. He has taken off 40 times for 78 yards and three touchdowns. Additionally, he has forced nine missed tackles and has seven carries of 10 or more yards. NC State will also, occasionally, bring in backup QB Will Wilson on goal-line scenarios where he has three scores. The Notre Dame defense will have its hands full trying to tackle these strong and capable rushing QBs. Simply put, Smothers is a beast. He is currently averaging 4.72 yards after contact per carry and has forced 32 missed tackles. Defenders are rarely able to bring down the RB one-on-one. See my next key for more on Smothers: Contain Hollywood Smothers As just mentioned, once he gets going, Smothers is tough to bring down. His five carries of 40 or more yards are tied for the most among FBS rushers.  Notre Dame’s run defense will need to have a repeat effort from this past weekend against Boise State, where they allowed just 100 yards on 2.9 yards per carry. It was a good bounce back after a rough outing against an Arkansas offense that put up 158 yards on 5.3 yards per carry. Overall, the Irish are allowing a modest 3.62 yards per carry but will need to replicate their Purdue and Boise performances against a potentially dangerous rush attack. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Physical Coverage NC State’s pass-catchers have been reliable for the most part this season, and it starts with starting wideouts Terrell Anderson and Noah Rogers. This strong-handed duo has combined for just two drops (one by each) across 46 targets. Both are capable of beating defenses in a variety of ways, whether it be over the top or off a screen that turns into a big gain. While Anderson has the better numbers, I think Rogers may be the more talented of the two, as he has come down with four of his five contested catch attempts. The return of Irish CB Leonard Moore was huge last week, but he will be tasked with a tougher assignment this Saturday. Physicality will be key; do not let these receivers even touch the ball in coverage, otherwise, they are likely going to come down with it. Additionally, NC State’s top target is its TE Justin Joly. I discussed the Wolfpack’s receiving threat in the preseason as a top player on the Irish schedule this season,  and he has fit the bill so far. Notre Dame has not exactly been locking down opposing TEs so far, specifically against Purdue, Arkansas, and the final Texas A&M touchdown play. This does not bode well against, in my opinion, the best TE the Irish will go against this year. I think Chris Ash and the Irish defense may have to live with Joly getting his production. In my opinion, you are better off letting the TE beat you rather than the two underrated WRs out wide. For reference, Joly has 28 receptions for 256 yards and three touchdowns this season, including at least four catches in each game. Air it Out My final note relates to the Notre Dame offense, which is averaging the 13th-most points per game (40.8) and 25th-most pass yards per game (283). QB CJ Carr should be able to let it fly this weekend against a depleted Wolfpack secondary, allowing 243.2 yards per game (99th among FBS programs).  Before NC State’s week one contest was finished, they were already down three DBs with season-ending injuries. In addition, the Wolfpack were without three other DBs last week against Campbell due to injuries: Brody Barnhardt, Jackson Vick, and JJ Johnson. Keep an eye on any NC State injury updates throughout the week. If these three are unable to go, I would attack redshirt freshman Jivan Baly, who not only made his first start last week, but it also marked his first defensive snaps of the season. He played solidly against a lowly Campbell squad, allowing just two catches for 20 yards across five targets. Another DB I would go after is Ronnie Royal III, a redshirt freshman Safety. He is, arguably, the worst cover DB on this team, having allowed 16 catches for 211 yards and a touchdown across 20 targets this season. Royal has hauled in one interception and has recorded one pass breakup.  With a run game as dangerous as Notre Dame’s, establishing the pass can lead to the big runs later in the contest. NC State has allowed three carries of 60 or more yards this season, the most among FBS teams. Watch for Jeremiyah Love or Jadarian Price to break a big one this Saturday. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Every team seems to have that one game that's sloppy, and you just hope to get out of it with a win. For Notre Dame, Saturday's matchup against Boise State was anything but pretty. The Irish overcame poor execution and penalty troubles to win comfortably, despite some less-than-stellar moments on both sides of the football. Photo by Notre Dame Athletics The Notre Dame offense coming into this game had been the one thing so far this season that you could count. It appeared that today was going to be no different when CJ Carr and the offense started with a 9-yard run from Jeremiyah Love and a 10-yard pass to Jordan Faison. However, trouble would soon follow for the first of many times on the day. Jeremiyah Love fumbled the ball but was able to recover, and at that time, it didn't seem like much of an issue after two consecutive 24-yard pass completions (one to Will Pauling and another to Jordan Faison), but it would be the beginning of a litany of miscues for the Irish. After two short runs by Love, OL Billy Schrauth committed a false start, and the drive would end on 4th down at the Boise State 1-yard line, where Jeremiyah Love was denied a touchdown after being swallowed up by the Broncos' defense for a 1-yard loss. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle The Irish defense didn't start out much better after committing two penalties on Boise State's first drive, one by CB DeVonta Smith for holding and another by DL Junior Tuihalamaka for being offside. With all that being said, the Irish found a way to stop the Broncos' offense and were able to get off the field. In fact, the first 3 offensive series for the Broncos ended with them punting, and the defense seemed to be really locked in, that is, until the 4th offensive series when S Tae Johnson was flagged for unnecessary roughness. This would be one of many flags to be thrown throughout the course of this game. In fact, 24 total flags were thrown, accounting for 224 penalty yards combined for the two teams. I have to say I've never seen so many penalty flags in my entire life. When the refs make themselves a part of the game in that fashion, it's not fun for anyone involved, including coaches, players, and even fans. It makes the game unwatchable and begs the question: when is it time to let the players play? I'm all for following the rules, but today was overkill and made you wonder if the refs were being paid per flag thrown. Obviously, that's hyperbole, but what we witnessed yesterday was ridiculous. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! CJ Carr had his worst game of the season today, where he looked out of sync and was up and down in terms of being in rhythm with his wide receivers. Case in point was him missing a wide-open Will Pauling for a touchdown, a pass I'm sure he'd love to have back. With that being said, he still throws the best football we've seen (especially the deep ball) since Jimmy Clausen. With every freshman signal caller, you expect them to have a game like this, and I'm glad it was today, where the defense was able to step up and help. I really don't see this being a pattern for Carr, but instead a lesson in growth and progression as his career continues to unfold. The defense really was the bright spot of the day, as they seem to be growing as a unit and look more and more confident in what they're doing each week. Leonard Moore continues to be a shutdown corner and one of the best in college football, with two interceptions and 6 tackles today. When will teams learn not to throw it his way? I hope never! Christian Grey perfectly jumped a route, and had he fully committed to it, it would have been an easy walk into the endzone, and the front four finally got some pressure today and got home on multiple occasions. The growth we've seen from this unit since the first two games has been slow, but it seems to be turning a corner. At the end of the day, a win is a win, and ugly or not, you take them when you can get them. Games like this, although they can be frustrating for coaches, players, and fans when it's not exactly going flawlessly, it is a step in the right direction towards exposing your weaknesses and making the corrections to get that much better as the season rolls on. On to the next! Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. 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No. 21 Notre Dame played a far from perfect game, but ultimately outlasted the Boise State Broncos with a 28-7 victory at Notre Dame Stadium. Photo by Notre Dame Athletics If there would be one word to describe this game, it would be: sloppy. Notre Dame finished this game with 11 penalties for 112 yards, while the Boise State Broncos rivaled the poor discipline with 13 penalties for 112 yards. Some of the flags could be attributed to the referees being whistle happy, but still there is no situation where the Fighting Irish should be anywhere near that undisciplined. Aside from the penalties, the Fighting Irish had many self-inflicted mistakes that put them behind the Broncos early on. Notre Dame got stuffed near the goal line on their first drive of the game, and CJ Carr missed a wide-open Will Pauling in the end zone on 4th & 8. Even on the Irish's initial touchdown drive, they missed the ensuing PAT. The combination of all these factors had the Broncos leading the Irish 7-6 late in the second quarter, which put Notre Dame in an uncomfortable position. The Irish offense responded with touchdown drives on three of their next four drives. The Irish had yet another balanced offensive attack, with Carr totaling 189 yards through the air while the nation's best running back duo added 186 yards on the ground. Both Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price dazzled, as they both recorded a rushing touchdown in this one. As far as the wide receivers, Notre Dame got another balanced performance from that unit. Jordan Faison continued to be the Irish's most consistent performer as the dual-sport athlete added 83 yards on six catches. The two touchdown scorers were Malachi Fields and Pauling, who combined for six catches and 87 yards. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! In terms of Chris Ash's defense, it was simply his best performance as the defensive coordinator for the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame held the Broncos to seven points and accounted for four turnovers and four sacks. All-American Leonard Moore had a two-interception performance in his first game back from injury and proved to be one of the nation's best. Safeties Luke Talich and Tae Johnson recorded an interception as well. In terms of singular standout performances, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa delivered the best performance of his Notre Dame career. Viliamu-Asa was the Irish's co-leading tackler, alongside fellow linebacker Jaiden Ausberry. Viliamu-Asa was credited with a half sack along with Boubacar Traore who also turned in his best performance of the season. Ausberry, Jaylen Sneed, and Drayk Bowen were the other players who all had sacks in this one. While the Fighting Irish gave up 315 total yards of offense, they stopped the Broncos when it mattered most. In a game where the Notre Dame offense was staggering, it was the defense that picked up the slack and got it done when it mattered most. All eyes are now focused onto NC State next week where the Irish are still looking for a complete team performance. However, in a week where other top teams could not handle their own business, the Fighting Irish got it done even during a disappointing game to keep their playoff hopes alive. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @ LiamFarrell_IT  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

No. 21 Notre Dame is looking to stack dominant performances as the Boise State Broncos stroll into South Bend for the annual Irish Wear Green game. Art by The Irish Tribune Notre Dame is far from perfect, but the Irish garnered back respect from many in their 56-13 beatdown of the Arkansas Razorbacks. Arkansas' offense had many self-inflicted wounds that helped the Irish get a lead and forced them to play from behind. This made the potent Razorbacks offense one-dimensional, ditching the run and fully committing to an aerial attack. Chris Ash and the Notre Dame defense glued in and held Arkansas to zero points in the second half. While the Notre Dame defense is beginning to figure it out, the offense is thriving more than ever. CJ Carr has matured at an abnormal rate and Mike Denbrock has had this offense clicking for the past three weeks. In fact, Notre Dame hasn't punted the ball once in the past two games. With that being said, Boise State proves to be a new threat for the Irish. The Broncos bring a dynamic offense to Notre Dame Stadium and are hoping to get their season officially back on track after a disappointing loss to USF to open the season. Here are three keys for Saturday's matchup in a sea of green. Early Defensive Stops Boise State has a dynamic offense this season. The Broncos are averaging 38.5 ppg along with an impressive 50% efficiency on third downs. Even without Ashton Jeanty, Boise State is running the ball with extreme success, averaging 221 rushing yards per game. Instead of one main work horse, the Broncos have a running back by committee with Dylan Riley, Sire Gaines, and Malik Sherrod. Boise State also returns their starting quarterback, Maddux Madsen, who has thrown for 1,129 yards and 9 touchdowns this season. Madsen's main weapon on the outside is Latrell Capers, a big-bodied WR who has exceptional hands. Boise State also likes to utilize their tight ends in the pass catching department, especially Matt Lauter. If Ash and the Notre Dame defense can get early stops and a bit of help from the Fighting Irish offense, they will force the Broncos to play from behind. When the Irish have had a lead, they have been more inclined to send pressure, instead of sitting in soft zones. In this one, expect Ash to dial up more pressure and force the Boise State offensive line into high-pressure scenarios. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Continue Offensive Balance It's hard to critique an offense that has been so exceptional over the past three games. Denbrock has figured out a way to strategically implement his All-American running backs along with elite pass catchers to get one of the most well-rounded offenses in the nation. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price have playing to their full potential, as they have collectively scored 15 touchdowns through the first four games. Their ability to interchange in the backfield and not skip a beat has allowed Notre Dame to strike big-play fear in every opposing defense. The emergence of CJ Carr has also freed up the defensive box allowing Price and Love to run freely. Once teams do, in fact, load the box, Carr has been able to deliver balls accurately downfield. It is hard to determine Carr's favorite target on the early season because he has been so effective distributing the ball to multiple targets. Malachi Fields has been a steady presence as the boundary receiver, while Jordan Faison has been able to create space especially on quarterback rollouts. Jaden Greathouse and Will Pauling have slowly emerged as well, making more of an impact on a weekly basis. Eli Raridon has been Carr's escape route as well, as the senior tight end has been playing to the Notre Dame standard in that position group. Create Havoc While the Fighting Irish defense has improved since their performance against Texas A&M, Notre Dame needs to create more havoc. Whether that be created through rushing more than four, or creating better schemes, Notre Dame has to continue to be an aggressive defense. While the transition from Al Golden to Chris Ash has been bumpy, the youth on the backend of the defense has become more experienced and playing freer. One person in particular who will be a star at the end of the season is Tae Johnson. Johnson's size and athleticism make him a unique player, but once the Fort Wayne, Ind. native understand the intricacies of the safety position, he will be a stud. Johnson has slowly but surely made progress in dissecting route concepts and instinctively putting himself in the correct position. As far as the defensive line, Al Washington is starting to understand who his best players are. On the interior, Gabriel Rubio and Jared Dawson have been the best options, especially against the run. On the outside, Boubacar Traore and Jordan Botelho have been evolving, but the Irish are still waiting on Bryce Young to take that next step forward. For tomorrow's game, expect Notre Dame's defense to be flying around with more confidence and more of an understanding of what the offense is calling. If the Irish can continue to elevate, creating turnovers and giving this potent offense more opportunities to score is a certified recipe for success. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @ LiamFarrell_IT  on X Liked this story? 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This Saturday afternoon, Notre Dame welcomes Boise State to South Bend for a matchup between two CFP teams from a year ago. The Irish offense looks to continue its roll, coming off of back-to-back 56-point outings, while the defense slowly figures itself out after holding an explosive Arkansas offense to just 13 points. Boise State Results (3-1): 7-34 at South Florida (L) 51-14 vs Eastern Washington (W) 49-37 at Air Force (W) 47-14 vs App State (W) Since taking over the Broncos program at the end of the 2023 season, Head Coach Spencer Danielson has amassed a 15-4 record. Danielson has been with Boise State since 2017 in numerous roles, most recently serving as Defensive Coordinator under Andy Avalos. After Avalos was fired, Danielson was promoted and earned the full-time head coaching job. Last season, his first full year as a full-time head coach, Danielson led the Broncos to a 12-2 record, including a Mountain West Conference Championship and a CFP appearance. With Danielson primarily concerned with the defensive side of the ball, Boise State’s Offensive Coordinator and Play-Caller is Nate Potter. The former Broncos OT was an All-American during his playing days at Boise from 2007-11. Last season, Potter served as a co-OC with Dirk Koetter, along with TE coaching responsibilities. However, Potter was promoted to full-time OC as Koetter transitioned into a senior analyst role this offseason. Ever since three lost fumbles at USF buried the Broncos in week one, Potter has the Boise State offense playing at a top-25 level with an extremely balanced attack. QB Maddux Madsen has played well, and a trio of talented RBs behind a solid line have been assigned the impossible task of replacing Ashton Jeanty. Below, see notable offensive statistics for the Broncos offense with their respective national ranking: 38.5 points per game (tied-22nd) 520 total yards per game (9th) 32 plays of 20-plus yards (tied-7th) 299 pass yards per game (20th) 221 rush yards per game (tied-20th) 12 rushes of 20-plus yards (tied-6th) 50% 3rd-down conversion rate (tied-24th) Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Offensive Personnel: Quarterback: Maddux Madsen - The Broncos returned their starting QB this fall as they look to repeat their magical 2024 season. Madsen, an overall good passer, has completed 59.8% of his attempts for 1,129 yards and nine touchdowns with just one interception. Here is where the redshirt junior ranks nationally: 295.3 total yards per game (18th) 282.3 pass yards per game (16th) 9 pass touchdowns (tied-26th) Last week, Madsen impressed with a season-high 321 yards and four touchdowns with no turnovers against App State. The 5-10 QB is very accurate under 20 yards, protects the ball, and can scramble when needed. Notably, Madsen’s completion percentage drops to just 37.9% when under pressure, something the Notre Dame defense has improved in each week this year. On the ground, the QB has 17 rushes for 52 yards and a touchdown. Madsen has fumbled three times, including one lost at USF when he rushed for 31 yards on 11 attempts. He rushed for a season-high 35 yards on four carries, including a score, against Eastern Washington. Running Backs: Dylan Riley - Arguably, the most exciting player to watch on this post-Jeanty team is the 5-10 sophomore RB. While splitting carries with two other backs, Riley has garnered 360 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 48 carries. Here are where his numbers rank among other qualifying rushers: 90 rush yards per game (27th) 7.5 yards per carry (29th) 5 carries of 20-plus yards (tied-11th) 5 rush touchdowns (tied-23rd) Riley’s first impressive performance came against Eastern Washington when he rushed for 123 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown, on just six carries. In all, the 192-pound RB is a good runner who tends to favor going outside the tackles. As a pass-catcher, Riley has hauled in four receptions on four targets for 89 yards and a touchdown. In my opinion, the sophomore is the best receiving back on the team, but all three have been serviceable. He is really a special player when he gets the ball in open space. If the national media were not aware of Riley already, he made sure to make his name known during his five-touchdown explosion at Air Force. He took 19 carries for 171 yards and four scores, including a 43-yard scamper. He also added two receptions for 84 yards, including a 75-yard screen touchdown through the air. Sire Gaines - The premier blocking back in this stable is the six-foot, 217-pound redshirt freshman. Gaines is averaging 6.4 yards per carry on 38 attempts, including a touchdown. He rushed for a season-high 98 yards and a score on 14 carries against Eastern Washington. After fumbling in each of the team’s first two games, including a lost fumble at USF, Gaines has not put the ball back on the ground since. He is a good, tough runner who leads this RB room with 12 missed tackles forced and eight rushes of 10 or more yards. Like Riley, Gaines also favors the outside, with most of his success running behind the left side of the line.  In my opinion, Gaines is not a legit receiving threat with six receptions for 33 yards across eight targets, including a drop. As a blocker, he has not allowed any pressures across 27 pass-block snaps. Malik Sherrod - The third option of this triple threat of RBs is the speedy, return specialist. Sherrod has rushed for 198 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries. The 5-8 speedster does have two fumbles this season, including one lost at USF. The Fresno State graduate transfer is a good runner who will go right up the middle of the defense, with ten missed tackles forced on the year. Sherrod has also served as a solid receiving option, with eight catches for 63 yards across nine targets. He recorded a season-high of three receptions against both USF and App State. Sherrod’s best and most complete game came against Air Force when he rushed for a season-high 80 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown, on just seven carries. He also added a season-high 36 yards through the air on two receptions. Receivers: Latrell Caples - One of the veteran leaders of this offense is the six-foot, starting slot-man. Caples, who can split out wide occasionally, leads his team with 15 receptions and 240 yards with two touchdowns. The sixth-year student-athlete enters this week coming off of back-to-back performances with at least five catches and 80 yards. Last week, Caples hauled in two touchdowns, including a 34-yard score, across five catches for 84 yards in the dominant win against App State. This year, the 195-pounder has been fairly reliable with two drops across 28 targets. He is 3/5 on contested targets, leads his team’s WRs with five missed tackles forced, and can be found doing most of his work as a short-medium yardage target between the numbers. Caples struggles as a run-blocker. Chris Marshall - The Broncos' most efficient weapon when he gets the ball is the 6-3 wideout. Marshall has 10 catches for 216 yards and a touchdown on 19 targets this season. His 21.6 yards per reception are tied-11th among qualifying FBS pass-catchers. The redshirt junior posted season-highs against Eastern Washington when he finished the contest with 132 yards on four receptions. Marshall’s touchdown was Boise’s only score during the week one loss at USF. The physical wideout is, in general, a solid receiver, but drops have been an issue. The 215-pound WR leads his team with three drops, two of which occurred last week against App State. Given his frame, Marshall is a good run-blocker out wide. Ben Ford - Opposite of Marshall, is the 5-10, 187-pound redshirt senior. Ford has 11 catches for 193 yards and a team-leading three touchdowns. He recorded a season-high 82 yards and two touchdowns, including a 60-yard score, on three receptions against Eastern Washington. Last week, Ford hauled in three catches for 45 yards and a touchdown against App State. The experienced wideout has been pretty reliable so far, with two drops across 17 targets. Like Caples, Ford does most of his damage between the numbers but will not kill you over the top. Ford’s efforts are evident with his great run-blocking ability for a wideout. Others to watch: Cameron Bates, Quinton Brown, Demetric Whitlock Jr. Tight Ends: Matt Lauter - The Broncos' starting tight end is the versatile redshirt senior. Lauter has 13 receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown this season, including at least two catches and 23 yards in each game. The reliable receiving threat has just two drops across 19 targets, both of which occurred in week one at USF. At 6-3 and 245 pounds, he can line up in the slot or out wide, but likely will not beat you over the top. Lauter also serves as a solid run blocker. Others to watch: Matt Wagner Offensive Line: LT Kage Casey, LG Jason Steele, C Mason Randolph, RG Roger Carreon, RT Daylon Metoyer - Overall, this group is solid, especially for Mountain West standards, but it has its issues. The star of this line is LT Casey, who earned preseason All-American honors this fall after a first-team All-Mountain West campaign last season. LG Steele is the youngest of the group, and it shows with some pass-blocking development still needed, as he has allowed nine pressures across 162 pass snaps this year. C Randolph and RG Carreon are both returning starters who missed the majority of 2024 due to injuries. Randolph has played well, but questions arise with Carreon and RT Metoyer on the right side of this line. Carreon, who leads Boise State’s offense with four penalties, has really struggled as a run-blocker and has been average, at best, with his pass-block. Metoyer, who was thrust into a big-time role at the end of last season due to other Boise injuries, has been okay as a run-blocker but has allowed a team-high 11 pressures, including a sack, across 151 snaps. Notre Dame’s defensive front should key in on this potentially vulnerable right side of the line. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Defensive Personnel: The Boise State defense, as previously mentioned, is led by HC Spencer Danielson. When Danielson was promoted to head coach, he brought over former UCF and Nebraska Defensive Coordinator Erik Chinander to oversee this side of the ball, and specifically the defensive line. This season has not been the greatest start for the Broncos' defense, having allowed 14 or more points in each game, including 34 or more points twice through four games. Danielson’s defense is known to bring the pass rush, and they have done a solid job of getting home, but it has not lived up to expectations. This group has produced seven turnovers, including five interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Notably, they have turned two of the interceptions into pick-sixes. Below are the team defensive stats with their respective national ranking: 24.8 points per game allowed (75th) 338.3 total yards per game allowed (56th) 185.5 pass yards per game allowed (42nd) 152.75 rush yards per game allowed (81st) 2.75 sacks per game (tied-28th) 1.25 interceptions per game (tied-15th) 2 interceptions returned for touchdowns (tied-2nd) Interior Linemen: Braxton Fely - The Broncos offer a talented interior pass rusher with this 296-pound tackle. Fely has 11 tackles, four for a loss, and 3.5 sacks this season. His 0.88 sacks per game are tied for the 20th-most among FBS defenders, while one tackle for loss per game is tied-81st. The senior recorded a season-high seven tackles at USF, including 1.5 sacks. Last week, the 6-1 DT had a season-high two sacks in the win against App State. He did miss two tackles during that game, bringing his season total to three. Fely has produced seven pressures, including his sacks, on 72 pass rush attempts. He has also been good against the run with three stops and one missed tackle. Dion Washington - While perhaps not as talented as Fely, this Hawaii transfer is capable of causing chaos. Washington has five tackles and a sack this season, including a season-best performance at USF when he recorded three tackles and his sack. Overall, the 6-2, 305-pound redshirt senior has been okay with just one stop against the run and four pressures on 49 pass rushes. Michael Madrie - The third DT to highlight made his first start of the year last week. Madrie, standing at 6-4 and 290 pounds, has three tackles this season but has two missed tackles as well. In his first start last week, the redshirt sophomore was able to record a season-high two tackles. He has been solid through four games with four pressures on 50 pass rush attempts and two stops with no misses against the run. Others to watch: Lopez Sanusi, David Latu Edge Rushers: Jayden Virgin-Morgan - The more versatile of the Broncos' edge rushers is the 6-3, 260-pounder who plays an outside linebacker type of role. Virgin-Morgan enters this weekend with 19 tackles, two for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. He recorded a season-high eight tackles and forced a fumble at USF. Last week, the redshirt junior had a nice showing with six tackles and a sack against App State. He has been good against the run with seven stops, and one of his two missed tackles occurred here. Virgin-Morgan’s pass rush has been solid with 11 pressures across 83 attempts. On rare occasions, the edge rusher can drop into coverage, where he has allowed just one 16-yard reception on one target. Max Stege - Hailing from Germany, this junior edge has been solid through four games with nine tackles recorded. Stege tallied a season-high four tackles in the win at Air Force. The 6-4, 269-pound DE can mostly be on the left side of the line. Overall, he has been solid with three stops and just two missed tackles against the run, in addition to six pressures added on 82 pass rush attempts. Others to watch: Malakai Williams, Roman Caywood Linebackers: Marco Notarainni - One of the better all-around Broncos defenders is the redshirt senior interior backer. Notarainni is currently second on the team with 29 tackles this season. His 7.25 tackles per game are tied for the 90th-most among FBS defenders. The 6-3, 240-pound LB has at least six tackles in each game, including a season-high of 10 during the win at Air Force. Notarainni has been a force against the run with a team-high 13 stops; also, two of his three missed tackles have come against the run. He has been solid in coverage, with four catches for 20 yards allowed on six targets. The most interesting aspect of the veteran’s game is his pass rush. Despite rushing the passer on just about 25% of his snaps, he leads the Broncos with 12 pressures and five QB hits on just 27 pass rush attempts. If I had to guess, you will hear this name said a lot on Saturday. Jake Ripp - Like Notarainni, this redshirt junior LB can also be a menace in the pass rush. Ripp acts as a pass rusher on about 16% of his snaps, and has tallied seven pressures, including four QB hits, on just 13 attempts. The 6-3, 240-pound defender has 17 tackles this season. He has at least two tackles in each game, including a season-high of six at Air Force. Ripp has been solid against the run with seven stops, and just one of his two total missed tackles occurred here. He has been okay in coverage, having allowed three receptions for 31 yards across four targets. Boen Phelps - Arguably, the best cover linebacker of this group is the 6-1, 215-pound redshirt sophomore. Phelps has 17 tackles and a pick-six through four games. He had a season-high of seven tackles at Air Force. Last week, the LB had a nice performance with six tackles and a 33-yard pick-six. Phelps has been solid against the run with eight stops and two misses, and as a pass rusher with five pressures on just 22 attempts. Obviously, he recorded the interception in coverage last week, but overall, the LB has allowed four catches for 32 yards on five targets. All three of these Boise LBs are capable of wrecking Notre Dame’s offensive game plan. Defensive Backs: Ty Benefield - Boise State’s leader in tackles and tackles for loss is the 6-2 junior Safety, who can play some slot corner. Benefield has racked up 33 tackles, five for a loss, and one interception this season. His 8.25 tackles and 1.25 tackles for loss per game are both top-50 among FBS defenders. The 205-pound DB has at least six tackles in each game, including a season-high of 11 at Air Force, where he also recorded his interception. Benefield has been good against the run with seven stops, but two of his three missed tackles have come here. In coverage, the junior has mostly struggled where he has allowed eight receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns across 10 targets. CJ Carr’s vertical passing game should pose a real challenge this week for Benefield. Zion Washington - A versatile defender, this 6-1 redshirt senior can play safety, slot corner, or linebacker. Washington has 25 tackles and one pass breakup this season; however, he leads the Broncos with seven missed tackles, including at least one miss in each game. He has recorded at least four tackles in each contest, including a season-high of 10 at Air Force. The DB recorded his pass breakup against Eastern Washington, where he added four tackles. Washington has been okay against the run with four stops, but does have three missed tackles, something that may not bode well against the combination of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. In coverage, the senior DB has been solid, having allowed just nine catches for 45 yards across 16 targets. A’Marion McCoy - This Broncos CB can be found doing most of his work on the left side of the ball. McCoy has nine tackles, two pass breakups, and an interception, which he returned for a touchdown, through four games played. He had a season-high six tackles at Air Force and recorded his 26-yard pick-six last week against App State. The six-foot CB has struggled against the run with two stops but has three missed tackles, including one in each of the past three games. McCoy has been solid in coverage, having allowed six catches for 112 yards and a score across 13 targets, but, again, he does have his two pass breakups and the pick-six. Jaden Mickey - The former Notre Dame DB returns to his old stomping grounds; however, his status is up in the air at the moment as to whether he will play one week after suffering a concussion, which required him to be stretchered off Boise’s blue turf. Mickey appears to be a game-time decision as he will travel with the team to South Bend as he clears concussion protocols. After redshirting last season and entering the portal, the junior nickelback has nine tackles, one pass breakup, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery this year. The six-foot DB recorded a season-high seven tackles against Eastern Washington, where he also recovered his own forced fumble. Mickey had two tackles and a pass defended before exiting last week’s contest. The former Irish DB has been good in coverage, having allowed five catches for just 21 yards across eight targets. He has been solid against the run with three stops and just one missed tackle. Additionally, in the rare instances that the nickel acts as a pass rusher, he has tallied three QB pressures on just five attempts. Jeremiah Earby - Opposite of McCoy is the 6-2 senior right-side CB. Earby has 21 tackles, 1.5 for a loss, and two pass breakups this year. He has at least two tackles in each game, including a season-high of eight at Air Force. Last week, the CB notched his first two pass breakups of the year. Earby has been very good against the run for a wide CB, tallying six stops with just one missed tackle. Coverage has been a different story as the senior has allowed 242 yards on just 11 catches across 16 targets. Earby is another DB who could be in for a long day against this newfound Irish passing attack. Others to watch: Demetrius Freeney, Davon Banks Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Following another dominant win, Notre Dame now looks toward Boise State. In their first-ever matchup against Boise State, these are the players Marcus Freeman and company need to watch out for in Saturday's showdown. Photo by Boise State Athletics Maddux Madsen - Quarterback Coming off a successful year reaching the CFP, Madsen is once again in command of an explosive offense. Madsen controls an offense that ranks among the top in most offensive metrics, most notably 15th in yards per game at 480. Without superstar running back Ashton Jeanty, Madsen has had to carry more of the offensive burden this season, which is something he has done pretty well so far. Madsen has already thrown for 1,129 yards, nine touchdowns, and only one interception. So far this year, he has shown an impressive ability to produce points while not putting the ball in harm's way. Madsen has struggled somewhat with efficiency, having completed just under 60% of his passes. Madsen is really most dangerous when he can escape the pocket and find players downfield. Although he may not gash teams for huge plays with his legs, he does possess the dangerous ability to extend plays and improvise with his legs to create big plays. Notre Dame has already seen multiple QBs who also have that same skillset, so it will be interesting to see if the Irish continue to improve in defending the dual threat. Either way, Madsen is a tough, competitive, and talented player who can give Notre Dame all they can handle if not prepared correctly. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Jayden Virgin-Morgan - Edge Rusher Although he may not be having the start he had hoped for, Jayden Virgin-Morgan is still a player Notre Dame has to account for in their matchup in South Bend. Coming into the 2025 season, Virgin-Morgan was ranked 48th on ESPN's pre-season top 100 players list. This was mainly due to the incredible production he delivered for the Broncos during the 2024 season. In that season, Virgin-Morgan recorded 10 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. That level of production clearly made him one of Boise State's best defensive players on last year's team and one of the best returning defensive players in the country. Unfortunately for Virgin-Morgan, he has not been able to produce that same level of impact so far this season. For Notre Dame, that does not mean they can forget about him. Even without the stats, he is still a disruptive and impactful player who can put QBs under a lot of pressure, which can lead to critical mistakes. It almost seems like he is due for a big game, so Notre Dame will have to do their best to protect Carr and keep him at bay. If not, it is going to be a long game for the Notre Dame offense. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Kage Casey - Left Tackle On the other side of the Boise State line is Kage Casey, the second Bronco featured on the pre-season ESPN top 100 list. Casey earned the right to be on that list based on his tremendous play in the 2024 season. During the 2024 season, Casey played a team-high 947 snaps, and he never allowed a single sack in Boise State's 440 drop-backs. Casey was the staple to one of the best offensive lines in the country last year, and this year, he is just as effective. For a Notre Dame pass rush that has struggled to provide consistent pressure, he is going to be a huge obstacle to get around. Casey rarely gives up sacks or even pressures, for that matter. The Irish will have to get creative in the ways they bring pressure if they want to beat Casey. The problem for Notre Dame is that Casey may have the entire left side of the line shut down for the large majority of the game. There may not be a more consistent offensive lineman in the entire country. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Monday, Notre Dame Hockey held their preseason kickoff press conference with first-year Head Coach Brock Sheahan joined by recently announced co-captains Michael Mastrodomenico and Danny Nelson. We recap the presser and offer some preview notes for the upcoming season: The group shares a common goal of wanting to win the championship. Sheahan and the boys will embark on the beginning of the journey this week when they travel up to Michigan for an exhibition with the USNTDP. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Sheahan on Friday’s exhibition and the season getting underway: “Excited to get started. It’s a real game with talented players. Our focus will be on us and where our game is at. I'm honestly excited to have real game-line reps. I think we've changed a lot of the way we've played. In order to see where we're at, we have to play in real time. Early in the season, it's more about how consistent are we going to be on the clock, how often are we actually playing the style we've got. I think if we do that over and over and over, the results will come.” He would add, “Yeah, well, I can start like it's a game, right? Like we want our guys to go execute and get better. And that's the biggest thing. There is some of like I want to get a look at some guys, so we will play a bigger lineup. We will play two goalies. You know, there is some of that, and seeing how guys, you see where their chemistry is really at. I've seen a lot through training camp, but now we need to apply that to somebody else. So, against yourself, you're going against the same stuff. So, it's time.” Mastrodomenico on Friday’s exhibition: “I'm looking forward to this stuff. It's tough to recreate. It's nice to start actually playing live. You can try to mimic it in practice, but it's not the same thing.” After playing and coaching under former Notre Dame Head Coach Jeff Jackson, Sheahan has a lot to live up to in replacing the legend. His past experiences and what he has learned from Jackson will certainly live on with Sheahan at the helm of the program. Sheahan on elements of Coach Jackson’s game he would like to take and keep for himself: “Coach did an amazing job when playing for him. The program is where it's at because of the work that the staff did. The things that we change are not necessarily a knock on the previous staff. It's just how I coach. It's how I know it will be successful. And times have changed a bit. There are different ways to win, to be successful, and to develop and get better. But Coach demanded things get done right and done the right way. And I don't think that I'm fully able to change the program here. One thing that I admire is the type of human beings who have been around this program. Guys I've played with and the guys that have been here since. Part of the reason nobody left is that I think we have great kids. We said we love going in, love the game of hockey, and they want to be a part of getting us to a place that we should be, which is one of the best teams, if not the best, in the country. I believe that that's something that Jackson helped instill in this program.” In today’s current age of constant change in college athletics, there is no difference in hockey. The fact that Notre Dame had no players transfer out of the program as the coaching reign changed hands speaks volumes about Coach Sheehan and what the players think of the university in general. The co-captains spoke about why they chose to return to Notre Dame despite the coaching change: “As a team, we've worked with Brock for the past two years. He was very involved and focused…I think there’s a reason why no one transferred out this year. We all have a lot of faith in Brock. We’re excited about the way we’re playing, a lot of pressure.” “I think you kind of nailed it there. It's the belief in the coaching staff. Obviously, we got a little taste of Brock the last couple of years, and then when you have to take over last spring, I think we really saw what we were going to be capable of. I think just coming back this year and seeing that and seeing the other two coaches that he brought in, it's really been something really cool and something very exciting for the program and a big reason why we got guys from other big event programs.” The co-captains discuss what practice is like under Coach Sheahan: “Coach is never getting on us. They've been pretty supportive. They like to work through things. They love to talk.” “Yeah, I think they're really upbeat. Obviously, I think one big thing is you always know what you're going to get out of practice. There's a meeting goal on the practice sheet before we go out there, and we'll see what today is really all about. And you really feel like after practice, getting off, it's like we accomplished what we went out there to do. I think that's a good thing to have every single practice as the season can get long when we practice throughout the week and then only play on the weekends. So I think it's good to have a goal every day for practice, so you leave knowing you really accomplished something.” On September 22, Notre Dame Hockey announced this season’s leadership group, consisting of co-captains Mastrodomenico and Nelson, along with alternate captains Axel Kumlin, Paul Fischer, and Cole Knuble. Danny Nelson looks to lead the offense after posting 26 points, including 13 goals which were second on the team, in 36 games played last year. The centerman also led the Big Ten in faceoff win percentage. Nelson on what it means to be named a captain: “I'd say for me, it's obviously an extreme honor to be captain. I've played here for a couple of years now and seen some really great captains before me. And then we had the kind of guys I try to look up to and try to take things from them. And I'd say my leadership style is kind of to lead by example, try to give guys bumps when we need it, but really go out there and play my game and make sure I'm playing up to my standard. And obviously, try to pull guys along, and I think our leadership does a good job of that as well. It's not just like us two.” The last important note addressed in the preseason press conference concerned the goalie room. As expected, Nick Kempf will be the man in the net for the Irish, barring unforeseen circumstances.  Sheahan on Kempf: “I think he was the only true freshman goalie in the country last year. In my opinion, he’s the best goalie at his age in the country. There's some debate on that, but we'll see. He's going to continue to perform and do the work, but his talent level is extremely high. I believe, yes, his teammates see that every day…We're excited. The whole goalie position group that we have understands that Nick is going to get every opportunity. ​​It doesn't mean that it's for sure playing every game, Jack Williams and Pearson did a great job, and they're getting better, and our speculation is for Nick to continue to tap into the potential that he has. And I believe with Mike Garman here, who is our associate coach, but he's also running our goalies. He's extremely experienced in that area. I've seen a different Nick Kempf, in my opinion, day-to-day in practice, where he's a little bit more in control and he's using his athleticism when he's supposed to, and it's been a lot of fun to watch, and I feel like he's grown up a lot so I'm just really excited for him to get in. Things won’t be perfect for him, but I think he's taking a lot of strides, and our staff, myself specifically, have entire confidence in him.” Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Key Players: Forwards: Danny Nelson - 3rd year at ND, Co-Captain, 26 points in 36 games last season (2nd on team in goals with 13), also led the Big Ten in faceoff percentage, Henry’s brother Brennan Ali - 3rd year at ND, 2022 7th-round NHL Draft selection (Detroit Red Wings), 19 points in 38 games last season Maddox Fleming - 3rd year at ND, 3 points and 7 blocked shots in 22 games last season Jayden Davis - 3rd year at ND, 3 points and 11 blocked shots in 22 games last season Jack Larrigan - 2nd year at ND, 7 points in 29 games last season Evan Werner - 1st year at ND, Michigan transfer, 22 points in 33 games last season Cole Knuble - 3rd year at ND, Alternate Captain, preseason first team All-Big Ten, led team with 39 points in 34 games last season, led team with 27 assists and a +6 on-ice rating, named second team All-Big Ten Carter Slaggert - 3rd year at ND, 10 points and 20 blocked shots in 36 games played last season, son of current Associate HC Andy, younger brother of former Irish hockey players Graham and Landon Defenseman: Jimmy Jurcev - 2nd year at ND, 4 points and 18 blocked shots in 31 games last season Michael Mastrodomenico - 4th year at ND, Co-Captain, 15 points and 28 blocked shots last season Axel Kumlin - 2nd year at ND, Alternate Captain, former Miami Ohio transfer, tied on the team for most points by a defenseman last season with 21 Henry Nelson - 3rd year at ND, 8 points in 30 games last season, finished 3rd on the team with 40 blocked shots, Danny’s brother Paul Fischer - 3rd year at ND, Alternate Captain, preseason second team All-Big Ten, tied on the team for most points by defenseman with 21 last season, finished 3rd on team with 19 assists, led team with 61 blocked shots Jaedon Kerr - 2nd year at ND, 4 points and 12 blocked shots in 22 games last season Goalie: Nick Kempf - 2nd year at ND, .895 save percentage in 13 games played last season Key Games: Icebreaker Tournament, hosted by Arizona State Oct 10 vs #14 ASU Oct 11 vs Quinnipiac or Alaska Nov 28 at #6 Boston College Jan 2-3 vs #1 Western Michigan Jan 2 at ND Jan 3 at WMU Every Big Ten game Notably, Notre Dame is the only Big Ten program not ranked within the preseason polls While the future seems to be bright under the guidance of Coach Sheahan, the first year taking over a program can certainly have its ups and downs. How do you think the Irish will fare in Sheahan’s debut season? Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame is still clinging to playoff hopes after embarrassing Arkansas on the road on Saturday, but the philosophy remains the same for Marcus Freeman. Remain unsatisfied and uncomfortable. Marcus Freeman started his Monday press conference by acknowledging the impact of the win and how big a step the team has taken over the course of a week. "Really good win for our program. Saturday was a big win; we needed that. I think there was a lot of good in all three phases. Improvement from week three to week four for our program." Improvement was especially noted on the defense, and of course, Marcus Freeman knew he was going to be asked about what sparked this performance. Notre Dame went into this game ranking near the bottom of the FBS in a multitude of defensive metrics. Heading into a game against a high-powered offense, you would expect more headaches from a defense that was struggling to find an identity. Instead, after struggling early, Notre Dame would pitch a shutout in the second half of the football game, while posting a season-high three-sack performance paired with two takeaways. "I know a lot of questions will probably be about why the defense improved from week three to week four, and what did you guys do differently, but I think for me, understand there's no secret formula. It's always the hard work that I believe you have to put in." Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! The old saying, "the road to success is paved with hard work" certainly seems to be an adage that Freeman is living by. The bumps in the road are another challenge that Notre Dame must be able to overcome if they have any hope of making some noise down the line. And for Marcus Freeman, players and staff gaining meaningful experience in failure is something that worked in their favor last season on the road to a national championship appearance, and it also needs to be something that galvanizes this year's team moving forward. "New guys and new things improve with experience. It's no secret. And sometimes experience can mean failure at times. Failure makes you uncomfortable, but failure helps you grow." And as far as the results of Saturday's game are concerned, Marcus Freeman remained confident that his leaders would step up and continue to keep the ship on course. "I want to say I'm surprised, but I'm not. That's the makeup of the leaders on our defense, the makeup of our coaches, and that's why you ultimately get the result you did." Despite preaching the importance of remaining uncomfortable, the Irish offense has continued to be a non-issue. CJ Carr passed for over 350 yards on Saturday, the most by an Irish quarterback since 2022. So how can such a proficient unit remain unsatisfied? "There's areas for improvement all over the place. We weren't perfect, we played really, really well, but we weren't perfect. If they're honest with themselves and they feel like they have that need to improve, "coach me, help me get better", that's the discomfort that will help them improve." Marcus Freeman isn't just preaching about this philosophy; he's living by it as well. He remains unsatisfied despite the lopsided victory. "Someone said, "Wasn't that fun to win that game like that?" Fun? I'm like, "No, because every play you're stressed to win it. You're focused on staying in the moment. Let's win this play, what do you have to do to win this play?" And then when it's over, you go whew." After Carr's incredible performance, Freeman saw to it that his offensive line, which has struggled at points this season, got due credit for their outing. And he also credited Carr for his ability to manage the protection, which led to Notre Dame's immense success against the blitz. "There is no great quarterback without protection, and they protected him." "I thought [CJ] did a great job of recognizing the pressure, our O-line did a good job of protecting him and executing what protection call we had to give [CJ] time." Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Although we saw some vast improvement in the Notre Dame defense this week, limiting the big play is still a challenge for the Irish. Marcus Freeman continued to preach execution and technique as the focal point for driving meaningful change. "It takes being disciplined. They had two runs that were explosive runs, I don't know if they were 40-50 yards, but they were too much. And both of those happened because of technique issues." Freeman would also praise Elijah Hughes, someone who has seen an increase in playing time due to the way he approaches the game. "Elijah is a guy who plays extremely hard, and he might not be as physically big as some of those other tackles, but he plays hard, and that's rewarded." With the injury to Leonard Moore, Mark Zackery has also been thrust into the Notre Dame secondary. And despite some struggles, Zackery's confidence and attitude have not wavered. "He is not a blamer, he doesn't point fingers, he wants to be coached, he wants to improve. We knew he had talent, but sometimes in failure, you learn about a guy." "We have trust in him." The scapegoat for Notre Dame's defensive struggles has undoubtedly been Chris Ash, and Freeman has learned much about his response to adversity, especially this week. " I've learned this week who he is when he's in the fire, and he's a competitor, and he's a leader, and he's not pointing fingers at other people. He's saying, "We, I have to get this fixed; this is my responsibility." "He hasn't wavered. He goes to work. I've learned a lot about him these past two weeks." Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @LiamGaudetIT on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Impressively, Notre Dame dismantled Arkansas on the road, winning 56-13. With such an emphatic win, let's take a look at some of the players and units that shone the most, grading them based on their performance. Art by The Irish Tribune Jeremiyah Love - Running Back: A+ As hard as it may seem, Love continues to wow the college football world with another unreal performance. Against a struggling Razorback defense, Love took advantage in what turned into a first-half offensive explosion. In just one half, Love recorded four touchdowns, an impressive feat considering that would be incredible for an entire game. It was the first time in Notre Dame's long history that a player recorded two rushing and receiving touchdowns in the same game. Love has been playing at an elite level ever since week one of last year, making performances like this one feel normal, but it isn't. He is truly playing at a level above the competition, worthy of Heisman conversations. Love's second half was quiet, but by that point, the damage had already been done. In a must-win game on the road, his quick start was exactly what the Irish needed. Although he was dominant on the ground, it was his receiving performance that changed the game, eventually racking up 127 all-purpose yards. It is encouraging to see Mike Denbrock find new ways to get Love the ball, as that is always a good idea. If he continues to be this much of a threat in the passing game, it will make him that much more of a danger to opposing defenses. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! The Notre Dame Defense: B+ Although there were still concerning plays on the defensive side of the ball, it is safe to say the group did show some improvement against what was one of the best offenses in the SEC. Arkansas QB Taylen Green has proven to be a hard matchup for defenses for two seasons now. Against Notre Dame, Green looked pedestrian for most of the game, a testament to Notre Dame's play. Coming into the game, Green was tearing up defenses with his 62% completion percentage, explosive deep balls, and back-breaking runs to avoid pressure and pick up big gains. Notre Dame shut all of this down for most of the game. Besides one big run, Notre Dame held Green in check. For the game, Green went 17-32 for 207 yards and an interception. Notre Dame's secondary has struggled all year to reduce the number of big plays in the passing game, so Green's stats are an encouraging step in the right direction. Notre Dame's secondary was also able to force turnovers, a part of the game that also needed to see some improvement. The first one came when Adon Shuler punched a ball loose, while the second occurred when Luke Talich picked off a pass in the back of the end zone. A large part of the defense that needed to improve and did this week is the defensive line. The Irish defensive line controlled most of this game. They kept Arkansas from establishing much of a run game, as they were also finally able to dial up a pass rush. That pass rush produced three sacks, which is a season-high for the team. Yes, Arkansas did a lot in this game to hurt themselves on offense, whether it was unforced drops, penalties, or just a lack of execution. Notre Dame was the beneficiary of these miscues, but overall, this group did show that there is room for them to continue to grow as this season wears on. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle CJ Carr - Quarterback: A CJ Carr continues to stack impressive performance after impressive performance for an offense that is red hot and is as good as any offense in the country. Carr has completely changed the complexion of this Notre Dame offense. With the running backs playing the way they are, Carr has a lot of freedom to let the ball loose, which is exactly what he wants to do. In this game, Carr completed eight passes that went for over 20 yards. In total, Carr went for 22-30 for 354 yards and four touchdowns. Carr has turned what was a slow, methodical offense a year ago into an offense that stretches the field and makes big plays. As a first-year starter, the most impressive part of his game has been his command of the offense. He looked totally in control against Arkansas, taking shots when he could and taking the easy throws when needed to. It is safe to say Notre Dame has found their guy in Carr, as he orchestrates an offense that shows no signs of slowing down after scoring 56 points for the second week in a row. Wide Receiver Group: A- This is a group that has quietly become one of the strengths of this team after years of below-average play, and they once again impressed against Arkansas. Although the group did not have a player go for over 100 yards, they were very productive when needed. Whether it was Malachi Fields, Jaden Greathouse, Jordan Faison, or Will Pauling, the receivers were seemingly always breaking open when Carr needed them to. Together, they totaled 326 receiving yards and one touchdown. While Love stole the show on offense, these wide receivers filled their role perfectly, leading to a huge offensive performance. Game by game, these wide receivers appear to be growing more confident in this offense and with their young QB. Greathouse finally saw some more balls thrown his way, Carr was able to connect with him for a big play. With that being said, Greathouse has still been somewhat underwhelming to start the season, but there is still plenty of season left for him to get going. Like Marcus Freeman has alluded to in recent press conferences, this unit is also excellent in run blocking, and they were again in this game. As Notre Dame loves to run the ball, this is a critical part of this Notre Dame offense. That level of unselfishness and toughness is exactly what Notre Dame is going to need if it wants another chance at the College Football Playoffs. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Coming into this game, there were a lot of questions surrounding this Notre Dame defense, and rightfully so after they went from one of the top defenses in the country to ranked No. 117 nationally in points allowed and No. 99 in yards per play allowed. Art by The Irish Tribune The defense was on the field immediately as Arkansas received the ball to start the game, and there was a sense of holding one's breath waiting to see if any changes had been made since the Purdue game. Arkansas immediately drove down the field with little to no trouble from the Irish defense, which led to instant worry that it might be another long day for the defense. The Irish were giving up huge chunks of yardage on run plays, particularly up the middle, with a 14-yard run by Taylen Green and another 7-yard run by Braylen Russell. The secondary gave up a huge completion for 33 yards, but the Hogs' offense stalled after two incomplete passes, leading to a field goal. Arkansas struggled to get going on its second possession, but once again on their third possession, Notre Dame gave up another huge run, this time for 21 yards courtesy of Mike Washington Jr., and Arkansas continued to march down the field with ease on 14 plays for 75 yards, resulting in a touchdown. This would be the last time the Notre Dame defense would fold until the middle of the second quarter, when yet again, they gave up a huge run, this time for 54 yards by QB Taylen Green. The Irish defense finally got pressure when Boubacar Traore sacked Green for a loss of 10 yards. Arkansas once again failed to pick up the first down and settled for a field goal. This would be the last time Arkansas would score any points in this game. The defense, although they were not great by any means, played better in this game than they have all season, and it's not even close. Is that because the offense was scoring at will and took the pressure off of them? Or have they finally turned a corner, so to speak? With that being said, they have to do a better job of stopping the run, and fast. They continue to give up huge yards on the ground at times, particularly up the middle, which is alarming. The secondary continues to look lost on occasion, and the defense as a whole seems to lack confidence and tends to look uncomfortable as a result. The offense continued to shine as bright as they have all season, and there really isn't much to complain about when it comes to this unit. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price (arguably the greatest RB tandem in the country) had their way on the gridiron, combining for 143 yards rushing and 105 yards receiving for a total of 248 yards of offense and 6 touchdowns between the two. CJ Carr continues to progress every week and throws one of the best long balls we've seen at Notre Dame since Jimmy Clausen. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Carr had another huge game, going 22/30 for 354 yards passing and 4 touchdowns with zero interceptions for a QBR rating of 98.1 on the day. He continues to progress each week. If I had to say anything negative about Carr at this point, it would really only be two things, in my opinion. First, he continues to stare down his target, which almost led to two interceptions, and he has to stop committing intentional grounding when his protection fails. While I understand these things may be nitpicking to some, I personally believe they need to be corrected with urgency, as both could potentially be disastrous in the right situation. The great news in all of this is that they are both easily mendable through coaching, and they will be improved in the very near future. In short, CJ Carr, even as a redshirt freshman, has proven to be the real deal at Quarterback, and he will only get better as the season continues. This offense, led by Carr, can score with anyone in the country and will only get better as the season progresses. The fate of this team lies with the defense and how they progress as the season continues. The bright side is that today's performance looked promising, and the schedule gets easier as the season continues, with USC being the only game I'm really concerned about going forward, as that high-powered offense can score easily and quickly when they are firing on all cylinders. This team will go as far as the defense will allow them to, because at some point during this season, they will need them to win a game when the going gets tough. Will they fold? Or will they be up to the task? That remains to be seen, as they have a long way to go to be considered reliable at this point. If this defense can continue to progress each week and this offense continues to roll as they have all season, Notre Dame could go on another run similar to what they did last year. Provided that they do their jobs and the cards fall where they need them to. But for now, it's one game at a time for a team that has to treat every game like it's win or go home. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!