With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Irish now find themselves in the Top 8 of the CFP rankings. If that holds -- which would mean Notre Dame winning its final two games of the season -- the blue and gold would host a first-round playoff game. But with a massive challenge this weekend at Yankee Stadium against Army, followed by a trip West to face USC, what must be done for Marcus Freeman's bunch to secure their place in the field? On this week's episode of "First & Gold," Pete and Clayton discuss Notre Dame's upcoming showdown with No. 16-ranked Army. With a defense playing as one of the best in the country and an offense that continues to gain confidence on a weekly basis, how will the Irish handle the different looks Army features on both sides of the ball? Plus, following impressive victories over Georgetown and North Dakota, ND's men's basketball team finds themselves off to a hot start, while the No. 6-ranked women's squad continues to roll as well. With challenging schedules ahead for both, what's the ceiling for these talented squads? The guys break it all down, so be sure to tune in! Go Irish! Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts First and Gold Twitter The Irish Tribune: Shows

Notre Dame will travel down south again for Labor Day Weekend to Hard Rock Stadium to play the Miami Hurricanes. Photo by The Irish Tribune Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported earlier today that Notre Dame would play its 2025 season-opener in Miami Gardens, Florida against the Miami Hurricanes. The last time Notre Dame played a football game against Miami (FL) was in 2017. In the second half of a home-and-home series against the Hurricanes, #3 Notre Dame headed into a toxic environment, Hard Rock Stadium, against the 9-0 #7 Miami Hurricanes. This came during the arguable peak of the infamous "Turnover Chain", which consisted of Miami defenders repping an oversized chain featuring various team logos after each turnover the team got in a game. Use code IRISH20 for 20% off your purchase - Subscribe Here Notre Dame would end up getting thrashed in that game 41-8, which killed the Irish's playoff chances and fueled a fiery theory as to whether or not the Brian Kelly-led Fighting Irish could hold their own in tough environments, such as Hard Rock Stadium. Irish QB would finish 10/21 with 119 passing yards and a 1:2 TD:INT ratio on the night. Future Notre Dame starter Ian Book would throw 3/6 for 33 yards on the night but was unfortunately known for throwing a costly pick-six against the Hurricanes, hammering another nail in the coffin that night. Josh Adams, who was flung into stardom that season and was at one point a Heisman contender, finished the game with 16 rushes for 40 yards. Miami would end up breaking out the Turnover Chain several times that game, coming away with a fumble recovery and three interceptions, one being the Ian Book pick-six. Miami has received publicity for several years for its measly home attendance. Hard Rock Stadium holds a reported 65,300-seat capacity. According to D1.ticker on a 2022 report, Miami had a 2022 average of 54,964 fans attend their home games, meaning a little over 10,000 seats were empty per home game on average, about 16% of the stadium's capacity. The Hurricanes did however average only 43,698 fans per game in 2021, granted that was the season that followed the pandemic season. Looking at a 5-year average, Miami averaged 55,050 fans per game. Referring to the 2017 game between Miami and Notre Dame, Miami reported a soldout stadium at 65,303 fans according to ESPN. Miami's most recent home game against the one-win Florida State Seminoles, who are rivals to Miami, brought in 66,200 fans per ESPN. According to a 2023 trend report by D1.ticker, Miami saw a nearly 10% drop in attendance from 2022 from 54,964 to 49,714, bringing average stadium capacity to just 76%. Miami is currently ranked #5 in the AP Top 25, remains undefeated, and is very much in play for an expanded playoff bid. And you never know, maybe Notre Dame and Miami meet ahead of their confirmed 2025 season opener. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 17-8-1. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame Football will replace Virginia with SMU for a 2026 regular season game according to the Atlantic Coast Conference Photo by SMU Athletics The ACC announced Wednesday afternoon that Notre Dame will host SMU at Notre Dame Stadium in 2026. The game has been scheduled in place of Notre Dame playing the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. This was done to allow Virginia to schedule a series with neighboring West Virginia. The Irish currently lead the series 10-3 all time against Southern Methodist (SMU), with the last matchup in 1989 being in Notre Dame’s favor. The Mustangs are currently playing their first football season as a member of the ACC. SMU, Notre Dame rival Stanford, and Cal were added to the group for the 2024 and onward. Notre Dame currently has a agreement in place for all non-football and hockey athletic teams to be full-time members of the conference, while Hockey remains a member of th Big Ten, and Football has a agreement with the conference to play a set number of ACC teams every season, but prohibits Notre Dame from the possibility of being conference champions in football. The only time Notre Dame has ever been a full-time conference member for football was back in 2020 during the pandemic. Notre Dame went on to finish the regular season undefeated, ACC conference champion runner-ups, and participated in the College Football Playoff, which was the last time Notre Dame was apart of the CFP. The Irish are eyeing a bid to the newly expanded College Football Playoff this season. Are you excited for this matchup? Let us know! Calling all Irish fans! The Irish Tribune has recently partnered with Autograph, an app that rewards you for ... being a Notre Dame fan ! Autograph serves as a one-stop sports hub for your fandom, tailored to all your favorite teams. Read all your favorite Irish blogs (including The Irish Tribune!), listen to all your favorite Irish podcasts and -- get this -- no-fee tickets  to Notre Dame stadium all season long. Autograph truly has everything a Notre Dame fan needs, all in one place. Prove your fandom, earn Fan Coins, level up and unlock incredible rewards, from Irish merch to free tickets! Click here to get started! Us code IRISH20: https://www.theirishtribune.com/plans-pricing Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

We sought to create the best experience for ND fans to stay in the know, and it's finally here. Introducing Tribune+: More Notre Dame, For Less Money. For many years now, the way Notre Dame fans have stayed informed about Notre Dame Football has not changed. There's been a lack of innovation, and unwillingness to keep up with the ever-changing world of how people consume the things they love. Whether it's social media, video content, or new ways to communicate. There hasn't been a modern or new way for fans to be entertained and be informed about the team they love most: Notre Dame. The Irish Tribune started with a mission to change all that. We want to be the people to drive innovation and bring new ways for Notre Dame fans to get informed about Irish Football. We want to be the outlet that strives to be bigger than outdated message boards and click-bait articles. Fans want a better, more modern, more beneficial experience, and that's what we've worked on for almost a year now. Introducing: Tribune+ by The Irish Tribune What is Tribune+? Tribune+ is an all-new way for Notre Dame fans to get informed and entertained about Notre Dame Football & Athletics. Our subscription comes with many features and content, all at an incredible price. More Notre Dame, for less. What does Tribune+ offer? As a whole: Tribune+ offers exclusive premium content for Notre Dame football, recruiting, and athletics such as updates, insights, discussions, articles, and more. A breakdown: Recruiting: • Prospect Analysis • Recruiting Updates • Prospect Grading/Ranking • Recruiting Discussion • Exclusive Interviews • And More Football: • Team Analysis • Practice Videos & Insight • Insights & Updates • Player Grading/Ranking • Depth Chart Content • Player Comparisons & Breakdowns • Team vs Team Breakdowns • Discussions • And More Other Sports: • Updates & Analysis • Interviews • Discussions • And More Benefits of each plan? Here is a full comparison between our three plans: Blue Tier: • $5/month   Features: - Premium Content - Exclusive App - Community - Recruiting Content & Updates - Direct Messaging & Group Chats - Exclusive Articles - Push Notifications - Live Discussions & Events - Early Access to New Products & Features - Special Badge Displayed next to Your Name - Additional Perks & Features Green Tier: • $50/year • Best Value • Everything in Blue Tier Plus - Save 17% (2 Months Free) Gold Tier: • $100/year • Most Value • Everything in Blue/Green Tier Plus: - Gold-Tier only content (Most Valuable) - Private Group Chat - Private Discussions - Gold-Tier Badge Our Mobile App. All of Tribune+, all in an App: The Irish Tribune offers a mobile app for Tribune+ subscribers to use. The Irish Tribune is the only Notre Dame media outlet to offer an app exclusively for subscribers. Some key features: • Modern/User-Friendly Design • Push Notifications • Easy access to all Tribune+ content • View all of The Irish Tribune's stories on the app • Article Bookmark Feature • Light Mode & Dark Mode • Available on IOS & Android • Free/Complimentary for all Tribune+ Subscribers How often is content published? Our goal is to publish content on Tribune+ every single day, from articles to insights. Subscribers can also engage, post, and discuss on Tribune+ at any time, leaving room for endless discussion. How can I subscribe? You can choose your plan & subscribe here: www.theirishtribune.com/plans-pricing We've worked on this since the 2023 season. We set out to create a new way for Notre Dame fans to connect and stay informed on Notre Dame football, recruiting, and other sports. Whether it's our innovative communities, premium content, exclusive app, or one of our many features, we hope you consider subscribing to Tribune+, being a part of our community, and helping support The Irish Tribune to continue to challenge the status quo of how Notre Dame fans can stay informed. Thank you. If you have any questions about Tribune+, feel free to reach out to us anytime: Social Media: @theirishtribune (Instagram/Facebook/Twitter/X/etc.) Email: irishtribunecontact@gmail.com Text: (269)-588-0514

Notre Dame was coming off one of the most impressive recruiting weekends in recent memory when they hosted Florida State and rolled in convincing fashion. They knocked it out of the park in terms of getting high profile talent to attend, and rolling out the red carpet in hopes of landing top tier talent. It has already started to pay off, as just days later, C/O 2026 4-star LB Thomas Davis Jr. announced his commitment to the Irish via social media.   Photo via Favour Akih Notre Dame continued to impress the visiting recruits this past weekend when the University of Virginia came to town. Not only did the Irish take care of business on the field, they also impressed when it came to recruiting, as many of the recruits left campus raving about their trip to South Bend. One of those recruits was C/O 2026 RB Favour Akih, who said his trip to Notre Dame, and the game itself was “amazing.”   Akih, a junior at Rutherford B. Hayes High School in Delware, OH, is currently ranked by 247Sports Composite as a 4-star RB, and the 6th best player in the state of Ohio. He currently holds offers from Penn State, Michigan State, and Iowa State, to name a few. I caught up with Favour Akih following his visit to Notre Dame to learn a little more about his recruitment, how his trip went, what an offer from Notre Dame would mean to him, and more.   Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here So, how has his recruitment been going so far? For Akih, it has gone great, and he appreciates the attention he is receiving, which he attributes to his hard work. “My recruitment has been amazing so far. I just came off a really great legacy football season. I’m very honored and blessed for the attention I’m receiving lately with my recruitment. I’m very happy to see that my hard work is paying off and I’m getting noticed.”   In the recruiting process, it is always important to build a great relationship with the coaches. For Akih, that relationship is just starting progress with Coach Deland McCullough, and he had great things to say. “I just really started building my relationship with Coach Deland yesterday during my visit. I really enjoyed how our conversation went, and I could definitely see myself playing for him one day. He’s such a great running backs coach, and I know he would help me elevate my game and progress at the next level. I really appreciate or conversations, and it was great to get to talk to him in person.”   There are many different reasons why a specific school would be on a recruit's list, but for Akih, Notre Dame is on his “dream school” list. “Notre Dame is on my list of dream schools that I would like to attend. Being able to attend a Catholic university like Notre Dame would be amazing, coming from a religious background like I do. My father is a pastor, and I know he would really appreciate me attending a school like Notre Dame that has a strong faith background.”   The culture and greatness of Notre Dame’s history really intrigues Akih, along with the fanbase’s passion and the connection with the coaches. “The Culture and tradition at Notre Dame is very strong. It has been built upon after many, many historic seasons which I have great admiration for. Also, the ND fanbase is one of the best fanbase’s I’ve ever seen. Watching the passion they have for the team was really cool to see in person. But I would say my favorite part was connecting with running back coach Deland McCullough, he had amazing things to say, and I really appreciated my conversation with him!”   So what was Favour’s favorite part about the trip? “Seeing the Fighting Irish game-day traditions in person was pretty cool. Watching the players walkout with people and the band playing the bagpipes was also awesome to see. I also got to watch how the players warm up, lock in, and get ready for the game before taking the field.  It was an amazing game to watch. Jeremiyah Love really put on a show, and I really loved how he performed.”   Akih mentioned it was an amazing game, which followed by spending time with the players afterwards and getting to pray with them, which really resonated with him. “The game was amazing! From the opening kickoff, to watching the players recover a muff kickoff return and seeing the stadium go wild, to being with the team in the locker room post game and joining them in their prayers was all such an awesome experience.”   So was his trip special enough to want to come back soon? You better believe it. Favour Akih very much loved what he saw and is eager to get back to Notre Dame. “I'd love to be down there for a junior day, and any other opportunity I get! GO IRISH!”  Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Riley Leonard, Coach Denbrock, and the entire Notre Dame offense will have their hands full on Saturday night when they face, not just the best defense in the AAC, but one of the best defenses in all of college football. We have your Army defensive preview here: Photo by The Irish Tribune The 9-0 Black Knights are experiencing their best season since at least 2021. Led by a high-powered rushing offense and top-ranked defense, here is how Army has fared entering this top 25, primetime matchup at Yankee Stadium: vs Lehigh (42-7, Win) at Florida Atlantic (24-7, Win) vs Rice (37-14, Win) at Temple (42-14, Win) at Tulsa (49-7, Win) vs UAB (44-10, Win) vs East Carolina (45-28, Win) vs Air Force (20-3, Win) at North Texas (14-3, Win) As a unit, Army’s defense is allowing 10.3 points (second-fewest in FBS) and 273.9 total yards per game (fifth-fewest in FBS). This top-ranked American Athletic Conference (AAC) defense has, no doubt, been one of the main reasons they are already locked into their conference championship after just nine games. As mentioned in our “ Army Offensive Preview ,” the Black Knights boast one of the most disciplined squads in the country. They enter Saturday’s matchup averaging the sixth-fewest penalties and 15th-fewest penalty yards per game. Army Head Coach Jeff Monken hangs his hat on this aspect of his team. One elite feature of this defense is, not just their success in the red zone, but not even allowing teams to enter their 20-yard line. Opponents have scored on just ten of 20 (50%) red zone trips, the lowest percentage in FBS. Their opponents’ 20 total red zone trips are tied for first-fewest in the country. This is an area Notre Dame’s offense must be better in on Saturday, as their 87.2% red zone conversion rate ranks only tied for 47th among FBS teams.  Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Army’s pass defense has been good this season. They make big-time plays while limiting opposing passers. The Black Knights’ 191.3 passing yards per game allowed is the fifth-fewest in the AAC and 32nd-fewest in the country. In addition, their 14 interceptions are tied for ninth-most in the FBS, while their nine passing touchdowns allowed are tied for 14th-fewest in the country. Opposing quarterbacks are averaging a 113.38 passing efficiency rating, second-lowest in the AAC and top 25 nationally, while 9.21 yards per completion allowed is the second-lowest in the FBS. Let’s preview some key players in this solid secondary: Listed as a nickelback on Army’s roster is junior Casey Larkin. While primarily lined up in a safety position, the junior has 32 tackles including four for a loss and three interceptions (tied-3rd in AAC) this season. Larkin has five games with two or more tackles and had a two-interception performance in Army’s win versus UAB. The safety is, overall, an average defensive back, especially against the run and in coverage. Nine missed tackles this season are an issue and he has allowed 23 receptions for 233 yards and a touchdown on 34 targets in coverage. One leader of this secondary is senior and team captain safety Max DiDomenico. Last season, he finished the year with 52 tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble in 11 games played. The captain has posted 37 tackles, four passes defended, and two interceptions this season. DiDomenico has five games with four or more tackles, including Army’s last game at North Texas, when he finished with a season-high in tackles (9) and passes defended (2). Also, the safety is capable of playing slot corner when needed. The senior defensive back has been very good in coverage and tackling this season. He is an average run-stopper for free safety.  The first true corner to keep an eye on is sophomore Jaydan Mayes. The young defensive back has recorded 15 tackles, three interceptions (tied-3rd in AAC), and two passes defended this season. Mayes, a well-rounded cornerback, has five multi-tackle games on the year. He has excelled in coverage and has been a reliable tackler and run-stopper. Mayes is someone Leonard and Denbrock should scheme the Notre Dame passing game around.  Another corner experiencing a breakout season is junior Justin Weaver. He has racked up 24 tackles and two interceptions on the year. Weaver has two or more tackles in eight of nine games played and, also, had an interception in Army’s last game at North Texas. The junior is another well-rounded defensive back with no notable holes in his game.  The third true corner to highlight is sophomore Donavon Platt. He only has eight tackles and two interceptions this season, but one of the picks did occur two weeks ago at North Texas. This should be a defensive back that Leonard and Denbrock target. The young corner has struggled in almost all aspects defensively. Platt is a poor run-stopper with three missed tackles on the season, and is below-average in coverage, having allowed nine receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown on 19 targets.  The final defensive back to keep an eye on is senior Chance Keith. Listed as a nickelback on Army’s roster, the senior can typically be found lined up in the slot corner or outside linebacker role. Like most of these Army defensive backs, Keith is also experiencing a breakout season. He has recorded 27 tackles and a sack in 8 games played this year. Keith has at least one tackle in each game played, including a season-high seven tackles at FAU and versus Air Force. Overall, Keith is a below-average defender whose greatest strength is his versatility. He does not have a noticeable impact in the pass rush or against the run, and he has four missed tackles while allowing 21 receptions for 183 yards on just 27 targets in coverage. Again, this should be another defensive back that the Notre Dame passing game attacks. As talented as this Army secondary may be, where the Black Knights make their money is against the run. Their 82.6 rushing yards per game allowed is the fewest in the AAC and third-fewest among FBS teams. In addition, their three rushing touchdowns allowed are the second-fewest in the country. This week will be the Black Knights’ largest test of the season, with Notre Dame holding the 11th-best rushing offense in the country. Let’s preview the stars of this elite rush defense: Army’s leading tackler this season is inside linebacker Andon Thomas. The junior has tallied 55 tackles, two passes defended, and an interception on the year. He has recorded at least two tackles in each game, including a season-high ten tackles at Tulsa and versus Air Force. Thomas is a great run-stopper in the middle of this defense. He is pretty average as a pass rusher and in coverage (has allowed 21 receptions 244 yards and a touchdown on 31 targets) but he could improve his tackling (13 missed tackles this season). Thomas will play a large factor in trying to slow down Notre Dame’s potent rushing attack. Another inside backer to watch for is junior Kalib Fortner. Last season, he recorded 68 tackles including four for loss, two and a half sacks, a forced fumble, and a 44-yard scoop ‘n score. In addition, Fortner was named the Army-Navy Game MVP after posting ten tackles in the rivalry matchup. This year, the junior has tallied 49 tackles including eight for a loss. Fortner has had at least two tackles in each game, including a season-high of eight in three separate games this season. Overall, the junior is a solid defender. He excels against the run, is reliable in coverage, and is an average tackler. The inside backer duo of Thomas and Fortner could cause issues for the Notre Dame offense on Saturday night. Army’s premier edge rusher is sophomore Elo Modozie. The outside backer has 22 tackles including five for a loss and a team-leading four and a half sacks this season. The young edge rusher has at least one tackle in seven of nine games played, including a season-high six-tackle and two-sack performance versus UAB. Modozie has been a great run-stopper, a good pass rusher, and is even solid in coverage when needed. His missed tackles could be cleaned up (five this season, including two at North Texas), but the sophomore is loaded with talent and potential. Modozie could be a game-wrecker for the Irish offense on Saturday. The leader of this defensive line is senior and team captain Kyle Lewis. Last season, he recorded 25 tackles including two for a loss, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 12 games played. The versatile lineman can line up all over the line. Lewis has totaled 25 tackles including four for a loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble this season. He has at least one tackle in each game, including a season-high six-tackle and sack performance versus Air Force. Lewis enters Saturday’s matchup riding a two-game sack streak that he will be looking to extend. The senior lineman has excelled against the run, been good as a pass rusher, and is an average tackler.  The final defender to cover is sophomore nose tackle Kody Harris-Miller. After not seeing any game action last year, he has totaled 22 tackles including five for a loss and two sacks this season. Harris-Miller has at least one tackle in eight of nine games played, including a season-high five-tackle and two-sack performance versus Air Force. The sophomore excels against the run but has struggled as a pass rusher and with tackling. On paper, it appears we are heading towards a hard-fought, low-scoring game. Again, this is the best overall team that Army will face, maybe of the whole year. Notre Dame had tremendous success in their first service academy, triple-option battle with Navy. The Black Knights do pose a more threatening defense. However, the Irish are more than talented enough to overcome this possible challenge. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Yankee Stadium will be the site of this Saturday’s top 25, primetime matchup between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Army Black Knights. Army enters the game undefeated and is already locked into a spot for the American Athletic Conference Championship. We preview the Black Knights’ offense here: Photo by 4.0 Sports Media Coming off a bye, Army will look to play spoiler for the Irish and, rather, make their own push for the College Football Playoff. The meat of Army’s schedule begins this week with the Irish, then matchups coming soon with Navy, the most historic rivalry in all of college football, and a date with Tulane for the AAC Championship. Here is how the 9-0 and AAC first-place Black Knights have fared this season: vs Lehigh (42-7, Win) at Florida Atlantic (24-7, Win) vs Rice (37-14, Win) at Temple (42-14, Win) at Tulsa (49-7, Win) vs UAB (44-10, Win) vs East Carolina (45-28, Win) vs Air Force (20-3, Win) at North Texas (14-3, Win) Army’s offensive unit is averaging 35.2 points per game, fourth-most in the AAC and 22nd among all FBS teams. Their 419.9 total yards per game ranks as the sixth-most among AAC competition and 45th in all of FBS. These numbers are more impressive when you realize more than 75% of all production comes from the ground. To nobody’s surprise, this Army team has been disciplined all season, rarely shooting themselves in the foot. The Black Knights own the sixth-fewest penalties and 15th-fewest penalty yards per game in all of college football. Along the same lines of not hurting themselves, Army also owns the fewest turnovers lost with three all season. In total, they have lost two fumbles and thrown just one interception.  One possible key to winning this game is third and fourth down success. Army enters Saturday night converting 53.5% of their third-down attempts, the second-best percentage among FBS schools. On the other hand, Notre Dame’s defense holds the sixth-best third-down defense in the country.  On fourth down, Army has converted 16 of 19 attempts, the best percentage among FBS teams with at least ten attempts. Again, Notre Dame's defense has done well stopping critical downs, ranking 18th in the country in fourth-down stops. Another key to Army’s offense is their red zone prowess. The Black Knights are scoring 92.1% of the time they enter the red zone, first in the AAC and tied for 14th in the nation. Notre Dame’s defense enters this matchup with the fourth-best red zone defense in all of FBS. Stopping Army on critical downs and forcing red zone mistakes will be important for Notre Dame to maintain their College Football Playoff hopes. The bulk of Army’s offensive production comes via a rushing game featuring a variety of option plays. The Black Knights average 334.9 rushing yards per game, most in the FBS. For context, the second-leading rushing team averages over 70 yards less than this Army number. Their 35 rushing touchdowns are second-most in all of the FBS, and the most among teams with only nine games played. Let’s highlight some contributors to this top-ranked rushing attack: Everything goes through Army senior and team captain quarterback, Bryson Daily. The dual-threat signal-caller entered this season with 1,064 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 227 carries in 15 games across the last two seasons. Last season, Daily led the team in rushing yards (901) and touchdowns (7). The senior has exploded this season and has become a household name in the college football world as he currently holds the tenth-best odds of winning the Heisman Trophy. He could be higher, however, Daily missed the win versus Air Force for undisclosed reasons. Through eight games played, he has rushed for 1,062 yards and 21 touchdowns on 174 carries. Daily’s 21 rushing touchdowns are the second-most in the FBS. His 132.8 rushing yards per game leads the AAC and is the fifth-most in the FBS while his 6.1 yards per carry rank top 25 among FBS players. Daily has rushed for 100-plus yards or had a multi-touchdown performance in seven of eight games played this season, including a season-best 171 yards and five touchdowns versus East Carolina. Overall, the Army quarterback has emerged as one of the most talented rushers in the country with 536 yards after contact, 31 missed tackles forced, and 30 rushes of ten or more yards. The only moments Daily does not appear superhuman is when he fumbles, as he has done three times this season. Containing Daily, similar to how they played Navy quarterback Blake Horvath, should be the main priority for Notre Dame’s defense. Army’s second-leading rusher is sophomore running back Kanye Udoh. Last season as a freshman, he had 524 rushing yards and a touchdown on 99 carries in ten games played. Udoh enters Saturday’s matchup with 856 yards and nine touchdowns on 128 carries. His 95.1 rushing yards per game ranks fourth-most among AAC rushers and 26th in FBS. Additionally, his 6.69 yards per carry are the tenth-most among all FBS rushers. Udoh has 65-plus rushing yards in eight of nine games, including four games with over 100. He had a season-high 158 rushing yards and two touchdowns versus Air Force. In general, Udoh is a solid runner in all aspects. However, he is coming off a rough game with 65 yards on 13 carries that featured a lost fumble. Notably, Udoh has both of Army’s lost fumbles this season. Expect to see a lot of the sophomore on Saturday night. The last rushing threat to highlight is junior Noah Short. Listed as Army’s starting slot, the junior receiver has emerged as a real player in the run game this season. Short entered Army as a safety before moving to offense last season. This year, he has rushed for 439 yards and two touchdowns on 41 carries. Short has six games with 20 or more rushing yards, including a season-high 160 yards on just 11 carries in the road win at FAU. He has received between one and six rushes in seven consecutive weeks. Army should consider involving Short more in the rushing game as he has been a more than capable rushing option with no fumbles this season. Passing-wise, Army’s low-volume approach has proven efficient so far this season. Their 69 pass attempts and 85 passing yards per game are both dead last among FBS teams. However, their 18.66 yards per completion is the most in the country. For what it is worth, Army’s eight passing touchdowns are more than the likes of Northwestern and Oregon State. Let’s preview who could play a factor in Army’s passing game on Saturday: Starting quarterback Bryson Daily completed 50% of his pass attempts (60/120) for 913 yards and seven touchdowns with six interceptions last season. He became the second Army quarterback to pass and rush for over 900 yards in a single season. Daily enters Saturday’s game completing 56.9% of his throws (29/51) for 644 yards and seven touchdowns with just one interception on the year. Perhaps more impressive, the senior signal-caller has only been sacked once all season. Daily has at least four pass attempts in each game, including four games with over 100 yards through the air. Notably, he is coming off his worst passing performance of the season when he completed two of four passes for 15 yards with an interception, in addition to taking his lone sack of the year. Overall, Daily is a solid passer whose numbers are uber-efficient. As long as the Notre Dame secondary does not get caught sleeping, Daily’s arm should not play a big factor in Saturday’s matchup. Army’s leading receiver is true wideout Casey Reynolds. The senior had 16 receptions for 237 yards in 12 games last season. This season, Reynolds already has 12 receptions for 325 yards and three touchdowns on 20 targets. He recorded back-to-back weeks with over 80 receiving yards against both UAB and ECU, includin g a 50-yard touchdown  in the dominant win versus UAB. Reynolds has at least one reception in eight of nine games played, however, he has yet to receive more than four targets in a single game. Overall, the senior wideout is a reliable passing threat with no dropped passes this season. Again, Army’s passing game should not play a huge factor on Saturday night, but do not get beat by Reynolds or the Knights will make you pay. Daily’s second-favorite passing weapon is slot man Noah Short. The junior led Army in receptions last season with 18 for 252 yards and two touchdowns. Short enters Saturday’s matchup with 11 receptions for 259 yards and three touchdowns on the year. He has at least one reception in seven of nine games, including four with over 20 receiving yards. Short exploded for a season-high 121 receiving yards and two touchdowns on just three receptions at Tulsa, includin g a 58-yard score off a swing pass . Th e senior slot man is a reliable receiving option, although not as talented in this department as Reynolds. Another reason for Army’s offensive success has been their stout line. This unit featuring three returning starters from a year ago has allowed just three sacks all season (fewest in FBS) and is allowing 2.44 tackles for loss per game (second-fewest in the FBS). Notre Dame’s defensive front will be tested as, although they are tied for 18th in the FBS in sacks per game, they have struggled to get ball carriers down in the backfield. Let’s highlight the key cogs to the Army offensive line: The most experienced lineman on the roster is starting left tackle Connor Finucane. The senior and team captain entered this season with 38 career starts under his belt. Finucane is an excellent run blocker but has struggled with pass-blocking. This works just fine at Army with their high-volume, option run-game.  In the middle, Army features sophomore center Brady Small. He returned following starting all 12 games last season as a freshman. Small is another good run-blocker who has struggled with pass-blocking. Although the potential is evident, Small has allowed three quarterback hits including a sack on just 68 pass snaps. If this gets cleaned up, Small could be one of the best centers in college football in the coming years. Finally, at right tackle is senior and returning starter Lucas Scott. The 6-3, 305-pound unit is an overall great blocker in all aspects. On 65 pass snaps, Scott has allowed just one quarterback hurry. This will likely be Army’s toughest test of the season as they look to remain perfect. The keys for Notre Dame’s defense should be stopping Bryson Daily, stopping Army on third and fourth downs, and stopping them in the red zone. Tougher said than done, but the Irish have been tested by good rushing attacks all season (Navy, Georgia Tech, NIU, Texas A&M) and, for the most part, have exceeded expectations. Saturday should not be different in primetime at Yankee Stadium. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

With the football team coming down the home stretch and playoff hopes still very much alive, many Irish fans may have missed out on the start of Notre Dame's basketball season. No need to worry if so, here's a quick recap of the start of both teams' seasons before the real action really gets underway with a lot of great, high-profile matchups coming up soon. Photo by Aden Johnson / The Irish Tribune The Men's Team Micah Shrewsberry's squad now sits 4-0 to start the season after their most recent wins against Georgetown and North Dakota. Their impressive 84-63 win at Georgetown has been the best they have looked this year, but they seem to struggle with consistency, as there have been a few not-so-stellar performances mixed in. Nonetheless, Notre Dame is undefeated with some big games coming down the pike. To start the season, Notre Dame dominated Stonehill with an excellent shooting display, going 11-23 from the three-point line. Notre Dame star point guard, Markus Burton, and the coach's son, Braeden Shrewsberry, both tallied 18 for a team-high in scoring. The Irish then had a bit of a scare in their next game against Buffalo. This was a close game for most of the contest, even seeing a Buffalo lead at the half before Notre Dame pulled away late in the second. Despite a rough shooting night, Notre Dame's second-half surge was led by Burton, who was one rebound and two assists away from a 19-point triple-double. However, the bulk of Notre Dame's offense came from junior forward, Tae Davis. The forward led the team with 27 points. Davis gave Buffalo fits all game, getting to the foul line 13 times. In the end, Notre Dame secured a victory and avoided a major upset to start the year. Notre Dame looked like a different team from the one that played Buffalo when they traveled to the nation's capital to take on Georgetown. Notre Dame got off to a hot start to open the game, thanks to the shooting of Princeton transfer, Matt Allocco. Allocco was unconscious from the three, as he gave Notre Dame a jolt of offense, leading to a 13-0 run. Despite sloppy play, Notre Dame's 59% shooting from the field was far too much for Georgetown to keep up with, leading them to an 84-63 win. Most recently, Notre Dame took on North Dakota on Tuesday, Nov. 19th in another warmup game before they dive into the bulk of their challenging non-conference schedule. As a predominately three-point shooting team, Notre Dame relies on their skilled shooters to carry the load on offense. Against North Dakota, this shooting did not show up, and that left the Irish offense limited for most of the game. This poor shooting resulted in Notre Dame only shooting 3-17 from the three-point line. Luckily for the Irish, Burton was a huge difference-maker, scoring 29 points with 9 rebounds. Burton's scoring was also incredibly efficient, going 13-20 from the field. This performance was enough for Notre Dame to finish the game with a 17-point lead, winning 75-58. Upcoming, this team will travel to Las Vegas during Thanksgiving to take part in the Players Era Festival. In their first game, they will take on No. 24 Rutgers. Rutgers have two of the most talented freshmen in the country, so Notre Dame's defense is going to have their hands full. As it is a tournament, their only other guaranteed game will be against No. 7 Houston. Houston has been one of the best teams in the country for several years now, and this year is no different. Notre Dame is going to have to shoot the ball well, as there are not many teams that play better defense than Houston. The Women's Team In typical fashion, the women's team is looking to have another great season, led by sophomore pre-season All-American, Hannah Hidalgo. Head Coach Niele Ivey and the Irish come into this season after a disappointing end to last season in the Sweet 16, but they have now gotten off to a hot 4-0 start. Notre Dame, currently ranked No. 6, got off to a great start in their first game against Mercyhurst. The Irish pulled off an impressive 105-61 victory. Senior forward, Liatu King led Notre Dame in scoring and rebounding with 24 points and 11 boards. Notre Dame followed up their opening victory with another dominant win over Purdue, winning 102-58. In this game, Hidalgo shined with 28 points to lead all scorers. This game was never close, as the Irish built a 28-7 lead in the first half and never looked back. King, again, was a force in the paint, raking in 15 rebounds. In the next two games, Notre Dame would earn their third and fourth wins against James Madison and Lafayette by a combined 78 points. Hidalgo's scoring was on full display, as she scored over 20 points in both. Senior guard, Olivia Miles, has also started off the year strong, filling her role as a do-it-all playmaker. So far this season, Miles is averaging 18 points, 8 rebounds, and nearly 7 assists. Notre Dame has looked the part of a top-ten team to start the season, but the true nature of this team will be put to the test in the next couple of weeks. On Saturday the 23rd, the Irish will face their first real test against No. 3 USC. USC's star guard, JuJu Watkins, is one of the best players in the country, so her matchup against Hidalgo will surely be fun to watch. After that, Notre Dame will face off against No. 19 TCU on Nov. 29th. December won't get any easier, however, with marquee matchups against No. 4 Texas and No. 2 UConn on the schedule. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

As No. 8 Notre Dame begins to prepare for the No. 24 Army Black Knights, here are some closing thoughts regarding the Irish's performance in their 35-14 victory over the Virginia Cavaliers on Senior Day. Photo by Notre Dame Athletics SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Yesterday was the first instance in which Notre Dame looked to have stalled in the span of their eight-game win streak. Luckily for the Irish, the result was still good enough to muster a dominant 21-point victory and remain perfect against their semi-conference opponents. With that being said, here are six takeaways from Notre Dame's last game, potentially, inside Notre Dame Stadium. Xavier Watts ends his playing career inside Notre Dame Stadium with a bang. The Bronco Nagurski winning safety has had a well-documented resilient career. From multiple position changes in his time in South Bend, Watts discovered a newfound home anchoring the Notre Dame secondary. Watts' game epitomized his career for the Fighting Irish: consistently being in the right spot. Watts had a pass breakup, recovered a fumble, and added to his interception collection, bringing his season tally to four. Watts has established himself as one of Notre Dame's best safeties in recent memory. While Kyle Hamilton and Harrison Smith might take exception to that, the Omaha, NE standout has had a multiple award-worthy season. The kicking game is atrocious. Mitch Jeter is still visibly injured, as his PATs are lacking height and haven't looked smooth. As a result, Jeter still isn't cleared to kick any field goals, but the Irish haven't found a reliable answer. Zac Yoakam missed a 36-yard kick, and Marcello Diomede missed his first kick of the year from 54 yards. I'm not sure if Marcus Freeman has to pull a card from Kenny Dillingham's deck, as the Arizona State coach had opened walk-on tryouts earlier this year, or if Freeman can find the next Brandon Aubrey from the Notre Dame men's soccer team. Regardless of the process, Notre Dame needs a reliable kicker in December. Jeremiyah Love breakout game. The sophomore running back from St. Louis, MO. recorded his single-game high in yards with 137 yards and two touchdowns. I received some backlash on Twitter for a statement I made regarding the necessity for the Fighting Irish to retain Love. For the first time in the NIL era, Notre Dame doesn't appear to be actively pursuing a transfer portal quarterback. Knowing this, I recommend the Irish allocate this funding towards keeping Love in an Irish uniform. Assuming SEC powers won't try to lure Love with lucrative NIL deals would be naive. While Notre Dame has shown a willingness to spend money in this era, this will still be a situation to monitor. Just look at Quinshon Judkins. Ole Miss is quite possibly the most heavily integrated NIL program, and their star running back last year still walked away for the Ohio State Buckeyes. While Notre Dame is rising into college football's elite, SEC powers remain a formidable force. In this case, Love is the type of player that elevates Notre Dame into that next level. His speed, strength, and field vision will only improve as he continues to mature, and he is the key to the Fighting Irish offensive attack. Like our content? Here's 20% off (IRISH20) and help support what we do here Riley Leonard rarely seems comfortable from the get-go. While the Fighting Irish scored on their first drive, after starting on the plus-25 due to former Notre Dame running back and wide receiver Chris Tyree fumbling the opening kickoff, Notre Dame had four consecutive three-and-outs. Penalties disrupted these drives, and Leonard didn’t find his rhythm until the fifth drive of the game. Against playoff caliber teams, Notre Dame must be locked and loaded from the first snap of the game, and in the near future against Army, every possession matters versus the Black Knights because they will chew the clock. Once he settled in, Leonard looked impressive, but his best throw of the season, a 78-yard touchdown to Jayden Harrison, got called back because of an illegal hands to the face penalty on Pat Coogan. The offensive line had their shakiest performance of the season outside of week one against Texas A&M. The Virginia front was able to get constant pressure on Leonard in the first half of the game, and there was no real push in the running department early on. With that being said, the unit's play drastically increased in the second half, as they opened a giant hole for Jeremiyah Love on his 76-yard touchdown. However, as a whole, Notre Dame is going to lean on the rushing attack, and in turn this offensive line. With how much turmoil the line has faced due to injuries, they were still nominated for the Joe Moore Award. The line will have to play to that pedigree for the remaining two games, especially against a stout Army defense. Defensive dominance travels. No matter where Notre Dame goes to play, they have the security blanket of Al Golden's masterclass defensive unit. The group consistently continues to impress, and it has a new group of heroes every week. Donovan Hinish played great amid Howard Cross' ankle injury and Leonard Moore has continued to shine in lieu of Benjamin Morrison's season-ending hip injury. Whatever young player gets plugged into these key roles, they are performing. Even though the Fighting Irish defense gave up two touchdowns, one of which was jumpstarted from an incomplete pass that was called a catch, the unit continues to deliver every week. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame (5-5-0) traveled to East Lansing this weekend for a series with the number four ranked Michigan State Spartans (7-1-0). Here is our recap of the quick trip up north: Photo by The Irish Tribune Michigan State 2024 Results (series result): at Lake Superior State (2-0) vs Boston College (1-1) at Canisius (2-0) vs Ohio State (2-0) Friday: 8-3, Loss Despite the lopsided score, the Irish kept this an exciting game for the first 30 minutes. Everything went south for the Irish when the Spartans had a four-to-zero run in about twenty minutes between the second and third periods.  Notre Dame played well offensively coming out of the gates. Forward Danny Nelson put the Irish up 1-0 just over a minute into the game when he deflected defenseman Michael Mastrodomenico’s blue-line shot past MSU goaltender   Trey Augustine. This goal marked Nelson’s fourth of the season and would end up being his first of two goals on the night.  Michigan State responded about 12 and a half minutes later with back-to-back goals in just over two minutes. The Spartans officially took a 2-1 lead about 15 minutes into the first when a Justin Janicke turnover led to a shorthanded goal for MSU’s Red Savage, his fourth goal of the season.  The second period opened with both teams trading power-play goals just under four minutes into the frame. Nelson added his fifth goal of the season when he beat Augustine with some sweet moves right in front of the net  thanks to an assist from f orward Brennan Ali. MSU responded 55 seconds later when Joey Larson added his fourth goal of the season on a power play chance to give the Spartans a 3-2 lead. Just over four minutes later, Mastrodomenico tied the game up about eight minutes into the second. The defenseman added his second point of the night a nd second goal of the season on a nice wrister  that was assisted by forward Jack Larrigan, hi s first point of the year.  MSU then scored five consecutive goals to finish the game, proving why they are among the elite in college hockey. Irish starting goalie Owen Say had a rough day, allowing seven goals on 32 shots faced. Backup Jack Williams played the final ten minutes after Say was pulled.  Key Players: Karsen Dowart (MSU): 2 goals on 3 shots, 1 assist, +1 Red Savage (MSU): 1 goal on 3 shots, 2 assists, 2 blocked shots, +2 Danny Nelson (ND): 2 goals on 3 shots Michael Mastrodomenico (ND): 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 blocked shots Key Stats: Shots: MSU (41) - ND (30) Power Play Sucess: MSU (2-3) - ND (1-4) Faceoffs Won: MSU (38) - ND (38) Saturday: 4-3, Loss The Irish came up just short on Saturday night after nearly sending the game to overtime in the final minutes.  MSU got the scoring started just under 12 minutes into the first when Spartan Shane Vansaghi danced around the Irish defense before finding the top of the net to beat Irish goalie Nick Kempf.  Forward Blake Biondi and the Irish responded on a power play opportunity with under 30 seconds remaining in the first. Biondi’s third goal of the season came off assists by defenseman Paul Fischer and forward Justin Janicke to tie the game at 1-1. Unfortunately, there would be more action in this period. Michigan State regained the lead with 0.6 seconds remaining on the clock when they overwhelmed Kempf with an onslaught of offense to close out the period. This gut-wrenching goal gave the Spartans a lead they never gave back.  The Spartans capitalized on this momentum just over a minute into the second period when MSU took a 3-1 two-goal advantage. Kempf was beaten by MSU’s Gavin O’Connell, his second goal of the year. Not all hope was lost for the Irish as they bounced back around 13 minutes into the second when forward I an Murphy redirected Fischer’s shot into the back of the net  to cu t the Spartan lead down to one. Fischer and Biondi added their second point of the night as they were credited with assists on Murphy’s second goal of the season.  MSU retook their two-goal lead with under two minutes remaining in the period when the Spartans’ Daniel Russell danced through the Irish defense before beating Kempf up top for his seventh goal of the season.  After the Spartans took this 4-2 lead, both teams turned it up defensively in the third period. Kempf stopped all seven shots faced while MSU goalie Trey Augustine saved 13 of 14 shots faced. With a minute and a half left remaining in the game and their goalie pulled for the man advantage, Notre Dame defenseman Axel Kumlin found the back of the net to create some late-game drama. Kumlin’s second goal of the season was assisted by Biondi, marking the forward’s third point of the game.  The Spartans were able to kill the rest of the clock following the goal that made the game 4-3. Key Players: Blake Biondi (ND): 1 goal on 6 shots, 2 assists, 1 blocked shot, +2 Shane Vansaghi (MSU): 1 goal, 1 assist, +1 Key Stats: Shots: ND (31) - MSU (30) Power Play Success: ND (1-4) - MSU (0-2) Faceoffs Won: MSU (32) - ND (29) Notre Dame’s (5-7-0) schedule does not get easier as the number three ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers (9-1-0) enter South Bend next week. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame started off slow, but returned to form and defeated the Virginia Cavaliers 35-14 to celebrate Senior Day at Notre Dame Stadium. Photo by The Irish Tribune SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- All things were pointing Notre Dame's direction from the opening kickoff, as former Notre Dame standout Chris Tyree muffed the kickoff and Max Hurleman recovered for the Irish. A couple plays later, Jeremiyah Love cashed in for Notre Dame to jump out to a 7-0 lead. However, the Irish then stalled for the remaining minutes of the first quarter. The Notre Dame defense proved to be a constant as they shutout the Cavaliers in the first half and tallied five total turnovers. Al Golden continues to have his unit dial up the pressure as the Notre Dame defense intercepted three of Anthony Colandrea's first half throws. Adon Shuler, Leonard Moore, and Xavier Watts each recorded an interception. Xavier Watts also jumped on a fumble from Virginia running back Kobe Pace. As Notre Dame rolled into the second half, the biggest impact that arose from this game were the potential injuries suffered by the Fighting Irish. Jaden Greathouse endured a shoulder injury; Leonard Moore briefly exited the game holding the back of his neck but returned later on. As the Irish have already faced three season-ending injuries on the defensive side of the ball, in addition to Howard Cross III missing this week's game with an ankle injury, the Fighting Irish defensive depth chart is already spread thin. Like our content? Here's 20% off (IRISH20) and help support what we do here On the offensive side of the ball, the Fighting Irish were rather stagnant, and simply benefitted off the great field position provided by the Notre Dame defense. Riley Leonard went 22/33 for 214 yards, three touchdowns, but did throw an interception. He continues to display an inability to start games out hot and needs a quarter long buffer before able to read the opposing defense. The biggest detriment for the Notre Dame offense were costly penalties. Pat Coogan had his worst game of the season, as he had two holding penalties and an illegal hands to the face flag that negated a 78-yard passing touchdown to Jayden Harrison. Harrison had his biggest game for the Fighting Irish, after he filled in for an injured Greathouse. Harrison ended the game as Notre Dame's leading receiver totaling 41 yards and a touchdown. Another penalty that negated an electric touchdown was the illegal formation call on a fake punt fumblerooski to Jordan Faison; however, this flag seemed to ultimately wake up the Fighting Irish and led to a late second quarter scoring barrage. The biggest explosive play of the day came from the legs of Jeremiyah Love who broke a 76-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. Love continued his every game touchdown streak to 10 games and ended this one with two touchdowns and 137 yards on the ground. He did receive medical attention in the fourth quarter after he gingerly came off the field but returned a couple snaps later. Ultimately, even ten games into the regular season, the Fighting Irish offense is still a work in progress, and this type of performance against a playoff caliber team would not suffice. As the Irish gear up for a game in which every possession matters against an impressive Army defense, the Notre Dame needs to elevate their effort and clean up the mistakes. Another facet that Notre Dame needs to figure out is the kicking department. Mitch Jeter has returned for the PATs, but the Fighting Irish have platooned Zac Yoakam and Marcello Diomede for the field goals. The platoon went 0/2 today, and when the Fighting Irish desperately need points later in the year, they need a reliable option. Currently, there is not one in sight. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame hosts the Virginia Cavaliers for the final home game of the season, where the Irish will celebrate their seniors. Our staff make their official predictions below. Photo by The Irish Tribune Peter Mulroy - FIrst & Gold Podcast Co-Host Score Prediction: 38-10 Notre Dame It’s easy to fall into another mental trap after UVA upended then-No. 18 Pitt a week ago but erase those negative thoughts. The Irish know what’s at stake the rest of the month, and given their recent seven-game win streak, expect a passionate performance; especially on a day when Notre Dame will celebrate 29 seniors. The run game, led by RL, continues to feast, while the Irish D stays right on point. When it’s all said & done, ND will be 9-1 as they prepare for a trip to Da Bronx! Jhett Garrett - Writer Score Prediction: 34-13 Notre Dame I think this game will have the same tendencies as the Stanford game where Virginia will take an early lead on the Irish but run out of gas in the first quarter. Notre Dame has done a very good job of that throughout the season, showing they have the endurance to play four full quarters of football. The defense continues to dominate every week proving to be one of the best in the nation. Despite Virginia exceeding expectations in 2024, Riley Leonard and the Notre Dame rushing attack will be too much for the Cavaliers. 9-1 and ranked in the top seven heading to New York sounds pretty good after week two. Max Uretsky - Recruiting Analyst Score Prediction: 37-17 Notre Dame For the rest of the regular season, it will be Notre Dame vs Notre Dame. If they play with focus and intensity they should not drop another game. Freeman and company know what's on the line and I think he will continue to have the team ready to go. I mentioned last week FSU had given up 30 sacks and Notre Dame came out and feasted racking up 8 sacks on the day. Virginia has not fared much better protecting the QB as they have given up 16 sacks in the last two games and 31 on the year. Even with Howard Cross III ruled out this week I expect the front 7 to dominate again. I sound like a broken record saying the offense will lean on the run game a somewhat ascending Riley Leonard will be able to play game manager but if ain't broke don't fix it. It will not be a successful homecoming for Chris Tyree as the Irish run away with this one by the third quarter. Connor Regan - Long-Form Writer Score Prediction: 45-13 Notre Dame Notre Dame’s elite defense continues its domination on the line but is tested through the air by Colandrea and the Cavs. Despite that, the Irish ultimately get the better of them by forcing them to throw and making them one-dimensional. Look for serval turnovers from a hungry Irish defense. The offense shouldn’t have much trouble moving the ball on a mediocre Cavs defense, leading the way with the rushing attack early. Because of their success on the ground, look for things to open up through the air and Leonard to put up at least 200 yards for the 4th time in 5 games. Irish cover the spread and win by double digits while the final score goes over the total points due to garbage time points. Like our content? Here's 20% off (IRISH20) and help support what we do here Brady Burden - Social Media Intern Score Prediction: 45-7 Notre Dame With Virginia only losing to Louisville by 4, I thought all week that this game would be close. But after I kept watching their highlights I think this game will be a one-sided affair. Notre Dame comes out on senior day and dominates in all aspects of the game. The rushing game is established in the first half and the passing game keeps improving just like it has been over the past few weeks. The Irish take care of business and prepare for the big matchup against Army. Clayton Stohler - First & Gold Podcast Co-Host Score Prediction: 38-3 Notre Dame The stretch of dominance continues for ND. UVA is a scrappy team, that plays with a consistent brand of physicality, of that there is no doubt. ND has tended to be the same throughout the year, with this year continuing that trend. However, there’s a side of this Notre Dame offense that we haven’t quite seen. Until today. Notre Dame will exploit a UVA secondary that frankly isn’t as talented as FSU’s. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price will be on the field at the same time, and this will enable plays to be made through the air in ways we haven’t seen yet this season. This will be Leonard’s best game of the year through the air all season. UVA’s Tackles will also prove to be no match for the pass rush ND will be providing. Bryce Young is poised to have a breakout game as ND forces UVA’s offense to press, and make mistakes. The Cavaliers are a tough, physical team. But they are no match against the Irish. And what was already becoming well known, will continue to be solidified- Notre Dame is better than just about every team across the country. Brenden Duffy - Associate Editor & Senior Staff Writer Score Prediction: 38-17 Notre Dame This is the day Riley Leonard finally surpasses 250 yards passing…hopefully. UVA’s passing defense has struggled all season and things did not get better this week after Safety Antonio Clary was ruled out for the remainder of the season. It would not surprise me if the Irish have a slow start running the ball. UVA has been pretty solid in this aspect. I do think ND’s dominance up front will tire the Cavaliers defense, opening up big plays for the run game in the second half. UVA’s offense will go as far as QB Anthony Colandrea takes them. Don’t be surprised if he connects on a couple of big plays to set up UVA scores. The Cavs inability to run the ball will be their biggest downfall this week. Irish roll to an eighth consecutive win. Bruce Straughan - Recruiting Writer Score Prediction: 45-10 Notre Dame This Notre Dame team is battle-tested and hasn’t been talked about enough about how they’ve responded after that NIU game. They’ve gone on to dominate their competition both on offense and defense. The ND defense is only giving up on average 11pts a game for the season while UVA has been giving up 26pts a game on average. Notre Dame continues to dominate on both sides of the ball and this game won’t be close. UVA will be sent back to Hooville with a massive L. Liam Farrell - Associate Editor & Senior Football Writer Score Prediction: 38-17 Irish The closest game in the past few weeks will start with the Fighting Irish being caught in the nostalgia of senior day. The Notre Dame defense has shown signs of struggling with a dual-threat quarterback, which will be presented to them on Saturday. The Notre Dame corners will give up an explosive touchdown, but the Fighting Irish offense will be the ones keeping the team in the game. A bold prediction is Leonard will have 3 touchdown passes, one of which being for more than 40 yards. After the slow start, the Irish will dominate the 2nd half and end senior day on a high note. Noah Wehby - Writer Score Prediction: 45-10 Notre Dame Notre Dame shows again why they are a changed team from the NIU loss by putting together another dominant game. On the defensive side, the secondary will be critical, but this talented Irish secondary will be more than up to the task. On offense, the run game will continue to lead the way. The trio of Love, Price, and Leonard will be too much for Virginia to handle, with at least one of them breaking a long run loose. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun