After a first half that couldn't get much worse for Notre Dame, the Irish fail to overcome adversity in the second half and lose to Northern Illinois 16-14. Photo by The Irish Tribune First Quarter Notre Dame started hot in their first drive, driving down the field and scoring a touchdown on the ground off a Riley Leonard QB keeper. The drive was 13 plays for 75 yards. Many thought this would be the first of many touchdowns today for Notre Dame. After starting on their own two-yard line after a kickoff miscommunication, NIU quickly fired back at Notre Dame in their first offensive drive, scoring on an 83-yard pass from QB Ethan Hampton to RB Antario Brown to tie the game up 7-7, the Huskies scored in just five plays. After Notre Dame went three and out, NIU drove down the field to nail a 42-yard field goal, taking their first lead of the game, 10-7. On the following drive, Riley Leonard throws his first interception of the season to NIU's Christian Fuhrman, killing Notre Dame's immediate chances of taking back the lead. Second Quarter The second quarter doesn't get much better than the first for Notre Dame. NIU drives down the field once again and kicks another field goal, this time 21 yards out, to put NIU up 13-7. Many believed NIU should've gone for it, as it was 4th and 2 on Notre Dame's 4-yard line, and NIU had all the momentum. Notre Dame and NIU would trade scoreless drives continuously until the final drive of the half, where Notre Dame was able to drive down to the 30-yard line in NIU territory. After calling a timeout with 3 seconds left in the half, Notre Dame would go to attempt a field goal. Mitch Jeter attempted to kick the 48-yard field goal, but NIU's Cade Haberman blocked the kick, NIU's Santana Banner scooped up the ball and ran it to Notre Dame's 26-yard line, before finally being tackled by a defender. Notre Dame entered their locker room at half as boos rang out through Notre Dame Stadium. The halftime score would be 13-7. Third Quarter Notre Dame's defense seemed to wake up a little in the third quarter, as NIU would not score a single point in the quarter. After going down with an unknown injury, Xavier Watts would quickly return and make a notable impact in stopping NIU, making a incredible attempt to hit an NIU pass to Adon Shuler for an interception, but falling short. Notre Dame would get another shot with 11:17 left in the quarter, and at the 8:39 mark, Jeremiyah Love turned into Superman. Love would take the handoff and hurdle a NIU defender and continue to run 34 yards for Notre Dame's second touchdown of the day, finally taking the lead back, and tipping the momentum slightly into Notre Dame's favor. It's now 14-13, Notre Dame leads. Notre Dame and NIU would continue to exchange offensive drives with no score until the quarter ended. 14-13 heading into the fourth, Irish lead. Fourth Quarter Notre Dame would not have a great fourth quarter. Leonard would go on to throw a bad interception to NIU. Fast forward to the end of the game, NIU would drive down all the way into field goal territory. After not getting a close 3rd down call, NIU would go on to hit their field goal to make the game 16-14 NIU. Notre Dame would have one last drive to take the lead back, and Notre Dame would not make that happen. NIU would seal a 14-16 victory in South Bend. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Just hours away from Notre Dame's home opener, the IT staff make their score predictions and hot takes for today's game against NIU. Photo by The Irish Tribune Max Uretsky - Recruiting Analyst Score Prediction: 38-16 Notre Dame Coming off a big game vs an SEC opponent on the road and going home to play a MAC school seems like the recipe for a "let down game", but considering what happened vs Marshall a few years ago I don't think Freeman and co. let that happen. I would like to see a little more out the passing game in a friendlier home environment and see if the O-Line can continue to gel after a mostly positive performance vs a very good defensive line in Texas A&M. Northern Illinois isn't exactly a pushover and will give some fight, but I'm picking Notre Dame 38-16, and think Cooper Flanagan catches two touchdowns. Jhett Garrett - Multi-Sport Writer Score Prediction: 45-7 Notre Dame The offense began meshing at the end of the Texas A&M game, and the defense was superior for all four quarters. while NIU could be a decent team after their win last week, it was Western Illinois so you have to take that into consideration. I'm looking forward to see everyone get some playing time. Peter Mulroy - Associate Editor and First & Gold Podcast Host Score Prediction: 38-10 Notre Dame Sorry ND fans, I don’t think a 63-0 drubbing is going to take place. The Irish will win, largely due to their superior size and speed, but this NIU team, which is built on defense after a solid 7-6 campaign a year ago, will be a nice challenge for a still young Irish front five. This is the type of game where you’d like to see ND continue to move forward and not settle based on what “should happen.” Coach Freeman simply won’t allow that. I think we see another solid rushing attack and more development in the passing game. Liam Farrell - Senior Football Writer Score Prediction: 38-13 Notre Dame The Irish attempt to open up the downfield passing game a bit more, but after struggling on the first couple drives the Irish go back to their bread-and-butter. Love and Price have another impressive performance as the Irish pull away in the 2nd half after a small halftime lead to win 38-13. The defense will force two turnovers, as well. Jack McMillen - Writer Score Prediction: 38-6 Notre Dame Today's game is a great opportunity for the O-Line to gel in a home field environment. The offense will begin to sync and Leonard will look better. Kris Mitchell gets more involved too, and the Irish cruise to a nice win in the home opener. Cade Harper - Writer Score Prediction: 34-17 Notre Dame I think Notre Dame comes out a little fat and happy out of the gates in this one, and I think NIU covers this massive +28.5 spread. However, I think defense stays playing well, winning the turnover margin again by at least +2. The D-Line shows up this time forcing a lot of pressures, and we'll see at least 3+ sacks from those guys all around. NIU is extremely run heavy which is something to look forward to, maybe see Drayk Bowen potentially blow up more counters or Mills and Cross get active in the backfield. Ultimately the “struggle” of the game here will be the offense getting off to a hot start but will run away with it in the end. NIU returns a lot of guys on the defensive side and is arguably one of the best defenses in the MAC. I think we see a decently high scoring game again. But it will just takes a minute to get them going per usual. Noah Wehby - Writer Score Prediction: 45-10 Notre Dame Notre Dame’s passing attack opens up against a lesser opponent and finds rhythm. The running game also has a lot of success throughout the game due to Notre Dame's size and speed. The defense does their job holding the NIU offense for most of the game. Brenden Duffy - Senior Football Writer Score Prediction: 38-10 Notre Dame Today feels like a spot the Irish could start slow. In prior years, the team would probably finish slow too but I am all the way bought into Coach Freeman and believe they can overcome a possible slow start. Give me another strong showing from the defense and a big passing game for Riley Leonard. Bruce Straughan - Recruiting Writer Score Prediction: 42-10 Notre Dame The O-Line will get comfortable and give Riley Leonard time to throw the ball. The WRs will have a big day, and Love and Price each rush for a touchdown. The defense dominates and holds NIU to no more than 10 points today. By the 3rd quarter: The backups start getting on the field and the ground game pounds the rock to eat up the clock. Connor Regan - Writer Score Prediction:38-10 Notre Dame Notre Dame avoids the week 2 hangover and uses this game to work out the kinks from week 1. The score is not quite a blowout as the 4th quarter is all about getting young guys touches. Love rushes for 2 touchdowns, Leonard passes for 2, the O-Line doesn’t allow a single sack, and the defense gets 2 sacks and forces 2 turnovers. Clayton Stohler - FIrst & Gold Podcast Score Prediction: 34-3 Notre Dame NIU is closer to Marshall than Notre Dame fans would probably like to admit. Defensively, they pose a multitude of issues. How will Joe Rudolph’s unit handle the front seven of the Huskies? Breaking in the starting 5 for the O-Line will remain a challenge that we haven’t seen the last of. We’ve seen Notre Dame struggle with MAC D-Lines before. The Huskies also have 4-5 quality, NFL-level players on their roster. Expect Notre Dame to try to find itself through the air. That may be an uncomfortable prospect for fans, and at times, this game may be far from a vacation to watch. However, Notre Dame’s defense handled NIU’s unique offensive scheme and will impose their will yet again. Notre dame will struggle until the 4th quarter, but then their struggles end there as the athletes take over. It'll be a big day for Jaden Greathouse. What are your predictions for tonight's game? Leave them in the comments below! Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The Fighting Irish return to South Bend on the heels of the biggest win of Marcus Freeman’s tenure, a tough 23-13 road win over Texas A&M in College Station, and they’ll welcome the Northern Illinois Huskies for their week 2 home opener. This will be the very first matchup between NIU and Notre Dame, and the first of two MAC teams on the Irish schedule this year. The Huskies will serve as a more traditional season warm up for the Irish, giving them a safer environment to cycle in younger guys, make some adjustments, and try new things, an approach they didn’t have the luxury of taking with A&M. The Aggies were arguably the toughest opponent on Notre Dame’s relatively easy 2024 schedule, but with a marquee win already in their bag, the Irish now face a different kind of challenge - focus. Photo by The Irish Tribune In recent years, Notre Dame has fallen victim to a “hangover” of sorts, routinely struggling against easier competition following primetime week 1 matchups, whether they win or not. Over the last 6 seasons, there’s been 3 instances where Notre Dame faced a blue chip opponent to open the season, and then struggled the following week against a Group-of-Five team: 2018 - Notre Dame beat No. 14 Michigan in week 1 - Struggled against Ball State at home in week 2, winning an ugly struggle 24-16. 2021 - Notre Dame beat Florida State in overtime on the road in week 1 - Struggled against unranked Toledo at home in week 2, coming down to a game last minute touchdown drive to squeak out a 32-29 win. 2022 - Notre Dame fell to Ohio State on the road in week 1- Lost to unranked Marshall at home in week 2, 21-26. Additionally, Marcus Freeman played a part in 2 of these games: He was in his first year as DC in 2021 for the Toledo game, and was in first-year as head coach in 2022 for the Marshall loss. This tendency to take their foot off the pedal is precisely why there’s some concern going into the NIU game, and why “focus” needs to be a top priority for Freeman and the 2024 squad. NIU Northern Illinois’ Head Coach Thomas Hammock is now in his 6th year with the Huskies, coming off a 7-6 campaign in 2023, along with a 25-33 career record. Although 7-6 isn’t necessarily impressive, the Huskies have won 7 of their last 9 games, largely behind their biggest strength - experience. The 2024 Huskies return 18 starters from their 2023 squad, good for a 63% on the returning talent index, along with 32 seniors (6th most in the country), 21 of whom have played their entire career at NIU. Unlike Notre Dame’s trip to College Station, NIU’s week 1 matchup was more of a traditional season warm-up, and boy did they leave the game hot. After a slow 1st quarter, the Huskies held a slim 6-3 lead over the Western Illinois Leathernecks, but 28 unanswered points gave them a commanding 34-3 lead at halftime. The 2nd half wasn’t much different than the first, and NIU left with the win, absolutely dismantling the Leathernecks, 54-15. Due to 3-year starting QB Rocky Lombardi’s departure for the NFL, the Huskies entered week 1 amidst a position battle and without an undisputed starter at QB. That uncertainty was quickly cleared up when Ethan Hampton took over in the 2nd quarter and showed Hammock and his staff why he was their guy. Hampton put on a clinic, going a nearly perfect 18/20 for 328 yards, 5 TDs, and a 98.1 QBR, more than enough to beat out junior Jalen Macon for the starting job. Hampton tossed the ball to 11 different receivers in week 1, 4 of whom were running backs, but senior wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph and senior tight end Grayson Barnes led the pack. Barnes posted a team-high 5 receptions for 95 yards, 1 touchdown, and a team-leading 60-yard catch, while Rudolph put up a team-high 104 yards on 4 receptions, 1 touchdown, and a 47-yard grab. Rudolph also displayed his skills as a flex weapon for the Huskies, getting in on the run game with 67 yards on only 2 rushes, one of which was a 60-yard touchdown dash. NIU’s backfield is led by arguably their best offensive weapon, senior Antario Brown, who put up nearly 1,300 yards in 2023, along with 10 touchdowns, a 6.1-yard rush average, and 1 receiving touchdown. Against the Leathernecks, Brown saw light duty with only 8 rushes, but picked up 69 yards on the ground, along with 2 catches for 45 yards through the air. Rounding out the running back production, Jaylen Poe recorded 42 yards and a touchdown on 6 carries, while Justin Lynch added 42 yards on 7 carries, and Gavin Williams led the team with 9 carries for 41 yards, but gave up NIU’s only turnover with a fumble. The Huskies’ offensive line is by far their most experienced group, with 2 players in their 6th year, 2 in their 5th year, and the least experienced lineman entering his 3rd year. Between the 5 of them, they have 177 games of experience and 119 starts. NIU’s defense held Western Illinois to 298 total yards, with only 94 on the ground and 204 through the air. They surrendered only 1 touchdown all game, which came during garbage time, late in the 4th quarter against NIU’s defensive reserves. Surprisingly, NIU didn’t force a single turnover against WIU and only managed to register a single sack, partially due to the absence of defensive line anchor Raishein Thomas, who was sidelined with injury and is currently questionable for the trip to Notre Dame. Roy Williams stepped up in Thomas’ place, registering NIU’s lone lone sack along with 6 tackles and 1 TFL. While their first game was indeed impressive, it must be noted that Western Illinois is not just bad, they’re abysmal. The Leathernecks have posted back-to-back 0-11 seasons and haven’t recorded a win since September of 2021. NIU’s 2023 defense was its best in over a decade, ranking 23rd in yards allowed per game with 319.5, NIU’s fewest since 2008, and 26th in points per game allowed with 21.6, NIU’s lowest since 2012. Their defensive strength leans towards the secondary, which placed top-10 in both passing yards allowed and defensive pass efficiency in 2023, allowing only 3 teams to pass for over 200 yards against them. NIU returns several key defensive contributors from 2023, most notably DE Raishein Thomas (74 TKLs, 2 Sacks), CB JaVaughn Byrd (32 TKLs, 3 INT.), DB Jashon Prophete (47 TKLs, 3 INT.) and LB Jaden Dolphin (62 TKLs, 3 Pass Deflections). While Notre Dame is by far the biggest game of NIU’s season, the size of the stage isn’t new to them. The Huskies are used to blue chip opponents, routinely scheduling at least 2 Power-5 teams a year, including Nebraska, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Utah, and Michigan in recent years. This scheduling tendency is actually an NIU program tradition dating back to 1983, when the Huskies began to schedule major national programs in what they dubbed “Boneyard” games. Instead of viewing these matchups as strictly exposure or merely financially beneficial, NIU genuinely sees these games as challenges and even potential wins for their program. Since then, NIU has won 18 of these “Boneyard” games, with 2 coming within the last 3 seasons under coach Hammock. Their last top-10 “Boneyard” game was in 2022 against No. 8 Kentucky, where the Huskies lost a 1-possession game, 23-31. Their most recent “Boneyard” win came in the 2023 season opener against Boston College, who they stunned on the road in overtime, 27-24. Notre Dame Notre Dame’s win over Texas A&M was a huge statement for the Irish, but a mixed bag overall. The Irish offense went 2/12 on 3rd down conversions and sloppily committed 11 penalties for 99 yards. Riley Leonard had an impressive 1st game performance, but a quiet night statistically. He only passed for 158 yards (5.3/pass) on 18/30 passing for a 66.7 QBR. On the ground, Leonard rushed for 63 yards on 12 carries (5.3/rush), ranking second on the team in rushing yards, average, and carries. The Irish backfield was a 2 man split between Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, with Love rushing 14 times for 91 yards (6.5/rush), one of which was a 20-yard dash for a touchdown. On the other hand, Price struggled, rushing 8 times for only 44 yards (5.5/rush) with essentially all of his production coming on a 47-yard touchdown scamper. 9 different receivers caught at least 1 pass against A&M, but only 2 receivers pulled in 3 balls or more, and not one caught a TD pass. Beaux Collins led the team with 5 catches for 62 yards, followed by Jaden Greathouse with 3 grabs for 26 yards and Cooper Flanagan with 2 catches for 25 yards. No one else got over 14 yards or 2 grabs. FIU transfer Kris Mitchell had a really quiet night with only 1 catch for 12 yards, along with Marshall transfer Jayden Harrison with 2 catches for 4 yards, and Jordan Faison only caught 2 passes for 12 yards before exiting the game early with an ankle injury, sidelining him for 1-2 weeks. Unsurprisingly, Jack Kiser led the Irish defense with 8 tackles, followed by Jordan Botelho with 6 tackles, and Jaylen Sneed with 5 and a TFL. Howard Cross recorded the only sack of the night, and both Xavier Watts and Adon Shuler had 3 tackles and an interception. As long as the Irish don’t put themselves behind the 8-ball early, NIU would be a perfect opportunity to work out some of the kinks identified in week 1. Denbrock needs to get Leonard and his receivers on the same page, particularly downfield, and build some trust before they face tougher competition. This includes getting star tight end Mitchell Evans back in the mix with a higher snap count, as he only played 10 snaps against A&M and didn’t record a single catch. A more effective passing game will decrease the reliance on Leonard’s legs and likely make his mobility more of a weapon. As for the running game, Price needs to cobble together some better consistency so he doesn’t have to rely on a single run for all his yardage, and the offensive line just needs to make sure they don’t take a step back in their progression and build off of their solid outing against the Aggies. If Notre Dame shows up focused, with their eyes fixed solely on the Huskies, this game should be a straightforward, comfortable win. On the other hand, if the Irish take their foot off the pedal and overlook NIU, there’s a real possibility they come out the gate a bit flat and put themselves in a position to play catchup. Ultimately, this game is less about NIU’s ability to beat the Irish and more about Notre Dame’s power to either make this an easy win, or another ugly battle. There’s no doubt that Freeman and his staff are fully aware of Notre Dame’s week 2 struggles and will have the Irish fully prepared for this game, but at the end of the day, it comes down to the players and if they show up with the right mindset. Even with Notre Dame’s recent struggles in week 2, the talent gap here is just too massive to overcome, with NIU ranking 124th in 247Sports’ Team Talent Index compared to Notre Dame’s 10th rank. Despite the talent disparity, NIU won’t beat themselves. Their experience, consistency, and discipline will keep the Huskies in the game if the Irish allow it. While there is reason to exercise caution, a loss to NIU just isn’t realistic. Yes, Freeman dropped the Marshall game in 2022, but part of the improvement we’re expecting this year is just that - the mental fortitude to not drop the easy games. Prediction The hot take here would be to say the Irish win but only after suffering through their typical week 2 “hangover” but I think Marcus Freeman shows the growth fans are hoping for and avoids the characteristic stumble. Look for the Irish to handle business and put things out of reach early, possibly giving up some late points in garbage time to narrow the final score. The Irish fail to cover the spread, but leave with a double-digit win. Notre Dame - 37 NIU - 10 Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

It’s now been almost a week since Marcus Freeman led the Fighting Irish into a hostile environment of over 107,000 screaming fans at Kyle Field and came out victorious against Texas A&M. Photo by The Irish Tribune Adrenaline was running through the veins of Irish fans everywhere, and the internet was abuzz for days about the results of the game. Fans' reactions are often predictable and biased (especially non-Notre Dame fans), but I wanted to reach out to the recruits that Notre Dame is currently offering and/or targeting to get their reactions and thoughts on the results of the game. It did not surprise me to see they were just as excited and impressed with the win as everyone in the fan base. I reached out to several recruits for their reaction to the game, and they were all raving about how locked in the defense was, how hard they fought for the win, and how impressive it was to pull off a win in such a tough environment. C/O 2026 4-star DE Simote Katoanga, who currently holds an offer from the Irish, was very excited about what he saw from Notre Dame and puts them as a top team in college football after getting a win against an SEC team to start the season. “It was a great game! It was a physical and defensive game for the most part. Texas A&M has a great team and is a tough environment to play in. For Notre Dame to start the season with an SEC win and playing away puts them as one of the top teams in college football right now. Going to be following them, and can’t wait to watch them live in South Bend.” C/O 2026 5-star DB Rodney (RJ) Sermons Jr., who also holds an offer from the Irish, was very impressed as a DB with how good Notre Dame’s secondary played. “I thought the game was great. I play DB, so the secondary and how good they played really stood out to me. It was also good to see them play as a team and execute at such a high level.” C/O 2026 4-star LB/Edge Cincere Johnson, who also holds an offer from the Irish, was impressed with what he saw and thinks it shows just what type of an organization Marcus Freeman is running at Notre Dame. “I thought it was an amazing game to the last second. It just shows what type of organization they are to go down to Texas A&M and get the tough win.” C/O 2026 4-star CB Khary Adams, who also holds an offer from the Irish, said that the game showed him everything Notre Dame says Marcus Freeman and the staff stand on. “I watched the game, and it just shows me that everything they say, they stood on.” C/O 2026 4-star LB Thomas Davis Jr. didn’t need many words to describe what he saw, and he was right on the money when he told me that “The defense was stellar.” As you can see, the excitement from the win didn’t stop at Notre Dame fans—it also filtered down to the recruits as well. Nothing moves the needle in recruiting quite like a big win on the national stage. For Notre Dame to go down to SEC country and get a win in a hostile environment like that proves to everyone that Notre Dame is turning a corner and what Marcus Freeman is building is special. Just keep winning, and everything will fall into place. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

After failing to pick up marquee victories against Ohio State and Clemson a season ago, Notre Dame looked to change the narrative last weekend at Texas A&M. Thanks in large part to its stout defense and loaded run game, the Irish left Kyle Field with a 1-0 record and a renewed sense of confidence moving forward. On this week's episode of "First & Gold," Pete and Clayton break down Notre Dame's gutsy season-opening victory against Texas A&M. While it wasn't always pretty, the Irish -- led by their elite defense and tough-minded quarterback -- got the job done. Looking ahead, beginning with the home opener against Northern Illinois, what improvements need to be made, particularly on the offensive side of the ball? Plus, just two weeks into the season, Notre Dame's November schedule looks a bit different, largely due to Florida State's 0-2 start to its campaign. Are the Irish set up for a magical run the rest of the way? The guys break it all down, while taking a look at some of the Week 2 contests across the country, so don't miss out! Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts First and Gold Twitter The Irish Tribune: Shows

This Saturday, Notre Dame football returns to South Bend for their home opener against the Northern Illinois Huskies. Both the Irish and Huskies come into this week two matchup with perfect records. We saw the Irish secure a big time 23-13 win at Texas A&M in primetime last week, while the Huskies throttled their FCS opponent, Western Illinois, 54-15. Let’s preview this Huskie squad: Photo by The Irish Tribune NIU Head Coach Thomas Hammock is in his sixth season at the helm. It has been an up-and-down tenure for Hammock but the team did show improvement last season. Following a brutal 2022 season, which saw the Huskies finish 3-9, they experienced a quick turnaround last year, finishing 7-6 with a Camellia Bowl victory. NIU enters 2024 returning most of its talent, with the biggest exception at quarterback as Rocky Lombardi entered the NFL. The Huskies return most of their offensive line, leading rusher, five of the top seven receivers, and leading tackler. Offense On offense, NIU found most of their success in the run game last year. Running back Antario Brown was the MAC’s second-leading rusher with 1,296 yards last year in addition to 11 total touchdowns. Brown is back, and should be the workhorse, however, former Iowa transfer Gavin Williams could be in line to take snaps from Brown. Last week, Brown and Williams split carries, with Brown being the more effective back as he rushed for 69 yards on 8 carries. The backs will be running behind a line featuring two full-time starters from last season, while all five starters have experience at NIU. As mentioned earlier, there is a new quarterback in Dekalb. Ethan Hampton is a senior who waited his turn to start for three seasons, and he did not disappoint last week. NIU threw the ball all around the field against the lesser Western Illinois defense, as Hampton displayed accuracy and efficiency, finishing 18/20 for 328 yards and 5 touchdowns with no interceptions. While the Huskies returned five of their top seven receiving threats from a year ago, the two to keep an eye on are Trayvon Rudolph and tight end Grayson Barnes. Rudolph, a senior, has had two seasons of 50-plus receptions and 500-plus receiving yards despite missing all of 2022 due to a knee injury. Last week, Rudolph showed off his versatility, finishing with 4 receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown, while also adding 2 rushes for 67 yards and another touchdown. The other threat, Grayson Barnes, has not had quite the career up to this point as Rudolph, however, he is poised for a big season this year. Barnes, a JUCO product, saw his first NCAA action last season as he finished the year with 23 receptions for 422 yards and 5 touchdowns for the Huskies. The senior tight end showed out last week with 5 receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown. Defense Overall, NIU’s defense appears to be solid, especially for the MAC. Last season, the Huskies ranked 23rd in yards per game allowed and 28th in points per game allowed nationally. However, their biggest flaw was the pass rush. In total, NIU had 22 total sacks last season, 5th-fewest among MAC teams. This number should improve as the Huskies return both talented edge rushers Rashein Thomas and Roy Williams. Unfortunately for NIU, it appears Thomas has been dealing with an undisclosed injury to open the season, and this is something to monitor as he was the team’s leading tackler a season ago. Thomas’ 74 tackles led the country among defensive lineman last year. With Thomas missing last week, fellow edge rusher Roy Williams had a nice game, finishing with 4 tackles and the team’s lone sack. Williams, a junior, totaled 24 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and 3.5 sacks in 13 games last year. Given the struggle versus Western Illinois, it is hard to imagine NIU will be able to force any pressure against the Irish without Thomas. Since the beginning of last season, the Huskies are 8-1 in games where they allow fewer than 179 rushing yards. This seems to be the magic number for the Huskies defense, as they are 0-5 in games where they allow more than 179 yards on the ground. A big rush attack from the Irish offense could be the key to a successful Saturday. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

As Notre Dame looks to move forward after their triumphant week one victory, there are many facets within the game for the Irish to improve upon. Photo by The Irish Tribune As the dust settles in East-Central Texas, Notre Dame is back in South Bend, sitting at 1-0 and ranked fifth in the nation. Though far from perfect, Notre Dame did enough to secure a gutsy Week 1 victory. First, let's look at the good: Young Offensive Line Matures on the Spot The key narrative throughout fall camp was the matchup between the Texas A&M pass rushers and Notre Dame's inexperienced offensive line. When the final whistle blew, the Fighting Irish hadn't allowed a single sack. While there were many plays that were blown up due to pressure and a handful of tackles for loss, when the game was on the line late in the fourth quarter, the five guys up front got it done. Anthonie Knapp was terrific holding his own against one of the nation's top pass rushers in Nic Scourton. After some first-drive jitters, center Ashton Craig settled in and snapped back into form to deliver a great game. Sam Pendleton likely had the weakest performance on the line, but the redshirt freshman still delivered several key blocks on the go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter. This Texas A&M front seven will most likely be the best group they face all year, and in a loud environment where communication is pushed to its limits, the young offensive line did enough to get it done. Secondary Shows it's Teeth The backend of the Notre Dame defense is the core strength of this team. While Marcus Freeman might say Notre Dame's identity is the strength up front, the defensive secondary of this Fighting Irish defense is what strikes fear in their opponents. Redshirt freshman Adon Shuler had a career game, recording a crucial interception, three solo tackles, and providing pressure on the quarterback. Shuler, who earned his spot in fall camp, has shown great strides since first arriving in South Bend last year. He also complements fellow safety and reigning Nagurski award winner, Xavier Watts, beautifully. Watts, the graduate senior captain, also tallied an interception as he looks to beat his career-high seven interceptions from a season ago. The cornerback tandem of Benjamin Morrison and Christian Gray played fantastic. For his first career start, Gray showed the poise of a veteran. He ultimately put the game on ice with a 4th and 2 pass breakup that killed Texas A&M's last hope. Transfers Rod Heard and Jordan Clark also showed great promise, and were both excellent in coverage along with stopping the run. Running Back Tandem Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price showed the ability to be the nation's best running back tandem. Love ended the game with 91 yards and a touchdown, while Price ended the game with 44 yards and a score. Both players showed their unique blend of speed, size, and elusiveness, with two long touchdown runs. It will be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock gets both players in space, along with how running back coach Deland McCullough chooses to handle the rotation between each player. Devyn Ford has also taken the role of the third-down back, replacing Gi'Bran Payne who was injured during the Blue-Gold Spring game. Mitch Jeter: Mr. Consistent The biggest breath of fresh air was the consistency in the kicking department. Mitch Jeter was perfect from the field, nailing three kicks from 46, 26, and 46 yards. Jeter was clutch and put the game away with his final 46-yarder that extended the Irish lead to ten with less than two minutes left in the game. Now, let's look at areas for improvement. Mike Denbrock Opening Up the Offense While Marcus Freeman displayed his aggressive nature during the game, the overall offensive play calling by Mike Denbrock was rather reserved. Ultimately, the plan worked, but I expect Denbrock to open the offense quite a bit more in the coming weeks. Apart from a one-on-one back shoulder throw to Beaux Collins on the game-winning drive, there were no real throws downfield, and there was no play action, at all. Denbrock was attempting to neutralize the defensive pressure by the Aggies' line, and didn't want Leonard to make a game-altering mistake, as A&M quarterback Connor Weigman did on a few occasions. Regardless of the Aggies' game plan, Mike Denbrock needs to be more aggressive in his downfield attack as the Irish offense takes shape. Riley Leonard's Field Vision While Riley Leonard will be the first person to tell you he didn't play good enough, Leonard made the plays when he had to, especially with his legs. However, Leonard missed several passes that needed to be hit. After Jaden Greathouse drew a defensive pass interference penalty, the Irish's redzone three-and-out was subpar. On second down, the miscommunication from Leonard and Love was costly, but even more so, Leonard missed a wide-open Eli Raridon in the middle of the field. No one around him. He also missed two open receivers on the next play between Devyn Ford and Mitchell Evans. These missed opportunities, especially in the red zone, will be the difference in other big games down the line. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The hiring of Loren Landow proves effective one game into the season, as the better conditioned Irish outlasted the Texas A&M Aggies in the Texas heat. Photo by The Irish Tribune "Well, it's Notre Dame." Said Loren Landow about why he wanted to take the role of director of football performance. Landow's strength and conditioning program proved vital, as Notre Dame emerged in the fourth quarter as the better-conditioned team. In the late summer Texas heat, the Texas A&M Aggies had multiple players go down with cramps throughout the game. The ESPN broadcast even caught starting quarterback Connor Weigman vomiting during the third quarter. Yet, in these extreme conditions, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish appeared to be in pristine shape. In a tied game late in the fourth quarter, the Irish got it done in the trenches. The young, inexperienced offensive line moved the vaunted Aggies defensive front all the way down the field. Simply put, Notre Dame outmuscled Texas A&M when it mattered most. The Irish not only kept up with the SEC size up front, but also kept up with the speed of the Aggies. The old trope about Notre Dame lacking speed is truly outdated. Look at the roster. On the offensive side of the ball, it would be hard to find a better combination of speed, strength, and elusiveness in a running back room than the one-two duo of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Both Love and Price displayed their unique skill sets with the Irish's two touchdowns last week. On defense, linebackers Jaylen Sneed and Jaiden Ausberry displayed impressive sideline-to-sideline speed. All of this can be attributed to the work of Landow in the offseason, setting the stage for in-season results. "The rate of training involution. The work that I do early in the offseason, leads me into better gains for the in-season," said Landow in his press conference in early February. Landow's history in the NFL, working for the Broncos from 2018 to 2023 as the head of strength and conditioning, along with his private training with athletes such as Von Miller and Jerome Bettis, has given Notre Dame an edge over opponents. With a fall camp that saw fewer injuries, Notre Dame is in prime position to have their best athletes perform on the biggest stage. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Ever since Marcus Freeman was hired to take over as Head Coach, many fans have wondered if Freeman is the right man for the job. Will he be able to get this team over the hump? Would his inexperience as a head coach be a stumbling block to success at ND? There were growing pains in Freeman’s first two years. Allowing a major win to slip through your fingers against Ohio State, putting only 10 men on the field defensively, and losing at home to Marshall were all huge bumps in the road that left ND fans wondering. Is Marcus Freeman “The Guy” to lead Notre Dame back to its former glory? Photo by The Irish Tribune After last season’s woes, many questions needed answering, and problems needed to be solved. Freeman never really got to handpick his own staff as Tommy Rees was forced on him when he was hired as the offensive coordinator before Freeman was even named head coach. After Rees left for Alabama it looked like Freeman was gonna get his guy in Andy Ludwig when he appeared on campus with Freeman where the two were seen hanging out smiling and laughing at a Notre Dame hockey game. For whatever reason the deal fell through and Notre Dame was left scrambling to fill the most important spot on offense. Time was running out and Notre Dame had to act fast and they did that by promoting TE’s coach Gerad Parker to Offensive Coordinator. It was very apparent early on that Parker wasn’t the right guy and appeared to be more of a last-resort hire. Add on top of that a toxic environment with Stuckey and the WR room, it was a wonder the offense did as well as they did. Later Stuckey was let go and it was announced that Parker was taking a head coaching job at Troy. Once again Freeman was left with a major hole in his staff. All this turned out to be a blessing in disguise when Freeman got the backing from the powers that be at Notre Dame to finally go get “his guy”. Freeman had one man set in his sights, and that was Mike Denbrock . Denbrock was very comfortable at LSU with Brian Kelly where he had just coached the number 1 offense in the country led by Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. Notre Dame had major work ahead if they wanted to get Denbrock back to ND for his third stint. Discussions were had, offers were made, and Denbrock was now coming back home to Notre Dame. Fast forward to August 31st, 2024 when Notre Dame was set to take on Texas A&M at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. Once again the world doubted Notre Dame and even some fans began to question if Notre Dame could finally pull off a big win on a big stage with the world watching. Kyle Field is considered by many to be the toughest place to play in the country. With a capacity of 102,733 and a stadium that was renovated to create more noise that filters directly down to the field, it was always gonna be a tough ask to win in that type of hostile environment. Notre Dame came into the game with one of the top defenses in the country, so it was always expected that they would hold their own against the Aggies, and they did just that. They held QB Conner Weigman to only 100 yards passing with a dismal 3.3 yards per passing completion, 0 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and a QBR of only 31.8 for the game. The defense kept constant pressure on Weigman and although they only got home once (When Howard Cross III sacked Weigman in the 2nd quarter for an 11-yard loss) they forced him to throw sooner than he wanted to, which led to incompletions and two interceptions by Xavier Watts and Adon Shuler. They went on to hold the Aggies to just 13 points which proved to be more than enough to secure a win. The offensive side of the ball was always the question going into not only this game but also the season in general. When it was announced that starting left tackle Charles Jagusah was out for the season due to a torn pectoral muscle in fall camp, there was major concern for an already young and inexperienced group upfront that was responsible for protecting QB Riley Leonard. Early on the fears seemed warranted as the Offensive Line was getting no push upfront and Riley Leonard was forced to get rid of the ball in what seemed like as soon as the ball touched his hands. Leonard was pressured the majority of the game and wasn’t able to go through his progressions or set his feet which led to many overthrown and underthrown passes. The Offensive Line was very undisciplined and committed multiple false starts which can be chalked up to both inexperience and the hostility of the crowd and the noise they were creating. Denbrock made adjustments and when he went to the run it proved successful when both Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love had long touchdown runs in the 3rd quarter. Marcus Freeman Answers The Call Marcus Freeman’s trust in his team never wavered and that was proven when he sent kicker Mitch Jeter out to attempt a 46-yard field goal late in the 4th quarter, only up by 7 points. Jeter went on to make the field goal and drove the final nail in Texas A&M’s hopes of coming back. Marcus Freeman displayed great confidence in not only his staff and his players but also in his system that he has set in place at Notre Dame. Make no mistake about it, this was a massive win for not only Marcus Freeman but the program as a whole. Freeman now has something that all great coaches have that leads to championships, and that’s elite coaches on both sides of the ball at the coordinator positions and trust in his players. Those two things are a huge step forward to achieving the ultimate prize of a national championship. Freeman has proven after the victory last night that not only is he the right man for the job at Notre Dame but most importantly he proved that he belongs on the big stage of college football. The Offensive Line showed improvement as the game went on and they gained more confidence. With the benefit of an easier schedule than in years past they will continue to be able to grow at an easier pace which will set up for a run in the latter part of the season. With an elite coaching staff in place and a championship-caliber defense already established, if this Offensive Line continues to grow throughout the season, look out, because this team could make a lot of noise. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame escapes College Station, Texas, with a hard-fought week one victory. Photo Via Notre Dame Athletics This past year, Marcus Freeman told his team to "choose hard." With 107,315 fans screaming at the top of their lungs, the Fighting Irish had no other choice. The storyline coming into the game was the head-to-head matchup between the Notre Dame offensive line and the Texas A&M defensive front. Throughout the game, the Aggies front seven had their way with the inexperienced youth of the Notre Dame offensive line. Only totaling six total starts heading into the game, the Fighting Irish pass protectors had to improvise and learn on the spot. Communication was the biggest issue for the Fighting Irish early on. A couple offsides penalties on hard clap counts lengthened Texas A&M drives and eventually led to a pair of field goals. On the offensive side of the ball, the Fighting Irish evaded the running back room in the first half of the game. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price only combined for nine total carries in the first half. The Notre Dame offense was given great field position by the work of the Notre Dame defense. Sophomore safety Adon Shuler had a crucial interception that led to three points, and Xavier Watts, the nation's leading ball-hawk last year, picked off Conner Weigman, as well. Going into halftime tied 6-6, adjustments needed to be made. With the Irish deferring the opening kick, Marcus Freeman had a chance to display how far he's matured as a head coach. Two years ago, against Ohio State, the Irish were playing in Columbus trying not to lose. This year, Freeman showed his aggressive nature that featured two fourth down runs from Riley Leonard. The first was successful, the latter was not*, (replay review is a joke). Nonetheless, the aggressive nature and trust that Freeman had in his team was eventually rewarded. After the Irish turned the ball over on downs, the Aggies' next drive ended the same way on a miscommunication on whether or not Jordan Botelho jumped offsides; he didn't. With great starting field position, the Irish finally got a chunk play in Jadarian Price's 47-yard touchdown run. The Denison, Texas, native had a good showing, ending with 44 total yards on eight carries. After a pair of punts, one from each team, the Aggies scored on a 10-play, 65-yard drive that was aided by three Notre Dame penalties. With the score knotted up at 13 a piece, both the Irish and Aggies had short drives that ended with punts. Enter Freeman's "choose hard" mantra. Tied game. 6:12 left. Ball at your own 15. 107,315 people. Go win the game. With their backs against the wall, the offensive line provided their best drive of the night. An acrobatic catch by Beaux Collins jumpstarted the drive, but the Irish running attack finished it. Jeremiyah Love had his first big game moment, as he put the Irish ahead on a hard-nosed 21-yard touchdown run between the tackles. With the Irish defense knowing the passing attack was coming, Al Golden dialed up his best work. The Aggies eventually worked themselves to a 4th and 2, but a quick pass was snuffed out by sophomore corner Christian Gray. Gray, who won his spot in fall camp, made the biggest play of the game, and iced the fate of the Aggies. A couple of runs set up a Mitch Jeter 46-yard field goal that put the nail in the coffin. Jeter finished the game 3/3, and was one of the game's biggest impact players. While the game wasn't pretty in the slightest, Notre Dame found a way to win in one of the most raucous environments in college football. The Irish leaned on their stellar defense all game, but in the end, the offense won the game. There's a reason why defensive coordinator Al Golden and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock are two of the highest paid coordinators in all of college football: they get it done when it mattered the most. What a win for the Irish, and what a way to start the season. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Just hours away from Notre Dame vs Texas A&M: The Irish Tribune staff make their final predictions for tonights' matchup Photo by The Irish Tribune Brenden Duffy - Writer Score Prediction: 24-22 Notre Dame Tight, low-scoring game. Riley Leonard makes enough plays to lead the Irish to a win. Mitch Jeter walkoff as time expires. Connor Regan - Writer Score Prediction: 27-24 Texas A&M Defensive struggle, competitive all game. Ultimately, the crowd, first game with all the new pieces, and the inexperience on the o-line will be too much to overcome in the first game of the season. Max Uretsky - Recruiting Analyst Score Prediction: 20-17 Notre Dame Leonard does enough with his legs to lead a few scoring drives and the defense makes a game-winning stand at the end. Clayton Stolher - First & Gold Podcast Score Prediction: 21-10 Notre Dame Notre Dame dictates the terms with the defense being able to be in nickel for much of the day, allowing them to be aggressive as the game rolls on. Playmakers make plays for the Irish. Jeremiyah Love has a coming out party, and the Irish get control, and stay in control for much of the day. Cade Harper - Writer Score Prediction: 31-27 Notre Dame I love the fact of a defensive game but all the metrics point to an over’s game. ND games are 11-0-1 to the Over since 2020 when the total is no higher than 49.5 (46.5). Slow first half, offenses figure it out second half, ultimately comes down to a game changing drive under two minutes yet we come out. Leonard gets 3 total TD’s, Mitch Evans makes his weekly miracle catch with one hand probably, RB core shows out vs a dominant A&M DL in second half, Klein calls a disaster opening game as OC, Notre Dame wins turnover battle, and Elko loses to Notre Dame…again. Noah Wehby - Writer Score Prediction: 21-13 Notre Dame Riley Leonard and the new Notre Dame offense struggles early but finds their footing in the second half. ND defense does well to limit A&M’s offense with two takeaways and gives the offense time to figure it out. Jack McMillen - Writer Score Prediction: 27-21 Notre Dame Steady dose of Jeremiyah Love. Inexperienced line steps up against a solid A&M defense. Leonard services and the defense holds up. Liam Farrell - Senior Football Writer 24-10 Notre Dame Al Golden controls this game as an Irish pick six puts the game away late . Denbrock and Leonard struggle to find footing in a ruckus week one environment, but defense and special teams win it for the Irish. Jhett Garrett - Multi-Sport Writer Score Prediction: 23-20 Texas A&M My superstitious side won’t let me do it, so for the sake of the irish, 23-20 A&M. Luciano Antonini - Founder & Director Score Prediction: 27-13 Notre Dame This game will come down to how much Notre Dame's inexperienced offensive line can handle Texas A&M's standout defensive line. Notre Dame has the luxury of the top OC in the country and a mobile QB in Riley Leonard, along with a top tier defense. A&M will not put many points on the board in my opinion. If Notre Dame can put up more than 20 points, I fully believe this results in a Irish victory. What are your predictions for tonight's game? Leave them in the comments below! Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Tonight's forecast in College Station calls for cloudiness with a chance of cloudiness with a chance of Irish. Here's a full weather report for Notre Dame vs Texas A&M in College Station, Texas tonight at 7:30pm EST Photo by The Irish Tribune Here some all the quick hitters you need to know about the weather for tonight's matchup between the Fighting Irish and the Aggies. From tempature to wind directions. Tempature & sky: Mostly cloudy skies all day long. Temperature will be 82° and the sun will set at 7:48pm EST and will drop to 77° by midnight. Rainfall: 15% chance of rain from now to 6pm and will drop to 10% by 7pm, and 0% by 8pm, so little to no rain expected. Wind speeds: Winds will rain from 5-8 MPH east-northeast between 7:30pm and midnight. Gusts may be up to 16 MPH. Humidity: Humidity will range from 73-90% between kickoff and midnight, steadily increasing as the game goes on. Kyle Field's surface: Kyle Field’s surface is comprised of 100% real Bermuda grass, 74,000 square feet in total. The grass is mowed 7 times a week. Watch tonight's matchup between Notre Dame and Texas A&M in College Station, Texas at 7:30pm EST on ABC or Sling TV. Who do you got winning tonight? Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun