The Fighting Irish welcome the Virginia Cavaliers to South Bend this weekend for Senior Day and the final game of their 2024 home slate. This is only the 5th meeting between the two schools, and the Irish currently hold a 4-0 lead in the series. Their first matchup came back in 1989 at the old Giants Stadium at the Meadowlands, but they didn’t face off again until Notre Dame signed its scheduling agreement with the ACC. Since then, the Irish have played the Cavs in 2015, 2019, and 2021, but this will be only the second time the Irish will host the matchup at home. This is the last of Notre Dame’s “easier” matchups this season, with only No. 24 Army and arch-rival USC left to go, but they’ll have to avoid another letdown game and keep the CFP committee entertained. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s game. Photo by The Irish Tribune Virginia: UVA has had a rough go of it in recent years; they haven’t posted a winning record since 2019 and parted ways with former head coach of 6 years Bronco Mendenhall after (5-5) and (6-6) seasons over 2020 & 2021. Current head coach Tony Elliot entered his 3rd year with the Cavaliers on the hot seat with a program thirsty for change. He posted back-to-back 3-win seasons in his first two years, but through 9 games this season, Elliot has put up an improved (5-4) mark, pushing his overall record at Virginia to 11-20. While this year’s record may not be all that impressive, it's undoubtedly the best season under Coach Elliot so far. They started off strong with a 4-1 record until they hit a 3-game losing streak, falling to Louisville, then No. 10 Clemson, and UNC to drop back to (4-4). Thankfully, they stopped the skid last week with their biggest win of the season over then No. 18 Pitt, a 24-19 road win as a 7.5-point underdog. The upset put them in a very interesting position with No. 8 Notre Dame this week, No. 14 SMU at home next week, and a road game against Virginia Tech to close the season. If the Cavs can pull out a win from one of these final three games, they’d become bowl-eligible for the first time since 2021, and two wins would give them their first winning record since 2019. Adding to the stakes of this game, Notre Dame will face their former 4-year WR/RB/PR Chris Tyree for the first time since his departure for Virginia. Tyree has had a tough go so far at Virginia, struggling with groin and ab injuries that have kept him out of all but six games this season. Because of his limited playtime, Tyree has only caught 22 passes for 124 yards and has yet to find the endzone through the air, on the ground, or special teams. Although Virginia isn’t one of the best teams the Irish have faced this year, their current momentum and what they’re playing for makes them a different kind of animal. Virginia is motivated, Chris Tyree is motivated in his return to South Bend, and you better believe coach Elliot is motivated to end this season on a high note. The Cavs aren’t just looking to play spoiler - like the Irish, they’re playing for a chance at postseason action. UVA Injury Report ● S Antonio Clary - Knee - Out ● WR Trell Harris - Knee - Out ● DT Jason Hammond - Shoulder - Out ● LB James Jackson - Foot - Questionable ● RB Jack Griese - Foot - Questionable Notre Dame: The Irish continued their dominance last week, crushing the shell-shocked Florida State Seminoles 52-3 and covering the 26-point spread. Riley Leonard threw for 215 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 70 yards and 2 more scores on the ground. Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love each rushed for a touchdown of their own, along with a Steve Angeli passing score during garbage time. The Irish defense was stifling, holding the Seminoles to a shocking 208 total yards for the day, including a 79-yard pick-6 from Luke Talich. It gave them a seventh straight win and was their third 40+ point win of the season. Notre Dame has outscored its last four opponents 183-37 and enters week 12 scoring 38.3 points per game. The Irish moved up two spots to No. 8 in the rankings thanks to losses from UGA and Miami and secured the 9th-seed in the newest CFP bracket release. Their projected matchup as of right now would be on the road against the 8th-seed Tennessee Volunteers, with the winner advancing to face the No. 1 seed, currently the Oregon Ducks. Notre Dame Injury Report ● DL Howard Cross III - Left Ankle - Out ● RB Devynn Ford - Right Groin - Questionable ● Edge Loghan Thomas - Right Hamstring - Questionable (Probable) ● CB/PR Max Hurleman - Left Hamstring - Questionable (Probable) The Matchup Notre Dame opens this game as a more than a 3 touchdown favorite over Virginia, just a bit less than what they were favored by going into the Florida State game. Vegas doesn’t think one will be all that close, and they’re thinking it won’t be quite as explosive as Notre Dame’s wins over Purdue, Stanford, Navy, and Florida State, predicting the final tally to stay under 51 points. With that said, the Irish have gone 5-0 against the spread over the last 5 games, and at the 38.3 PPG clip they’ve been playing at, the only way this stays under the +/- is if the Cavs score almost no points. UVA is 5-1 against the spread over the last 6 games, and they’re scoring 26.0 points per game while the Irish hold opponents to 11.1. Betting the over and the Irish to cover the spread is pretty reasonable. Notre Dame's Defense vs. UVA's Offense Virginia was admittedly an inexperienced group last year, but they’ve relied so far on a ridiculously high 76% return in production, the 5th highest in the country, to keep themselves competitive against the toughest schedule in the ACC. The offense is led by QB Anthony Colandrea, who threw for less than 2,000 yards, 13 TDs, and 9 INTs in 2023. Through 9 games in 2024, he’s only managed about the same, tossing 1,948 yards, 12 TDs, and 9 INTs, with 4 multi-interception games thus far. Colandrea isn’t quite a “dual-threat” QB - but he is mobile. When his passing game struggles, he can keep the opposing defense honest with his feet, recording double-digit carries in 6/9 games this year for 259 yards and 2 scores. On the negative side, Colandrea isn’t particularly trustworthy holding the ball and has fumbled 5 times in nine games. Virginia’s running back room also left much to be desired, only amassing 689 yards between a 3-back split, and their WR room lost its best option from 2023, Malik Washington, to the NFL draft. Thankfully, they returned their No. 2 wideout, Malachi Fields, and brought in Notre Dame transfer Chris Tyree. Unfortunately, Tyree has struggled to stay on the field due to injuries, but Fields has stayed prolific, posting 45 catches for 665 yards and 4 touchdowns. He’s the top target this year and leads the team in all three categories. Statistically, Virginia’s offense has been pretty middle of the pack so far, posting an 83rd-ranked 26.0 points per game. They don’t have the elite running game the Irish do, and they throw the ball about as effectively, leaving them relatively ineffective on both sides of the ball yet not completely deficient in one specific area. Compounding Virginia’s issues is an offensive line that's struggled all year. They’ve allowed the 6th most sacks in the country (31) and have been consistently shuffling their lineup due to injuries. This will be the primary method of attack for an Irish defense that is currently generating the 18th most sacks in the country, with 2.89 per game. Notre Dame’s elite defense also ranks top-3 in PPG allowed (11.1), passing yards allowed (148.6), passing efficiency defense (91.54), turnover margin per game (1.33), and defensive touchdowns (four). Enough said. The Cavs aren't incapable of surprising the Irish or catching them off-guard if they mail it in as they did against NIU, but if Al Golden’s group plays even half as well as they have the last few weeks, there’s no reason they get beat by the Cav’s offense. Advantage: Strong Notre Dame UVA Offense - Players to Watch Notre Dame's Offense vs. UVA's Defense Mike Denbrock’s 2024 offense has been on a season-long arc. The Irish run game, largely led by Riley Leonard, has been stellar all year, but a surprisingly slow start for the passing game had many concerned. Since the NIU loss in week 2, the passing game has made incremental progress from game to game and has transformed itself from a liability to a consistent contribution to the offense. The offense’s goal has not changed - run the ball and establish the short and intermediate passing game early. If that doesn't work, they’ve learned how to win without it. That's not necessarily ideal for a “contending” team, but against UVA, it’s not an insurmountable challenge. Thankfully, Leonard’s passing hasn’t regressed since the NIU game, tossing 1,575 yards, 9 TDs, and only a single interception over the last 7 games. Objectively, that's not an incredibly impressive showing, but when combined with 609 rushing yards and 13 ground scores, Leonard’s been nearly unstoppable. Notre Dame’s ground game alone can grind down this below-average Virginia defense, opening things up for Leonard through the air. They don’t have to rely on Leonard’s arm to win, but the more we see him push his limits in the passing game, the more encouraging it is for a possible postseason run. The Irish have the edge here, but because we’ve seen them both struggle and go one-dimensional before, a failure on this side of the ball can’t be ruled out completely. The story for the 2024 Irish has been a defense that will win you games with an offense that could possibly lose it for you. Regardless, the Irish offense should continue their progress. Advantage: Leaning Notre Dame UVA Defense - Player to Watch\ Prediction Notre Dame once again holds the edge on both offense and defense, and the talent gap here is more extreme than what they faced against FSU last week. Even if the Irish come out slow or struggle through the air, there’s no reason they can’t outlast a clearly outmatched Cavs defense. The 3-man Irish ground attack alone is enough to keep the Irish offense moving. As for Virginia’s offense, they’ll struggle both on the ground and through the air against Notre Dame’s elite defense. Their pressure up front and dominant run defense will likely force the Cavs into relying on the passing game, and a less-than-perfect Colandrea would be at the mercy of the Irish secondary. There’s no clear path to victory for the Cavs, so look for them to be tricky and find ways to put the ball in a motivated Chris Tyree’s hands. With their CFP hopes on the line, the Irish will be motivated to prevent a second letdown loss at home and are ferociously pursuing a 1st round playoff host seed (seeds 5, 6, 7, 8). In the weeks following the NIU loss, the Irish have slowly earned back the fan’s trust and should continue their recent dominance. Ultimately, the talent and coaching gap here will be pretty evident from the jump, and when combined with home-field advantage and an Irish team in full CFP stride, this game shouldn’t be close. Expect the Irish to win this one by double digits and notch their 9th win of the season. Look for: ● Notre Dame’s defense - records 2+ interceptions ● Notre Dame’s defense - records 4+ sacks ● Notre Dame’s defense - holds former Irish WR Chris Tyree to 50 all-purpose yards or less ● Mitchell Evans - records a season-high in catches (5+) and yards (28+) ● Jeremiyah Love - records 2 rushing touchdowns for only the 2nd time this year WIN (9-1) ND: 45-13 :UVA Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame’s offense will be tasked with out-matching the vulnerable Virginia Cavaliers defense. UVA features a capable rushing defense but they leave a lot to desire against the pass. We preview the Cavs’ defense here: Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Virginia Head Coach Tony Elliott has his squad one win away from being bowl-eligible. While the offense has carried most of the load, UVA’s defense has shown flashes of great play, especially against the run. Here is how UVA has fared so far in their 2024 season: vs Richmond (34-13, Win) at Wake Forest (31-30, Win) vs Maryland (27-13, Loss) at Coastal Carolina (43-24, Win) vs Boston College (24-14, Win) vs Louisville (24-20, Loss) at Clemson (48-31, Loss) vs North Carolina (41-14, Loss) at Pittsburgh (24-19, Win) The Cavaliers defensive unit enters Saturday’s game allowing 26.67 points (sixth-most in the ACC) and 395.8 total yards (fourth-most in the ACC) per game. One positive for Coach Elliott, as mentioned i n the offense preview , is his team’s discipline. UVA’s 5.11 penalties and 47.67 penalty yards per game are both ranked top 50 among FBS teams.  One obvious struggle for this UVA defense has been their lack of red zone success. The Cavs' defense is allowing opponents to score on 91.4% of their red zone trips, the second-highest percentage among ACC foes. This could spell trouble for UVA as Notre Dame enters Saturday with a top-25-ranked red zone offense.  As briefly mentioned before, Virginia’s defense has had issues stopping the pass all season. Their 262.9 passing yards per game allowed are the third-most in the ACC. A reason for this lack of pass-defense success is due to their lack of quarterback pressure. UVA’s 1.67 sacks (15 total) and 4.6 tackles for loss both rank in the bottom three among ACC teams. This issue should not be fixed on Saturday as Notre Dame features a dominant offensive line, allowing just over one sack per game this season. Let’s preview some key players in this Virginia secondary: Arguably, the star of this defense is senior free safety Jonas Sanker. The talented defensive back totaled 170 tackles, 13 passes defended, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and an interception in 22 games across the last two seasons. Last season, Sanker led UVA in tackles (107), passes defended (11), and forced fumbles (3) while being named First Team All-ACC. Also, his 73 solo tackles led all ACC defenders. This year, Sanker has recorded a team-leading 69 tackles including seven for a loss, three passes defended, a sack, an interception, and UVA’s lone defensive touchdown which occurred via a 40-yard fumble scoop and score . His interception came last week and nearly added another score but was taken down after a 45-yard return. Sanker’s 5.2 solo tackles per game (47 total) are tied for first among ACC defenders. He has tallied at least three tackles in each game including three games with ten or more. The senior safety has been solid in coverage this season and has provided good tackling. The Virginia safety core suffered a huge loss this week when Coach Elliott announced starter Antonio Clary will be out for the remainder of the season. Clary attempted to play on a partially torn ACL last week, lasting under one drive before being unable to continue.  Akron graduate transfer Corey Thomas Jr will be tasked with picking up some of the slack given Clary’s absence. Last year, as a senior at Akron, Thomas finished the year with 47 tackles including four for a loss, three passes defended, and a fumble recovery in 12 games played. The safety enters Saturday’s matchup with 34 tackles, two passes defended, a forced fumble, and an interception this season. Before last week, Thomas had recorded at least two tackles in each game. Despite the lack of tackles in last week’s win, the Akron transfer recorded his first interception as a Cavalier. Thomas has excelled against the run this year while providing solid pass coverage. His biggest issue is tackling as he has at least one missed tackle in each of the last six games. The first cornerback to highlight is junior transfer Jam Jackson. The former Robert Morris Colonial was named Big South-OVC Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year last season after finishing with 40 tackles, five passes defended, and a forced fumble. Jackson has recorded 41 tackles and a team-leading five passes defended so far in his first season at UVA. He had a season-high nine tackles and two passes defended in the loss versus Maryland. Overall, Jackson has struggled in his transition to power-conference football. He has not been valuable as a run-stopper or pass-rusher and tends to get beat in coverage. Notre Dame should target the transfer corner who has seven missed tackles and has allowed 35 receptions for 515 yards and four touchdowns in coverage.  Another transfer cornerback to keep an eye on is Eastern Michigan graduate, Kempton Shine. The grad transfer totaled 169 tackles and 26 passes defended in 41 games across the last four seasons at EMU. Three-quarters of the way through Shine’s first season at UVA, he has tallied 26 tackles and four passes defended. He has finished with three or more tackles in seven games this year. Shine has been great in coverage this season while being a non-factor in the run game. He has had his share of tackling issues, with six missed tackles on the year including three of which occurred in the loss versus UNC.  The last defensive back to highlight is, yet another, transfer cornerback. Graduate transfer corner Kendren Smith joined UVA following 138 tackles, 24 passes defended, two sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles in four seasons at Penn. The 2022 First Team All-Ivy selection is featured as UVA’s starting slot corner. Smith enters Saturday’s matchup with 22 tackles, three passes defended, and an interception this season. He recorded a season-high five tackles and an interception in the win versus Boston College. Smith could be another defensive back the Irish look to target as he has allowed 18 receptions for 280 yards and a touchdown in coverage and has four missed tackles. He is at his best against the run. As a team, Virginia has been solid against the run all season. While their 132.9 rushing yards per game allowed is only the ninth-fewest among ACC teams, it does rank within the top 50 among all FBS teams. Let’s preview some key players involved in this rush defense: The first linebacker to highlight is sophomore Kam Robinson. As a true freshman last season, he finished with 71 tackles (led freshman ACC defenders), five tackles for loss, and two interceptions including a pick-six. Robinson was selected to ON3’s Freshman All-American First Team following this campaign. This year, he has totaled 49 tackles including five for a loss, four sacks, a fumble recovery, and an interception in eight games played. Robinson missed UVA’s game versus Maryland due to a knee sprain, he will be ready to go this week. He has had six games with five or more tackles including a six-tackle and one sack performance in last week’s win at Pitt. Despite the impressive stats, Robinson has not been truly impactful this season. While he has been solid against the run, he has 14 missed tackles and has allowed 21 receptions for 218 yards and two touchdowns on just 28 targets in coverage. In my opinion, given the proper development, Robinson could be a notable 2027 NFL Draft prospect. Another key linebacker is senior James Jackson. In 22 games played across the past two seasons, he has totaled 140 tackles and five passes defended. The senior has missed UVA’s last three games due to a foot injury but should be back in a limited capacity this week. He has 43 tackles including five for a loss and two sacks in six games played this season. Jackson has six-plus tackles in five of six games including a season-high 12 versus Maryland. The senior linebacker is an average tackler and pass rusher who struggles in coverage, having allowed ten receptions for 142 yards on just 13 targets. He has also struggled to stop the run this season. It will be interesting to see how Jackson performs coming off his injury. The final linebacker to watch for is junior Trey McDonald. The versatile backer, who lines up in various linebacker roles throughout games, is experiencing a breakout season. He enters Saturday’s game with 39 tackles and a sack on the year. McDonald has tallied at least one tackle in each game and recorded a season-high 11 tackles at Clemson. Notably, the junior will miss the first half at Notre Dame due to a targeting violation committed in the second half of last week’s win at Pitt. Overall, McDonald is a solid linebacker. He has been good in coverage and is an average pass-rusher and run-stopper. His biggest issue is tackling as he has seven missed tackles this season including four in the loss versus Maryland. If UVA has the score close at halftime, the second-half addition of McDonald could provide the Cavaliers some real momentum.  On the defensive line, Virginia features left edge rusher Kam Butler. The graduate student and former Miami (OH) transfer totaled 166 tackles including 42 for a loss, 21.5 sacks, and five forced fumbles in 44 games played across the last five years at Miami and UVA. Butler transferred to UVA following his 2021 First Team All-MAC campaign. This season, he has recorded 32 tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles. The defensive end has at least two tackles in each game including a season-high five tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble in the win versus Boston College. Overall, Butler is a very polished edge rusher. He is great against the pass, specifically as a rusher, but has been reliable in coverage when needed as well. The former RedHawk has also provided value as a run-stopper. A critique for Butler would be to clean up the tackling as he has six missed tackles this season. Off the right edge, Virginia starts another graduate student, Chico Bennett Jr. The former Georgia Tech transfer had 68 tackles including 13 for a loss, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles in 21 games across the last two seasons at UVA. Bennett, a 2022 All-ACC honorable mention, has 29 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and an interception this season. The defensive end has a well-rounded game, he could perhaps improve as a pass rusher and clean up his tackling. Overall, I think Bennett is a very solid player for this UVA defense. The Virginia interior defensive line features four men who could play a factor in this week’s contest. First is sophomore tackle Anthony Britton who is having a breakout season. He has 29 tackles and one and a half sacks including at least one tackle in each game this year. Over the past two games, Britton appears to be getting hot, having tallied 13 tackles and one and a half sacks during this time. The sophomore tackle is a good tackler but has struggled against the run and as a pass rusher. The second interior lineman to watch for is graduate student, Jahmeer Carter. The veteran tackle had totaled 87 tackles in 34 games across the last three seasons. This season, Carter has 26 tackles and a sack including seven multi-tackle games. He is a solid run-stopper, however, he has been a poor tackler and not efficient as a pass rusher. Another veteran on the interior is senior tackle Michael Diatta. He is having his career-best season with 21 tackles in eight games played. The senior missed UVA’s contest at Coastal Carolina but is healthy for this week. When on the field, Diatta has been a great tackler and reliable run-stopper. While he does struggle as a pass rusher, the senior deserves more than the 25 snaps he is currently receiving per game. The last Cavalier defender to highlight is junior lineman Terrell Jones. The versatile defender is capable of lining up anywhere across the line. Jones has recorded 21 tackles this season, including five or more in each of the past two games. The junior has provided solid tackling and has been good against the run, especially during the last two games. However, Jones has struggled as a pass rusher this season. All-in-all, this should be another efficient showing from the Notre Dame offense. This game has the potential for Irish quarterback Riley Leonard to explode through the air while still providing with his feet. The Irish may not be able to run as easily as the past few weeks, however, a depleted UVA secondary could be the decider to Notre Dame rattling off another win. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Chris Tyree returns to Notre Dame Stadium for the first time since he transferred from the program at the end of last season. Tyree spent four years in South Bend, where he became known for his explosive athleticism and do-it-all skillset. Now a Virginia Cavalier, he will use his talent to try to beat Notre Dame. Photo by The Irish Tribune Chris Tyree came to Notre Dame as a high 4-star running back, with the reputation of being one of the fastest players on the team. During his freshman year, he immediately became a huge part of the Notre Dame offense, rushing for 496 yards and four touchdowns, and was a big piece in the Irish return game. In 2021, Tyree's conversion into a gadget player that could play anywhere on the field really started to take hold, as he would tally 258 receiving yards and 222 rushing yards. Although the volume was jumping off the page, Tyree found ways to create plays, and even found the end zone four times. One of these touchdowns was probably his most memorable plays at Notre Dame, and it came in the form of a kickoff return against Wisconsin. The game was tied 10-10 to start the fourth quarter, and Wisconsin was set to kickoff. Tyree proceeded to take this kick back for a touchdown, which ignited a 31-3 run in the fourth quarter with the Irish winning 41-13. Tyree had his best rushing season the following year in 2022. In that season, he ran for 444 yards and three touchdowns. This offense featured a three-headed rushing attack of Tyree, Logan Diggs, and Audric Estime that totaled 2,186 yards. He was also able to make a meaningful impact in the passing game, adding 138 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. Last season, Tyree fully converted into a wide receiver. A move that was made by the coaching staff, due to the lack of playmakers and depth at the position. Tyree seamlessly made the transition look easy, which brought praise from the coaching staff for his willingness to adapt and help the team in any way possible. In the 2023 season, Tyree racked up 484 yards and three touchdowns. He was always a big play threat for the offense, with a season long 76 yard reception. Sam Hartman and Tyree also connected on a deep ball against USC that resulted in a touchdown, helping the Irish knock off the undefeated Trojans. Tyree finished the season, but was one of the many receivers who would elect to transfer at the end of the year. Before making his move to Virginia, he was able to finish his time at Notre Dame with a degree in education. Now, Tyree is playing wide receiver for Virginia, which is only a little over an hour away from his hometown of Chester, VA. So far this year, Tyree only has 124 yards, but Notre Dame knows better than anyone that he is dangerous any time he touches the ball. Luckily for Notre Dame, Tyree won't have any advantage knowing signals or plays. Freeman was asked about this situation, but he explained that he wasn't worried about that due to a new offensive coordinator and scheme. Tyree has yet to find the end zone this season, but a homecoming game might be all the motivation he needs to change that. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Following a blowout win over Florida State, Notre Dame's seventh straight on the season, Marcus Freeman's bunch find themselves right in the thick of the college football playoff chase. With three games remaining on the schedule -- including a showdown with No. 24 Army at Yankee Stadium and a trip to USC to end the season -- can the Irish secure their place in the inaugural 12-team CFP? On this week's episode of "First & Gold," the guys touch on Notre Dame's thumping of rival Florida State. Was this the blue and gold's best performance of the season from a collective team perspective? Plus, with the latest edition of the CFP rankings out, where the Irish slotted at No. 9, are there any surprises to the field? Pete and Clayton break it all down, while discussing the early-season success of both the men's and women's basketball squads, so be sure to tune in. GO Irish! PRODUCTION NOTE: Episode 26 of Season 2 can currently be found on the "First & Gold" X page! Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts First and Gold Twitter The Irish Tribune: Shows

Notre Dame hosts the Virginia Cavaliers (UVA) this Saturday afternoon. The Cavs pose the largest passing threat that the Irish have faced in over a month. We preview the UVA offense, fresh off pulling an upset win last weekend on the road at Pitt, here: Photo by The Irish Tribune The 5-4 Cavaliers are coming off their most notable win of the season after handing a ranked Pitt squad their second loss of the year, essentially knocking them out of ACC Championship Game contention. Here is how the Cavs have fared in their up-and-down season so far: vs Richmond (34-13, Win) at Wake Forest (31-30, Win) vs Maryland (27-13, Loss) at Coastal Carolina (43-24, Win) vs Boston College (24-14, Win) vs Louisville (24-20, Loss) at Clemson (48-31, Loss) vs North Carolina (41-14, Loss) at Pittsburgh (24-19, Win) Offensively, Virginia ranks among the middle of the pack in total offense. They lean on quarterback Anthony Colandrea to lead the solid passing attack while featuring a complementary running game with various ball carriers. UVA’s 398.2 total yards per game are the ninth-most in the ACC and top 60 in the country. They have struggled to punch in these yards for scores as their 26 points per game is the third-fewest in the ACC.  One positive mark for the entire UVA team that can be credited to Head Coach Tony Elliott is their team discipline. As a team, UVA’s 5.11 penalties per game are the fourth-fewest in the ACC and top-25 nationally. In addition, their 47.67 penalty yards per game are the seventh-fewest among ACC teams and top 50 in the country. Virginia’s lack of third-down success could be a reason for their point total being lower than expected. Their 35.6% conversion rate is the fifth-worst in the ACC. Notre Dame’s defense should find success in these spots as they have all year. The Irish defense ranks among the top five in third-down stops, allowing successful conversions just 28.2% of the time.  As briefly mentioned before, Virginia owns the best passing offense Notre Dame has seen in well over a month since their matchup with Louisville. Led by starting quarterback Anthony Colandrea, the Cavaliers are throwing for 254.4 passing yards per game, eighth-most in the ACC and top-40 in the FBS. The biggest problem Colandrea has faced all season is pass protection. UVA has allowed 31 sacks this year (3.44 per game), the second-most in the ACC, only behind Florida State. With time to throw, Colandrea can be dangerous, let’s preview the key players associated with UVA’s passing game: Sophomore starting quarterback Anthony Colandrea makes this team go. As a true freshman last season, Colandrea completed 62.6% of his passes (154/246) for 1,958 yards and 13 touchdowns with nine interceptions in eight games. Following this campaign, UVA named Colandrea their 2023 Offensive Player of the Year. This season has been relatively similar to last season for the signal-caller, who is completing 63.2% of his throws (172/272) for 1,948 yards and 12 touchdowns with eight interceptions. His 63.2% completion rate and 19.11 completions per game both rank among the top ten in the ACC and top 50 across the FBS. However, Colandrea enters Saturday’s matchup struggling over the past three contests. During this span, he is completing 60% of his throws for only 152.67 yards per game with four interceptions and just three touchdowns. Notably, he has been sacked 15 times in the past two games, no doubt a reason for this dip in numbers. The young quarterback is also capable of making plays with his feet, which will be addressed later in the article.  Colandrea’s top receiving option is senior wideout Malachi Fields. The senior receiver broke out last season after finishing with 58 receptions for 811 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games and being named an All-ACC honorable mention. Fields enters Saturday leading UVA in all receiving categories with 45 receptions for 665 yards and four touchdowns. His 73.9 receiving yards per game ranks third in the ACC as he has posted over 100 yards in three games this season. Fields is coming off his lowest-production game of the season after hauling in just two catches for 11 yards in last week’s win. Overall, Fields is a very good receiver who rarely drops passes and has at least two receptions in each game this season. Virginia’s second-leading receiver this season has been tight end Tyler Neville. The Harvard graduate transfer totaled 62 receptions for 698 yards and eight touchdowns in 30 games across 3 seasons in Cambridge. Neville was also named First Team All-Ivy in 2022 and 2023 before transferring to UVA this season. This year at UVA, Neville has recorded 27 receptions for 325 yards and two touchdowns. Both touchdowns occurred in UVA’s win at Wake Forest when he finished with four catches and 68 yards. Neville has recorded at least one reception each game and has six games with over 30 receiving yards this year. The grad transfer has proved as a solid receiving threat for Colandrea while also playing well as a blocker.  Virginia has been without key receiver Trell Harris since week five. Despite having missed over half of the season, Harris is still UVA’s third-leading receiver. The talented wideout is expected to be sidelined again this weekend. Graduate student and running back Kobe Pace has been one of two all-purpose backs for UVA this season. The former Clemson transfer had 19 receptions for 176 yards and three touchdowns (led ACC running backs) in his first season at UVA last year. Pace enters Saturday with 20 receptions for 184 yards but is yet to find the end zone as a receiving threat this season. He has at least one reception in each game, including six multi-reception games. In addition, he has four games with over 20 receiving yards. The graduate back has been reliable as a pass-catcher this season with no drops or fumbles recorded. Pace’s biggest flaw is pass-blocking, not talented in this aspect at all to be brutally honest. The last true wide receiver to highlight is someone Irish fans are familiar with, Notre Dame graduate transfer Chris Tyree. The former running back turned receiver totaled 74 catches for 880 yards and seven touchdowns in 37 games across the last three years in South Bend. Tyree enters this week’s “revenge game” with 22 receptions for 124 yards in 7 games played, yet to find the end zone. He has five games with at least three catches and three games with at least 20 receiving yards this season. Tyree is coming off his best game as a Cavalier when he recorded four receptions for 42 yards on five targets in last week’s win. Overall, Tyree has struggled in his first season at UVA. He may have turned a positive corner last week but his three drops in the season-opener versus Richmond stand out negatively.  The final receiving threat to highlight is another all-purpose running back, junior Xavier Brown. After missing the majority of last season due to a dislocated elbow, Brown appears to have come back strong. As a receiving option, he has eight receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns on just ten targets. Brown’s best play of the year occurred when he broke free for a 46-yard receiving score  ag ainst Louisville. His volume has noticeably increased in the past two contests, totaling four catches for 54 yards and a touchdown during this span. Brown provides another backfield safety valve for Colandrea as he has no dropped passes this season. In terms of pass-blocking, Brown is more valuable than Pace, however, he is still not great by any means in this aspect. Rushing-wise, Virginia has not been as reliant on the ground compared to through the air. They enter Saturday’s contest averaging 143.8 rushing yards per game, 86th among FBS teams. Most of this production comes from their running back duo and quarterback.  Virginia’s leading rusher is starting running back Kobe Pace. The former Clemson transfer had 259 rushes for 1,110 yards and ten touchdowns in 31 games played across three seasons at Clemson and UVA before this year. This season, Pace has 442 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 100 carries. The Cavaliers’ leading rusher has recorded seven games with at least ten carries for 35 yards. Overall, Pace is a good rusher who has yet to fumble this season while having 282 of his yards occurring after contact.  Behind Pace is fellow all-purpose back, Xavier Brown. As a true freshman in 2022, Brown was named UVA’s Offensive Rookie of the Year after rushing for 210 yards and a touchdown on 50 carries. After missing most of last season with a dislocated elbow, the junior running back has bounced back with 436 yards and a touchdown on 68 carries this year. Brown exploded in the win at Coastal Carolina when he finished with 171 rushing yards on just nine carries. Before receiving a season-high 15 carries last week, Brown had between five and nine rushes in each of the first eight games. Statistically, Brown has been a more efficient rusher than Pace this season, including six games with over 30 yards on the ground. Like Pace, Brown is yet to fumble and has found success after contact, with 315 yards after being touched this season. By no means does Anthony Colandrea pose as a true dual-threat quarterback but he is still a solid runner who is not scared to tuck and run when needed. As a true freshman last season, the young signal-caller rushed for 225 yards on 73 carries in eight games. Colandrea has not been as efficient as a runner this year, entering Saturday’s contest with 104 rushes for 259 yards, however, he has found the end zone twice this season on the ground. He has six games with eleven or more carries and four games with 40-plus rushing yards. The largest issue for Colandrea as a ball carrier is his protection, as he has fumbled five times this season. This could be an issue against a Notre Dame defense that is averaging nearly one fumble recovery per game, top-15 in the FBS.  The final rushing threat to highlight is backup quarterback Grady Brosterhous. The junior, not listed on UVA’s two-deep depth chart, has been the Cavaliers’ reliable goalline option this season. Despite having just ten carries for 14 yards, Brosterhous leads UVA with four rushing touchdowns, including two at Coastal Carolina. Do not be surprised if UVA calls upon Brosterhous should they face a short-goalline scenario, as he has made appearances in seven games this season. Virginia’s offensive line has not lived up to expectations so far this season. This group, which includes three key returning starters, has allowed the second-most sacks and fifth-most tackles for loss in the ACC.  Junior McKale Boley is the starting left tackle, a returning starter from last season. The solid run blocker has missed four games this season but will be ready for Saturday. He has struggled with pass-blocking this season with four sacks allowed, including two against Louisville. Another returning starter is left guard Noah Josey. The senior lineman has been great against the pass rush, having only allowed one sack and five quarterback hurries on 371 pass snaps. He is not as dominant as a run-blocker, but he has still been more than serviceable this year. The final lineman to highlight is another returning starter, center Brian Stevens. The former Dayton transfer and 2022 First Team All-Pioneer League selection was named an All-ACC honorable mention last season in his first year at UVA. In eight games played this season, Stevens has been great in pass-blocking and is yet to allow a sack. Similar to Josey, Stevens is not as dominant as a run-blocker but is more than serviceable in this aspect as well. There is no doubt Virginia will do everything in their power to play spoiler during Saturday’s Notre Dame Senior Game. Will UVA have enough offensive firepower after collecting their biggest win of the season last week? That question will be answered this weekend when the Irish defense tries to limit the Cavaliers' offense capable of winning games by air or ground. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The first evaluation I did for the Irish Tribune was Noah Grubbs, a 4-star QB from Lake Mary, Florida, who was just starting his junior season at the time. I came away impressed, and hopeful that Notre Dame was adding another big time piece to their future rotation at the most important position in football. I've now gotten a chance to check him out in person, and watch some more film as his junior season wraps up. He currently has his Lake Mary Rams right in the middle of a state championship run, and looks to be set up for a major senior season campaign next year. Let's compare and contrast some of the things I saw with him previously, and where he may have grown as a player to this point. As always, the criteria for evaluation will be scored on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 7 (Elite). Let's get into it! Photo via Noah Grubbs, X (@NoahGrubbsQB) Arm Strength: Good (5.5) I do not generally designate any "half points" in my ratings, but I wanted to be able to highlight improvement from what I had previously seen on film within reason. The game that I happened to attend in person, I watched him hit a WR in stride for a 40+yard touchdown on a throw that was basically all arm, due to the fact Grubbs had a free rusher in his face and could not step into his throw. I love his ability to pull the ball on a play-action and just let it rip in the short to intermediate game as well. The first time I wrote about him I said arm strength was one of the easier QB traits to develop, and with another full season in high school in front of him, my best projection is that his arm talent becomes VERY GOOD by the time his college career begins. Accuracy: Very Good (6) Grubbs' accuracy is still one of his best attributes, and I saw nothing new on film that would change that. Although my grade for this trait remains the same as the first time, one thing catching my attention is the back shoulder throw. I did not see it very much from him as a Sophomore, but on his Junior tape he has utilized it multiple times, especially in the Redzone. His ball placement overall seems a tick better (which may correlate with some improved arm strength) as he really does an excellent job leading receivers deep and throwing with anticipation in tight windows. He rarely puts the ball in danger, and a QB that protects the ball is a QB you can win with. Mental Processing : Very Good (6) This particular trait is up a full point for me. Grubbs had already proven to have a high football IQ, but it now really seems as if he is processing things a tad faster than everyone else on the field. The back shoulder throws I mentioned above in accuracy, also reflect his mental processing. His ability to know when to utilize certain throws against certain leverages the DB's are playing with really keeps him a step ahead of the defense. He sets up screens and throwbacks well with his eyes, and generally always find the appropriate hole to attack against zone. Without having personally spoken to him, I would be willing to bet he is a film guy and takes pride in knowing what the defense is going to do before he even takes the snap. Footwork/ Throwing Mechanics: Very Good (6) This is not an area I dug into on my first evaluation, but this time I think it is worth mentioning. I have watched a lot of high school QB's with plenty of mixed results when it comes to mechanics. This is an area where once again, Grubbs just seems to be more advanced than most. He never gets too wide with his base, which is important for delivering accurate passes. The minute you become wide, you lose ability to step into throws, and that's when passes begin to sail high or land wildly short. He makes sure he squares his shoulders and has good lower body torque behind his passes. He does not take unnecessary extra hitches, which is why his passes are in rhythm and on time. It's good mechanics all around, and a big reason he is such a highly touted prospect. The more I watch of Grubbs, the more I am convinced he is the real deal. His high school coaches and QB trainer seem to have done a great job with him to this point, and the potential for what he can become continues to grow. The stars on his recruiting profile only tell a small part of what he can be at the next level, and if I'm Marcus Freeman or anyone on the offensive staff, I am more excited about landing him by the day. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame physically dominated the Florida State Seminoles up front, and the Irish ran away with a 52-3 victory. Photo via Note Dame Football SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The key storyline heading into the game was the matchup between the stout Fighting Irish defense and the struggling Seminoles offense. After a 16-play, 75-yard opening drive for the Seminoles resulted in three points, the Fighting Irish defense were suddenly on their toes. That didn't last long. The Notre Dame defense showed their teeth after being punched in the mouth and held the Seminoles to only three points and 206 total yards. Rylie Mills emerged as the standout player, recording three sacks after fellow interior defensive star Howard Cross III left with an ankle injury. In Cross' absence, junior Donovan Hinish contributed two sacks, while Jaylen Sneed continued his streak of strong performances. The Notre Dame front seven wreaked havoc on Florida State quarterbacks Brock Glenn and Luke Kromenhoek. The Seminole quarterbacks combined for only 89 yards through the air on an abysmal 38.5% completion rate, and two interceptions. Jordan Clark secured his first interception in an Irish uniform at the start of the second half, and reserve safety Luke Talich's 79-yard pick six put an exclamation point on Notre Dame's dominance. Use code IRISH20 for 20% off and help support our independent journalism here From the offensive side of the football, it was a bit of a mixed bag for the Fighting Irish. An impressive five-play opening touchdown drive set the tone for Notre Dame, but two subsequent three-and-outs left them searching for answers. They got one by simply feeding the talented running backs, which was highlighted through Jadarian Price's 65-yard touchdown. Jeremiyah Love also extended his every game touchdown streak late in the game. Riley Leonard had a statistically poor performance throwing the ball going 14/27 for 215 yards and a touchdown. He also added 70 yards and two touchdowns with his legs. Leonard's completion woes are something to monitor, but the Notre Dame receivers didn't do him many favors either. Beaux Collins, Jeremiyah Love, and Jordan Faison all had a drop that derailed Fighting Irish drives. To be elite this late in the season against quality opponents, Notre Dame needs more from their pass catchers. Jayden Harrison had his best game of the season, and Jaden Greathouse has continued to develop into a weapon for the Irish, as well. On special teams, the punt-blocking effort resembled that of 2022, with the Irish consistently pressuring Florida State punter Alex Mastromanno. Adon Shuler and Bryce Young paired up to deflected one, and Preston Zinter recorded a block, too. Mitch Jeter returned to the field this week after nursing a groin injury, but went 1/2 in his return, missing a 42-yard attempt, and making a 28-yard try. In a week where Notre Dame couldn't afford to play to their level of their inferior opponent, the Irish handled business and dominated on all fronts. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

This week, the No. 10 Fighting Irish play host to the 1-8 Florida State Seminoles for a 7:30 pm primetime showdown in South Bend. If the time slot for this matchup doesn't tip you off - this game was supposed to be a late-season clash between heavyweight CFP contenders, but it looks much different come game week. Instead of a chance to further build their playoff resume, Notre Dame will face a lose-lose situation; lose and their postseason dreams are done, or win anything other than a double-digit blowout and risk falling out of the top 12. Although the opponent is different, this is a challenge Marcus Freeman’s 2024 Irish have faced every week since NIU. Focus on what's in front of you and take care of business. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s game. Photo by The Irish Tribune Florida State Florida State ended the 2023 season in utter disappointment and embarrassment. After star QB Jordan Travis went down with a season-ending injury in their 11th game, the Seminoles limped through their final regular season game and the ACC Championship to go 13-0 but were snubbed out on a CFP spot before getting absolutely dismantled by UGA in the Orange Bowl, 63-3. Coach Norvell faced a mass exodus of talent, losing 15 starters from the 2023 squad across both sides of the ball, 9 of which were selected in the NFL draft. They ranked 83rd in returning production but dominated in the portal, pulling in the 7th-best class according to 247Sports. Transfer highlights included QB DJ Uiagalelei from Oregon State, DE Marvin Jones Jr. from UGA, WR Jalen Brown from LSU, and both WR Malik Benson and RB Roydell Williams from Alabama. Unfortunately, Mike Norvell and the Seminoles followed that embarrassing end to 2023 and an equally embarrassing start to 2024 with a week-0 loss to Georgia Tech in Ireland. The No. 10 Seminoles touted what many considered one of the best defensive lines in the country and a group of serious talent coming in on the offensive side of the ball. Yet shockingly, the Yellow Jackets controlled the Seminoles’ offense all game, holding them to less than 100 yards on the ground, less than 200 through the air, and 0 passing touchdowns. It was a shocking opening week loss for FSU, but it was a close-fought 3-point game that many felt would be the floor of their season. They were wrong. FSU arrives in South Bend amidst a five-game losing streak and just a single win from September. Even as questions swirl around the future of the program and Head Coach Mike Norvell, the reeling team and fanbase have something to prove and are looking to salvage what they can of this season. FSU Injury Report: ● LB Justin Cryer - Out ● C Maurice Smith - Questionable ● OT Robert Scott Jr. - Questionable ● CB Fentrell Cypress II - Questionable Notre Dame The Irish are coming off a 51-14 shellacking of Navy, which moved them up to No. 8 in the polls before a much-needed BYE week that unfortunately dropped them back to No. 10. Despite the drop, Notre Dame made the 12-team cut in the first round of CFP rankings as the No. 10 seed, and they’re looking to close the regular season strong. The Navy game was an excellent continuation of what Freeman and fans alike have been looking for from the team. The defense continued its elite form, containing one of the country's most efficient and prolific offenses while racking up six turnovers. The offense was even more encouraging, maintaining their dominance on the ground with four touchdowns and 265 yards, led by Love with 102 and Leonard with 83. Best of all, Leonard stayed consistent and didn’t regress in the passing game, tossing 2 touchdowns for 173 yards. The Irish will need to replicate the same level of dominance against their final four opponents, and that starts with Florida State. Notre Dame Injury Report: ● Defensive Back Tae Johnson - Available ● Kicker Mitch Jeter - Questionable ● Edge Defender Loghan Thomas - Questionable - Right hamstring from the Navy game. The Matchup Notre Dame's Defense vs. FSU's Offense The Seminoles lost DJ Uiagalelei after only five games, which was a blow for their dual-threat offense. However, backup Brock Glenn stepped up and immediately threw the second-most yards in a game for the Seminoles all year against then No. 11 Clemson. The passing improvement helps FSU’s fledgling offense a bit, but they’ve struggled mightily on the ground thus far, averaging only 76.1 YPG, nearly dead last in the entire FBS at 132nd. Much of their rushing struggles can be attributed to their offensive line, which has been dealing with injury issues all year and has given up a staggering 30 sacks in 9 games. FSU Offense - Players to watch: Through all these issues, the Seminoles have only scored 16 touchdowns this season and will struggle in both aspects of the game against Notre Dame. On paper, this is a talented Seminoles offense, but if they do indeed have a second win in them this year, it's not going to come against this elite Irish defense. This will hands down be the best defense FSU has and will face this year, and the Irish will lean on their strength to stifle FSU’s broken system. Advantage: Strong Notre Dame Notre Dame's Offense vs. FSU's Defense Florida State’s defense has struggled greatly all season but isn’t completely broken. They’ve had particular success getting to the quarterback, with 22 sacks through 9 games, better than Notre Dame’s 18, but have only snagged 2 interceptions all season long. The defensive line and rushing attack are the strongest aspects of their defense, so the Irish can either matchup strength-for-strength on the ground or make this the game where they really let things fly through the air. While there's a lot of risk to leaning on the passing game, there’s some confidence that if the Irish were forced to, they could. FSU Defense - Players to Watch: The Irish offense has been the weakest part of this team all season, but the narrative surrounding it has transformed, and that’s a credit to both the players and coaching staff. The Irish offense has been prolific on the ground all season, including from dual-threat Riley Leonard, but the Irish passing game was truly exposed for fans and the nation in the NIU shocker at home. Since then, Leonard and Denbrock have diligently transformed a completely run-dominant and pass-inept offense into a better-balanced attack that's won them six straight games. Over the last several weeks, the key has been not regressing through the air, at least maintaining its progress from week to week and sometimes gradually improving. Leonard and Denbrock have found a groove and likely won't deviate from their dink-and-dunk passing strategy, and a weak defense like FSU’s is the perfect opportunity to further hone what makes the Irish offense work while testing their new limits. Advantage: Leaning Notre Dame Prediction The Irish have the leg up on both sides of the ball, especially on defense, so the odds of the Seminoles scoring their way to a win is very slim. If FSU has a shot at beating the Irish, it’ll have to come from winning the defensive battle over an Irish offense that would prefer to run the ball most of the time. The last few weeks have shown that the Irish can be competent through the air and that they’ve evolved from their one-dimensional attack, but if FSU can use their talent on defense to force the Irish into throwing, there may be a chance the Irish struggle. Unfortunately, it's as simple as this: Florida State is just completely outmatched. Their talent, hope to play spoiler, and experienced Head Coach just aren’t enough to even the playing field. Even if the Irish struggle to pass the ball or start slow, there’s little evidence showing they could lose this game. If this was in Tallahassee, FSU would at least have something going in their favor, but being in chilly South Bend during November only adds to what’s an insurmountable obstacle for the Seminoles. The Irish should dominate this game from start to finish and once again use their weak competition to further add to their CFP resume. Frankly, they can't afford anything less. Look for: ● Notre Dame’s defense - holds FSU under 100 yards rushing ● Notre Dame’s defense - records 2+ sacks ● Notre Dame’s defense - records 1+ interceptions ● Notre Dame’s defense - doesn’t allow a single touchdown ● Jeremiyah Love - 1+ rushing touchdowns & 100+ yards ● Riley Leonard - 100+ rushing yards Win (8-1) ND: 45-9 :FSU Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame heads into November as the #10 team in the country, with aspirations of a playoff birth. With nothing to lose, Florida State may have other plans for the Irish. Photo by The Irish Tribune It's widely known that Notre Dame has no room for error if they want to find themselves as participants in the newly expanded College Football Playoff come this December. With the loss to NIU, there are even concerns about whether the Irish can get in, even with one loss, if there are not enough losses distributed amongst the other teams in the race. Florida State makes their first trip back to South Bend since 2018, where they were humbled 42-13 by a green jersey-wearing, Dexter Williams running, Ian Book throwing Notre Dame team that would go on to finish that 2018 regular season as an undefeated group who would make their first-ever College Football Playoff. The Seminoles finished 2018 at 5-7, but with a 1-8 record with three more games to go for their season (Since they are not able to play in a bowl game due to their record), Mike Norvell and his team are looking to salvage as much as they can as they seemingly head for a long rebuild ahead of them. Use code IRISH20 for 20% off and help support our independent journalism here Florida State has taken quite a fall from grace after finishing the 2023 regular season undefeated, squeezed by Louisville in the ACC Conference Championship, but ultimately getting embarrassed in the Orange Bowl against Georgia 63-3. Many would argue that the Seminoles were snubbed from the College Football Playoff that year. However, the injury to star quarterback Jordan Travis seemingly put the nail in the coffin for FSU's playoff chances, even though they finished undefeated. Believe it or not, Mike Norvell is not on the hot seat according to fellow outlet Athlon Sports, despite only having one singular win on the season up to this point, so it seems Norvell and his team are looking to create some chaos, and what better situation is there to do that than to play Notre Dame under the lights at Notre Dame Stadium, with the Irish needing to be perfect to make the playoffs. Our staff give their insight and analysis below. Clayton Stohler - First & Gold Podcast Co-Host Score Prediction: 59-7 Notre Dame FSU’s offense puts forth yet another pitiful performance against perhaps the best defense in the country. The Seminoles try everything they can to spoil the party, but by the third quarter, it’ll be made abundantly clear- not that FSU is simply bad, but that ND may very well be a team capable of inflicting major damage against anybody. Jordan Faison with the breakout performance of the season within the WR room, Riley Leonard continues to take command, and the offensive line of ND imposes its will. Easy night in South Bend. Connor Regan - Long-Form Writer Score Prediction: 45-9 Notre Dame The Irish continue their elite defensive form and ground game, while Leonard and Denbrock progress the passing game bit by bit. The Irish use FSU to work out their offensive kinks before the stakes increase in the playoff. This should be a very one-sided contest that is decided by halftime. Look for the Irish to sell out in pursuit of CFP-style points and work in their young guys early to gain some experience. Irish extend their win streak to 7. Noah Wehby - Writer Score Prediction : 45-6 Notre Dame Notre Dame's offense has continued to find ways to put up points and it won’t stop on Friday. With Notre Dame’s talented running back room and FSU’s weak run defense, expect Notre Dame to do a lot of damage on the ground. This will open up the passing game and give Notre Dame chances to move the ball downfield. On defense, FSU has little to threaten a stout Notre Dame defense. The Irish will keep the Seminoles out of the end zone and cause a couple of takeaways, all en route to a huge blowout. Jhett Garrett - Writer Score Prediction: 45-10 Notre Dame Florida State has not only been bad, they’ve been atrocious. They travel to South Bend on a five-game losing streak with no hope for that to end anytime soon. These two teams are on opposite ends of the spectrum right now, with Notre Dame coming in scorching hot on a six-game win streak. The number ten team in the country has one of the best defenses in the entire nation, giving up just 12.1 points per game. Florida State comes into the matchup averaging just 14 points per game, however, I have them getting to 10 with a garbage-time touchdown late. This game will be over in the first quarter and Notre Dame will easily cruise to 8-1. Max Uretsky - Analyst Score Prediciton: 44-9 Notre Dame It's not an overstatement to say Florida State has been one of the worst offenses in the country. The run game hasn't come close to finding its footing and they have also given up 30 sacks. I would be surprised if they found the endzone against a very good Irish defense. On the other side of the ball, FSU has given up over 250 yards rushing three times and over 200 yards a total of five times, and will now be tasked with stopping one of the better running back groups in college football. FSU does roster some talented, physical DBs, so Riley Leonard will need to be smart with the ball and continue to build off recent performances. As it has been for most of the year, defense and the running game lead the way for Notre Dame and keep them squarely in the playoff picture. Liam Farrell - Associate Editor & Senior Football Writer Score Prediciton: 49-10 Notre Dame Notre Dame’s defense gets a turnover early and hangs a two-score lead over the Seminoles. Florida State loses their competitive drive early in this game and the Irish get whatever they want on the offensive side of the ball. The Notre Dame defense will continue to force turnovers and win the turnover margin in this game by two. On offense, Denbrock continues to build Leonard’s confidence and doesn’t do anything out of the ordinary. Jeremiyah Love continues his touchdown streak and the Irish passing game will have a touchdown of 35+ yards. Like our content? Here's 20% off (IRISH20) and help support what we do here Brenden Duffy - Associate Editor & Senior Staff Writer Score Prediction : 49-0 Notre Dame Why not? I trust the Irish have officially learned their lesson of not overlooking opponents. It’s not an exaggeration to say that this is the worst team ND will face all year. Offensively, I expect the Irish to have their way via the run game featuring Love, Price, and Leonard. Passing-wise, I think Leonard starts slow but finds a rhythm sooner rather than later. FSU’s secondary is okay but nothing to write home about. Defensively, the Irish really should dominate this FSU offense in all categories. Their young quarterbacks have struggled against weaker competition and have yet to play on a stage as large as Notre Dame Stadium at night. I think one key for the Notre Dame defense will be limiting FSU RB Lawrance Toafili. He is a capable rusher who excels as a short-game receiving option. If Toafili does not get going, I do not see how FSU will be able to move the ball consistently with success. Bruce Straughan - Recruiting Writer Score Prediction: 35-14 Notre Dame Don’t let this Florida State team fool you, they’re still Florida State and have major talent throughout their roster. This team cannot be overlooked. A team with nothing to lose is always a scary opponent. I believe that NIU was a major lesson learned and Freeman will have this team ready to compete. Notre Dame’s defense will be too much for this team to handle. Brady Burden - Social Media Intern Score Prediction: 45-10 Notre Dame FSU offense continues to lack any sort of connection with each other. They go all out and try trick plays early but nothing seems to work at all. Props to the Irish defense though, as they don’t give up any scores until the 3rd quarter. Riley Leonard continues his elite performance in the passing game and the WRs show their full potential. Kris Mitchell has his best game so far in an Irish uniform. The running backs display their depth also, as they have 3 different RBs score on the night. Should have no issues with the Seminoles tonight. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The Florida State (FSU) Seminoles bring a defense that has performed well against the pass but struggles against the run to Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday night. We preview the ‘noles defense here: Photo by The Irish Tribune FSU’s defense does not deserve nearly as much blame as the offense for this disastrous season. While they have not been stellar, they have done enough to keep a few games closer than they should have been. Here is how 1-8 FSU has fared so far this season: at Georgia Tech (in Ireland) (24-21, Loss) vs Boston College (28-13, Loss) vs Memphis (20-12, Loss) vs California (14-9, Win) at SMU (42-16, Loss) vs Clemson (29-13, Loss) at Duke (23-16, Loss) at Miami (FL) (36-14, Loss) vs North Carolina (35-11, Loss) The Seminoles defense enters Saturday, allowing 27.3 points (sixth-most in ACC) and 392.8 total yards per game (fourth-most in the ACC).  They have been unable to force turnovers, as this defense only has two interceptions and a fumble recovery this season. In addition, they have zero defensive touchdowns. One positive for this defense has been their red zone efforts. Opponents are scoring only 79.5% of the time they enter the red zone, fifth-best in the ACC. A glaring issue with this FSU defense has been their lack of success on third downs. Opposing offenses are converting 46.3% of their third-down attempts, the highest percentage in the ACC. As briefly mentioned before, Florida State’s passing defense has, arguably, been the best unit of this whole team. The ‘noles are allowing 201.3 passing yards per game, the second-fewest among ACC teams. They also do well disturbing the quarterback, as their 2.44 sacks per game (22 total) ranks tied-31st among FBS teams. Let’s highlight six defensive backs that could impact Notre Dame’s passing offense on Saturday night: The star of the secondary is redshirt senior cornerback Fentrell Cypress II. The former Virginia transfer is one of two FSU defenders generating 2025 NFL Draft buzz. As of right now, Cypress is projected to be a day-three selection in April. The 2023 honorable mention All-ACC corner entered this season with 98 tackles, 22 passes defended, and an interception in 33 games played. At UVA, Cypress earned Second Team All-ACC recognition in 2022 after he led the conference in passes defended with 14. Following his ‘22 campaign, Cypress entered the portal as one of the highest-rated transfers before making the move to Tallahassee. This season, he has totaled 27 tackles while leading the team with five passes defended. He racked up two passes defended against both Clemson and Duke. Unfortunately, Cypress has been dealing with nagging injuries and was limited to just two series’ last week. He is expected to give it a go this week, but he will likely not be at 100%. Overall, Cypress is a great tackler and good cover corner who has only allowed two touchdowns this season. The other starting wide corner is junior Azareye'h Thomas. He entered this year with 43 tackles, seven for loss, 11 passes defended, and an interception in 25 games played. Thomas, experiencing a career-best season, enters Saturday with 41 tackles (tied for second on the team), two passes defended, and a forced fumble. He has posted four or more tackles in eight of nine games played. Thomas has been reliable in coverage this year, having only allowed 13 receptions for 120 yards on 23 targets.  The starting slot corner is senior Kevin Knowles II. He entered this year with 81 tackles, seven passes defended, and an interception in 38 games played. This year, Knowles has racked up 27 tackles and four passes defended. Overall, the senior is a well-rounded defensive back who has allowed 19 receptions for 174 yards on 30 targets this season. The final true corner to highlight is sophomore Quindarrius Jones. The young corner has stepped in with Cypress dealing with his injuries. Jones enters Saturday with ten tackles and three passes defended. Expect Notre Dame’s offense to attack the sophomore, as he has struggled with tackling and coverage. He has allowed seven receptions for 109 yards on 15 targets. I think Jones can develop into a good starting cornerback, but he is still a step behind this season. One of FSU’s starting safeties is redshirt junior Shyheim Brown. The Third Team All-ACC selection from a year ago entered this season with 89 tackles, five for loss, six passes defended, three and a half sacks, two fumble recoveries, and an interception in 27 games across the last two seasons. This year, Brown has racked up a team-high 61 tackles, ninth-most among ACC defenders, including two games with 10-plus tackles. Brown is a great tackler, but he excels against the run. His biggest flaw would be coverage, as he has allowed ten receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown on just 12 targets. The last defensive back to keep an eye on is fellow starting safety, redshirt freshman K.J. Kirkland. The former four-star recruit has recorded 38 tackles and two passes defended in eight games played this season. Kirkland is a good tackler and is reliable in stopping the run. However, like Brown, he has struggled in coverage, allowing eleven receptions for 168 yards on just 13 targets.  Florida State’s rushing defense leaves a lot to be desired. They are allowing 191.4 rushing yards per game, the worst in the ACC. Positively, this defense has been capable of getting into the backfield, as proven by their 6.2 tackles for loss per game (56 total), which is tied for seventh-most among ACC foes.  The star of the ‘noles defensive line, and perhaps the entire team, is redshirt junior edge rusher Patrick Payton. The left-side edge has garnered the attention of NFL teams as he is slated to be a day two or three selection in the ‘25 NFL Draft. The 2022 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year entered this season with 75 tackles, 21 for loss, 13 passes defended, 12 sacks, and three forced fumbles in 27 games across the last two years. Last season, Payton was named an All-ACC honorable mention after leading FSU with 14 and a half tackles for loss and recording ten passes defended, the most by an ACC defensive lineman since 2016. This season, he has totaled 23 tackles, eight for loss, and a team-leading four sacks. Notably, three of his sacks came in the win against Cal. In general, Payton appears to be struggling in almost all aspects of the game. This could be occurring because opposing teams are targeting him, but regardless, he has shown he can be elite in the past, and it has not shown up this year. He has nine missed tackles, and besides the Cal game, Payton has not really “jumped off the tape” against the run or pass. Starting right-side edge rusher is junior Marvin Jones Jr. The Georgia transfer, a part of the 2022 National Championship team, is experiencing his career-best season. He enters Saturday with 23 tackles, five for loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble on the year. Like Payton, Jones dominated against Cal, notching two sacks and his forced fumble in the win. Overall, Jones is a solid tackler and run-stopper whose biggest struggles come in the pass rush. On the interior, FSU features redshirt junior Darrell Jackson Jr. The former Maryland and Miami (FL) transfer was forced to sit out last year due to NCAA rules. Jackson totaled 49 tackles, five for loss, and three sacks across 25 games at Maryland and Miami. This season, he has recorded 24 tackles and three and a half sacks, with three of the sacks coming in the past two weeks. If Jackson cleans up his tackling (five missed tackles this season), he could be a great player for this ‘noles defense. Even with the poor tackling execution, he finds ways to produce against both the pass and run. Another interior lineman for Notre Dame to watch is redshirt sophomore Daniel Lyons. He is experiencing a breakout season as he enters Saturday with 24 tackles, five for loss, and two and a half sacks. Notably, all of his sacks came in two weeks against Memphis and Cal. The sophomore lineman is a well-rounded, great tackler who performs well against both the pass and run. Lyons could be a name to watch for in the future on NFL Sundays but is not draft-eligible this year. The final interior lineman to highlight is redshirt junior Joshua Farmer. The Second Team All-ACC selection and FSU Defense Most Improved Player from a year ago entered this season with 47 tackles, 13 for loss, seven sacks, two passes defended, and a forced fumble in 26 games across the last two seasons. This season, Farmer has racked up 27 tackles, seven for loss, and two and a half sacks. He recorded back-to-back games of at least four tackles and one sack against Memphis and Cal. In general, Farmer is a solid player who excels in pass rush. He has had struggles with tackling, with four missed tackles this season. FSU boasts four linebackers who can impact Saturday’s game, including sophomore left-side backer Blake Nichelson. He is experiencing a breakout season as he has totaled 41 tackles (tied-second on the team), three for loss, and half of a sack. Nichelson is a great tackler with at least four tackles in six of eight games played. The young linebacker has struggled in pass rush this year. The right-side linebacker is senior Cam Riley. The Auburn transfer totaled 120 tackles, eight for loss, two sacks, and two passes defended in 48 games at his former school. Riley enters Saturday with 39 tackles, four for loss, a forced fumble, and a sack this season. His best game came against Boston College when he recorded ten tackles and a forced fumble in a losing Seminoles effort. Riley has performed well against the pass, both as a rusher and coverage man. However, he has struggled to stop the run this year. In the middle, FSU features two young inside linebackers, including redshirt sophomore Omar Graham Jr. He has recorded 25 tackles, two for loss, three passes defended, and a sack in seven games this season. Graham has racked up six or more tackles in three contests. He is the highest-graded tackler on the FSU defense, according to PFF, and has been solid in pass rush and run defense all year. The last player to highlight on this FSU defense is fellow inside linebacker Justin Cryer. The sophomore has recorded 32 tackles, two for loss, an interception, and a fumble recovery this season. A consistent producer, Cryer has had three or more tackles in seven of eight games played. The sophomore inside linebacker is another good tackler who happens to perform better in coverage as opposed to rushing the passer or stopping the run. Florida State will always have talented football players. If that was all that was needed to win, there would be several more successful college football programs across the country. While the 'noles passing defense has had bright spots, their inability to force turnovers is worrisome. Notre Dame’s top-15 rushing offense should be able to guide the Irish to victory Saturday night against, arguably, the most disappointing team in college football. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The first round of rankings for the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff has been released, and the 13-member committee has given the first glimpse into how they’re assessing the top teams with 4 weeks left in the regular season. Photo by The Irish Tribune The official CFP top-25 rankings are listed below: The top 4 seeds going to No. 1 Oregon, No. 3 UGA, No. 4 Miami, and No. 9 BYU make sense as they’re all the current Conference Title favorites, with two of them undefeated and the other two with only 1 loss. Penn State’s loss to OSU pushed the Buckeyes up to No. 2 in the rankings, but that only earned them the No. 5 seed in the bracket, while Penn State dropped to No. 6 in the polls but earned the No. 7 seed. As the current No. 7 seed, the Nittany Lions would host the No. 10 seed Fighting Irish in round 1, with the winner going on to face the current No. 2 seed, UGA. The CFP committee pointed to the quality of OSU’s loss (No. 1 Oregon) over UGA’s loss (No. 11 Alabama) as a determining factor in giving the Buckeyes the edge. This could pose some trouble for the Irish, as they’re the 2nd lowest-ranked 1-loss team in the top-12 behind 7-1 Boise State. As the No. 10 seed, Notre Dame would be on the backside of the playoff bracket and would not get to host a 1st-round home game. Their status as one of the lowest-ranked 1-loss teams means they have to win out while the rest of the 1-loss teams cannibalize each other. What Notre Dame Needs To Do Following a statement win over Navy, the Irish moved back into the top 10 for the first time since their week 2 loss to NIU. Although Navy isn’t necessarily a blue-chip powerhouse, the win became Notre Dame’s 3rd over a top-25 opponent this year, and pushed them up to No. 8 in the polls. Unfortunately, a BYE week and some top-25 attrition dropped Notre Dame back to No. 10 in the AP and subsequently in the first CFP rankings. Notre Dame’s path to this point has taken a course that no one could have predicted, but as the first round of CFP rankings shows, the Irish don’t wholly control their own fate. Much of their final fate will be left up to the CFP committee’s interpretations of each team and how the rest of the top 25 shakes out. Notre Dame’s objectives for the remainder of the regular season are pretty cut and dry. Notre Dame Must Win Out The Irish only have 4 games remaining and will likely be heavy favorites in at least 3 of them. There’s a possibility that a loss in one of these 4 games wouldn’t completely eliminate the Irish from CFP contention, but at best, their seeding would take a hit and make their path through the bracket much more difficult. Thankfully, the Irish have the advantage of a BYE week and back-to-back home games before traveling to New York for a neutral site matchup with Army, followed by LA to close out the year against the Trojans. - Home VS FSU - 11/09 - Home VS Virginia - 11/16 - @ Yankee Stadium VS No. 25 Army - 11/23 - @ USC - 11/30 A loss to Army would be the least painful of the 4, as they’re currently ranked, but a loss to any of the other 3 would give the Irish 2 unranked losses for the year and increase their likelihood of missing out on a spot. Although we’ve seen the Irish falter when they shouldn’t, and fail to progress at times this season, nearly every intangible lies in their favor during this final stretch, and all signs point to the Irish winning out. Notre Dame’s safest bet is to win all 4 games and end the season with a 10-game win streak. That's the only formula they have to get advantageous seeding. Win With Style Points Notre Dame’s easy remaining schedule both helps and hurts them. For one, it should be easier to win out and end the season 11-1, but at the same time, the lack of competition means the Irish must not only win, but win impressively. The goal will be to substantially separate themselves (e.g., Purdue, Navy) from their final four opponents and remove all doubt from the CFP committee that they’ve hit their full stride and are legit. FSU and Virginia should be easy wins by decent margins, whereas the Army game will be a tougher but more impressive win, but not one that the Irish can afford to keep close. To a degree, Notre Dame’s dismantling of Navy set the bar high for this game, and they’ll have to avoid an unimpressive performance if they want to maintain their aesthetics for the committee. The only genuinely concerning game here is the trip to LA against USC. The Trojans shouldn’t be an issue for the Irish on paper, but the nature of this rivalry and it coming on the road means anything could happen. Even then, the Irish can’t afford too close of a game against an unimpressive Trojans squad. If the Irish don’t win by double digits against the likes of FSU (1-8), Virginia (4-4), and USC (4-5), the committee would likely drop them in the rankings in favor of more impressive teams with either fewer losses or stronger schedules. Essentially, Notre Dame can only help itself in two ways: perfection for the remainder of the regular season and sheer dominance. Keep Leonard and the Passing Game Going The key for the Irish will be maintaining Riley Leonard’s season-long ramp-up in the passing game. If Leonard can at least maintain the performance he had against Navy, it’ll be a good enough balance with Notre Dame’s elite ground game to be a threat to playoff teams later on. As of right now, the Irish are good enough to win out and make the playoffs - but we don’t know if they’ll be good enough to make an actual run past the first round. Notre Dame’s success may depend on Leonard maintaining his current passing trajectory, so polishing things up during an easy final 4-game stretch will be crucial when competition increases later. Avoid Any More Significant Injuries Unlike the other 3 points on our list, this one is not really within Notre Dame’s control. Since spring ball, the Irish have collectively suffered 13 season-ending injuries that have made a serious dent in their depth and experience, and are now just one more injury away from serious trouble in several position groups. If the Irish suffer any more injuries - even minor ones, it could affect their ability to make the playoffs at all, or deliver a crippled one-loss Irish team to an early 1st round exit. Staying healthy will be key to the Irish staying competitive. What Other Teams Need To Do Notre Dame's Key Wins Need to Continue Winning Notre Dame’s best 3 wins have come against TAMU, Louisville, and Navy. Any and all of these teams winning out from here on can only strengthen Notre Dame’s CFP pitch. - No. 14 Texas A&M (7-1) - No. 22 Louisville (6-3) - Navy (7-1) - No. 25 Army (8-0) This is a bit of a tightrope for the Irish because of their already weak schedule. If one or several of those teams start to slide, the Irish will have even less to brag about. Beating Army and then Army beating Navy in the AAC title game would be the perfect final push late in the season to show off for the committee. A&M is currently undefeated and leading the SEC ahead of a 1 loss UGA, but they’ll have to face Texas before the end of the season. If A&M can beat the Longhorns or at least win the SEC title, the Irish will have one of the very best wins in the country against a possible conference champion. Big Games Need to Benefit Notre Dame The more one- and two-loss teams in the CFP rankings, the better. This means late-season matchups that turn one-loss teams into two-loss teams and title game matchups that knock off undefeated teams. Possible Outcomes Due to how the playoff is formatted, Notre Dame’s highest possible seeding would be No. 5, as the top 4 seeds are automatically assigned to the highest-ranking conference champions. Thus, they’re also ineligible for a first-round BYE. Because the Irish aren't undefeated, it's unlikely they’ll be ranked high enough to earn the 5th seed, which has the advantage of playing the 12th seed in round 1. This narrows Notre Dame’s window to seeds 6-12. As we can see from the first round of CFP rankings, the Irish can’t afford to drop a second game. Flat out, they have one of the worst losses in the top 25, and a second loss would drop them well behind every other 1 or 2 loss teams, with the possible exception of TAMU. That would quickly drop them out of the top 12, and even with Conference Title game losses factored in, they’d be against opponents who are too high of quality to drop them below the Irish. If we accept the oddsmakers, 11-1 is both Notre Dame’s best-case scenario and, thankfully, the most realistic. The advantage of Notre Dame’s loss is that it came very early, and although it may be the worst loss among the CFP hopefuls, a 10-game win streak to end the season, along with 4 wins over top-25 opponents (with a win over Army), would almost assuredly earn them a spot in the playoff. If the Irish win out, they’d likely be ranked too high to fall to the 11th and 12th seeds or behind several other 1-loss teams. So, they’d probably earn the 7th or 8th seed and face off against the 9th or 10th seed, respectively. The higher their seeding, the easier the postseason path. Additionally, the 5, 6, 7, and 8 seeds will host in round 1 and have home-field advantage. While not guaranteed, Notre Dame’s best chance at hosting in round 1 is going 11-1. This would put the Irish in the best possible position to succeed in the playoffs, avoiding a low seed and a tougher 1st round opponent on the road. Biggest Games Left Bracketology Oregon has a clear path to their title game, while UGA still has to play No. 7 Tennessee, meaning one of them will get their 2nd loss before the end of the regular season, likely dropping them behind the Irish and out of a shot at the SEC Title. Like Oregon, Miami has a clear path until their title game, but No. 5 Texas will have to play No. 14 TAMU in the final week of the regular season. That game will have huge implications for the Irish if A&M can pull off the upset. It’ll knock 2-loss Texas out of the SEC title chase and likely behind the Irish in the rankings while giving Notre Dame’s best win a big resume boost. Things get tricky with Penn State only having 1 loss and no ranked opponents for the rest of the season, but 1-loss OSU still has to face currently undefeated No. 8 Indiana. If the Buckeyes beat the Hoosiers at home, that single loss could keep both teams ahead of the Irish because of the ugly NIU loss. If IU beats Ohio State, it could drop a 2-loss OSU behind the Irish but would definitely keep the Hoosiers ahead of Notre Dame. Whoever emerges from the BIG 10 will ultimately face Oregon in the Championship. The Irish should hope for an Oregon win to knock a 2-loss BIG 10 runner-up behind them if they want a chance at a home-field host seed. BYU has a pretty clear path to an undefeated regular season and likely one of the easier Conference Title games against either Kansas State or Iowa State. Those two teams still have to play each other, and if ISU wins, they’d likely take on the Cougars in the championship. The real pipe dream here is for someone to knock off Boise State to help either Army or Navy into the playoffs to make the Irish look good, but the Mustangs will likely hold onto their spot at the top of the Group-of-5 Conferences. Possible Seeding Outcomes Due to how the playoff is formatted, Notre Dame’s highest possible seeding would be No. 5, as the top 4 seeds are automatically assigned to the highest-ranking conference champions. Thus, they’re also ineligible for a first-round BYE. Because the Irish aren't undefeated, it's unlikely they’ll be ranked high enough to earn the 5th seed, which has the advantage of playing the 12th seed in round 1. This narrows Notre Dame’s window to seeds 6-12. As we can see from the first round of CFP rankings, the Irish can’t afford to drop a second game. Flat out, they have one of the worst losses in the top 25, and a second loss would drop them well behind every other 1 or 2-loss team, with the possible exception of TAMU. That would quickly drop them out of the top 12, and even with Conference Title game losses factored in, they’d be against opponents who are too high of quality to drop them below the Irish. The 5, 6, 7, and 8 seeds will host in round 1 and have home-field advantage. While not guaranteed, Notre Dame’s best chance at hosting in round 1 is going 11-1. This would put the Irish in the best possible position to succeed in the playoffs, avoiding a low seed and a tougher 1st round opponent on the road. If Notre Dame wins out and ends the season 11-1, they should make the 12-team cut. The lingering question is - where exactly will that be? Will they stay at the No. 10 seed like in round 1 of the CFP rankings? Will they move up or move down? Ultimately, the Irish are left at the back of the bracket, waiting for the middle seeds to pick one another off until they move up into a host seed. They need a clear-cut top-4 seeds after the Conference Title Games, with conference runner-ups having two losses. Those two losses could give an 11-1 Notre Dame with no Conference Championship the edge in seeding. Every little bit counts in a game of inches, even in the rankings, especially in the new 12-team CFP era. The future CFP rankings will be released on the following dates: ● Tuesday, November 12 at 9 PM ET ● Tuesday, November 19 at 7 PM ET ● Tuesday, November 26 at 8 PM ET ● Tuesday, December 3 at 7 PM ET ● Sunday, December 8 at Noon ET Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame faces off against Florida State on Saturday night in Notre Dame Stadium with a lot on the line. The Fighting Irish come in as the 10th ranked team in the country, while Florida State is still looking for their second win, sitting at an abysmal 1-8. Head Coach Marcus Freeman won't let that record distract the team, calling them one of the most talented teams they have will face this season. Although their record may not reflect that talent, Notre Dame will have to stay focused to win in the fashion they desire, especially with a host of recruits in attendance. With that said, Florida State is flawed team with holes that Notre Dame can exploit, so let's look at keys to victory for Notre Dame. Photo by The Irish Tribune Run. The. Ball. One of Florida State's biggest issues this season has been stopping the run. The Seminoles rank 106th in the country against the run, giving up 191 yards per game. This bodes well for a Notre Dame team that excels at running the ball with their host of talented backs. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price should be able to take advantage of this weakness, especially when FSU's struggles stem from their inability to bring down the ball carrier at first contact. With Love's elusiveness and Price's physicality, FSU's inability to bring down the ball carrier should be on full display. It is also important that Notre Dame is able to establish the run because it opens up their passing game. FSU's rushing defense has also had problems limiting the quarterbacks ground game. In their game against Clemson, QB Cade Klubnik, was able to hurt FSU all game with his legs. This is something Riley Leonard is more than capable of doing, too. Notre Dame's passing attack often struggles when there is no run game. A strong running attack from the Irish will do a lot to open up the offense, maybe even offering a few chances to hit on a big play. Hit On Big Plays Speaking of big plays, this is another area where Notre Dame can do a lot of damage on offense. In recent weeks, Notre Dame has progressed in this facet of the game. The passing attack has become more dynamic, and Riley Leonard has been able to find open men down the field. It's still not a big play offense, but it can be when the moment presents itself. FSU has been prone to giving up these types of plays so far this season. Notre Dame's improved ability to hit on big plays may shine again in this game. As said before, it will be important to set up these plays with a strong running game, and if they can do that, Notre Dame will likely have their chances. It is also possible the Irish see these big plays through the ground. Love and Price are more than capable of breaking one loose, with season high runs of 64 and 70 yards respectively. Limit Mental Mistakes Notre Dame's hardest task may be limiting the amount of unforced errors on their side of the ball. FSU does not appear to have an offense or defense that Notre Dame can't overmatch. They rank 133rd in points and 132nd yards per game. On the defensive side, they rank 77th in points and 78th in yards per game. These numbers are horrific by Seminole standards, but it doesn't mean Notre Dame will just walk all over them. Notre Dame will have to avoid giving them extra possessions yardage. Penalties and turnovers can keep a team like FSU in this game much longer than they should be. The Irish have shown that they aren't impervious to turning the ball over, averaging a little over one turnover per game. If this number spikes, Notre Dame could have some trouble brewing. The Notre Dame offense also averages six penalties per game, which lands in the middle of the pack at 75th in the country. The defense, on the other hand, ranks a little higher at 92nd with five penalties per game. Both sides of the ball seem to be prone to penalties, but they will need to limit these mistakes if they want to play a clean game. FSU's offense struggles to move the ball, and that will likely be no different against Notre Dame's stout defense. Penalties help a team not only get down the field but sometimes also find a rhythm. The same goes for the offense, penalties can be drive killers, and this Notre Dame offense can easily get bogged down, so penalties will be crucial to avoid. Force Predictable Third Downs Notre Dame can also see a lot of success in this game if they can force FSU into predictable or long third downs. Now, this goes without saying, but the goal of any defense is to get into these situations. It is the most effective way to get off the field as a defense, and in this game, it will be no different. These third downs play into the strength of the Notre Dame defense. This season, they rank 8th in the country, only allowing 30% of third downs to result in a new set of downs. On the flip side, FSU is 132nd in the country in third down conversions. If Notre Dame can play up to these numbers, they will have a lot of good chances to get off the field. The hardest part of causing these third downs is to play sound defense on first and second down, so Notre Dame will need to play complementary football. The Irish front seven, starred by Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills, will be crucial in this aspect of the game. Whether its getting to the quarterback or stuffing the run, the defensive line will dictate how each set of downs develop. It doesn't hurt that Notre Dame's secondary is playing at an elite level, so in obvious passing downs, they will be more than up to the task. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun