Written by: Cade Harper｜Contributor｜Twitter: CadeHarperIT Photo by ON3 Now we all know Ohio St. - Notre Dame is a humungous game for this program and the fans with so much at stake and so much on the line for this season despite us only being 4 games into the season. Does it make it a must win? Possibly. Does it determine our only hope of making into the College Football Playoff? It could. However, back in late 80's all the way to early 2000's there was a very tough stretch of make it or break it games for the Irish, but how close does this coming Saturday's matchup rank up against those big games? Photo by Rivals Let's begin with a game that we all have a decently good memory of. In 1988 the Miami Hurricanes traveled to South Bend coming in as defending national champions and were undefeated at the time ranked at number one in the country, 4-0 to be exact, coincidence? I think not! This game was extremely entertaining to watch, but unfortunately for me I had to live it through by watching a replay on YouTube. From big pregame scuffles and a bunch of pushes and shoves, this game had the ultimate hype built around it to what we all know it as, "Catholics vs Convicts". Jimmy Johnson had multiple great seasons with the Hurricanes building them into one of the country's biggest brands back in the 90's - 2000's. Unfortunately for them, Lou Holtz had other plans and decided to crush their dreams of a repeat by not only beating the Hurricanes, but by going onto win the national championship in 1988. The stakes between this game to the Ohio State game aren't very different as I personally think any top 10 matchup where you are an underdog, is a pretty big game. Photo by The Score Forgive me for putting this in here as I'm sure we all wish we could forget this horrible night. The 2005 USC - Notre Dame game, otherwise known as "The Bush Push" was another one that comes to mind in recent memory that ranks up against this upcoming Saturday's game. As much as I truly hate to say it, this USC team was a force to be reckon with and were stacked on both sides of the ball. Heisman finalists Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush led their team to victory quite literally and illegally, in this top 10 showdown. As the year went on, Irish were 4-2 after this game, USC went on to lose in the national championship and all was well, thank you Vince Young. It really makes you wonder, what if the outcome were different? It felt like the hatred and rivalry grew an exponential amount after this game making it one of college football's biggest rivalries. Again, in correlation to the Ohio State game, this matchup went onto be one of the most memorable games held at Notre Dame Stadium despite the outcome being what it was by giving it its' own nickname. 2017 Georgia - Notre Dame was and still to this day is a nightmare for some fans. For me, it was one of those, "I'm just glad we aren't in the SEC." It was the second game of the season and Georgia was the first SEC opponent to travel to South Bend since 2005 when Tennessee came to town which was a fun 40 point win. For Georgia, that was not the case. This team flat out took over Notre Dame Stadium as if it was a home game in Athens. This was a big test for the Irish as it was the two programs first time meeting outside a bowl game. They dropped this one 20-19 but it was a fun experience, as some thought we would get curb stomped. Both teams finished the 2017 season ranked except like USC, Georgia went onto lose in the national championship. In a season where it felt like this team could really make it into the college football playoff, the run was cut short when we traveled to the Hurricanes and Stanford where we would fall to 10-3. How it ranks next to Ohio state you may ask? Their fanbases travel extremely well. Home field advantage is real and is something the Irish have seemed to lack when it comes to big games such as these. It is crucial to make sure the fans do their part for this and show up and show out to support the Irish in what is one of their biggest games this year. Photo by The Observer The biggest game that comes to mind the most recent I believe is 2022 Clemson. In what felt like a nightmare season, the unranked Irish hosted the number 4 ranked tigers and suddenly became a nightmare season for Clemson. Dropping games to Ohio state in the opening game, then the following game getting upset at home by Marshall, yes I said Marshall, was not the ideal start to Marcus Freeman's career as head coach. We suddenly found a spark in this game where we utterly just flat out dominated Dabo and his squad. This felt like a must win because if we didn't, it would demoralize the whole program especially after beating this team back in 2020. It felt like we were one of the top teams in the country despite being unranked, it almost didn't feel like an upset the way the Irish played that night. We finished the year strong dropping one more game to Stanford at home but tacking on wins against other ranked opponents such as BYU at the time. In ways to compare this game to Ohio state, they had a great team the year before. Now they have a new QB in Kyle McCord, like D.J. Uiagalelei, a good defensive unit, multiple talents at Wide Receiver. It almost matches up perfectly like the 2022 Clemson team, in this case, we have a top 10 match as the underdog again, this time? In our house. Photo by Online Athens "The Game of The Century." This game was saw by the world as one of the greatest football games of all time. Number 1 versus number 2, the Seminoles were naturally heavy favorites coming into this game. To get straight to the point, the Irish were unbelievably doubted coming into this match but turned out to shock the world by taking down one of the greatest college football coaches of all time in just so what happened to be one of the most entertaining college football games at this time. Like Ohio State, this team was one of the top 5 favorite's to win the national championship. While Notre Dame, despite having amazing talent on both sides of the ball and a highly ranked team, not so much favored to win much after this game. You can kind of see where this is going, great coach with a big squad who is in the hunt for a national championship year in and year out marches into South Bend not knowing what to expect. Now there's a ton of more games out there played in Notre Dame Stadium you can name such as 2000 Nebraska taking over Notre Dame. However, none of them truly stand that well next to these showdowns listed and what these games had at stake and how much it affected Notre Dame's season after these games were played. Could we have another national championship under our belt soon if we get past Ohio State and USC? Absolutely. In my personal opinion, the Irish looking phenomenal to start the year, we have potentially two Heisman finalists on our offense going against a well coached defense. While on the other side of the ball, the Irish defense has to contain the top Wide Receivers in the country. This should be a fun one to watch. To the fans, cherish this one no matter what, I'm looking forward to this weekend's game against the Buckeyes to be nothing short of amazing and packed out with green and hopefully not that ugly scarlet color.

Written by Justin Turner｜Contributor｜ Photo by ON3 Like most of you reading this article, one of my favorite movies of all time is Rudy. It is a story that most of us can relate to. Having a dream and not letting anything get in your way of achieving that goal. Loving something so much that you become absolutely consumed by it. Having the doubters and naysayers always in your ear. And the overwhelming joy that you feel when you reach the peak of that mountain. Just like Rudy, our dream was to be able to take that walk from the basilica to the stadium. Touching one sign at the top of the stairs and slapping the ‘play like a champion today’ sign on the way out of the locker room. It was hearing the PA announcer say “Here Come The Irish” as you run out of the tunnel and onto the field. As life would have it for many of us, that dream was never fulfilled. But for those of us who are blessed enough to have a ticket to Saturday’s mega matchup between the sixth ranked Ohio State Buckeyes and ninth ranked Notre Dame, there’s a variation of this dream that is still achievable. For the over 80,000 people that will pack the house that Rockne built on Saturday night, it is a must that you are part of the action in every way possible. It starts before you leave the house wearing green. The school has called this campaign “Irish wear green” for a reason. When those NBC cameras turn on and pan to that stadium, the amount of green needs to be as noticeable as possible. Let’s not kid ourselves, Ohio State is just as big of a brand as ND, and their fans will be there in large quantities. So, this first step is very important. Second, bring that energy! I’m talking about being fired up from the moment the gates open. I’m talking about being loud in warmups. Of course, this will have a big impact on the game, but also keep in mind this is a huge recruiting weekend. Let’s show the next generation that Notre Dame Stadium can be a vibe! Show the world that yes, there is a lot of tradition here and we will honor and respect that. But this can also be a place where you WANT to be. This can be a hostile environment. This can be a place where teams do not want to go play. Lastly, be loud…all the time. Turn the volume up to 10! And then find a way to make it even louder. If you have not lost your voice by the end of this game, did you really give it your all? I’m joking - but not really. It didn’t really matter if you were loud against Central Michigan or Tennessee State. That is no disrespect to either of those programs, but it is completely understandable if the crowd is not going all out vs double digit underdogs. That is not the case on Saturday night. This is a big game for them, just as much as it is for us. There are a lot of key players for them who have not played in a big-time road game yet. Especially at the quarterback position. We have a pretty good idea that this Notre Dame defense will show up. So, let’s see how this Ohio State offense reacts to not only trying to make plays v.s that defense, but also the crowd making it difficult to communicate and hear the snap count. Photo by Yahoo.com For far too long I have had the feeling that ND stadium can feel like a library. As if the extended arms of touchdown Jesus were not just a symbol for peace in our lives, but for silence in the stadium. Games and moments where there was no energy, no juice, just fans going through the motions. And sure, none of us will get to run out on that field on Saturday. Throw a touchdown pass or make a big stop on a 3rd down. But our time is here to play a big role in the outcome of the game. Take pride in that. Be happy about that. Let that be the life blood that gets you through the rest of this week and into your seats Saturday night. Wear green, bring that energy, and be loud. This is the moment, this is the time, and let’s go show the world why WE ARE ND! In the infamous worlds of Russell Wilson: Irish Nation Let’s Ride!

Written by Elias Joyce｜Contributor｜ Photo by ESPN It is no secret that Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. is the best receiver in the country, and some may argue he's the best player in the country. The 6-foot-3, 205 pound receiver runs a 4.60 second 40 yard dash and a 30.6 inch vertical jump. On top of these attributes, Harrison is a great route-runner and has hands like his dad, a hall of fame receiver for the Indianapolis Colts. Last season Marvin Harrison Jr caught 77 balls on 109 targets, a 70.6% catch rate, for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns. That's an average of 16.4 yards per catch. Against Notre Dame last season, the first game of Harrison's sophomore campaign, he caught a modest 5 balls for 56 yards and no touchdowns. However MHJ has his eyes set on much bigger numbers this year and he is more than capable of doing so. He has the star power and big play ability to cause havoc for the Notre Dame secondary and leave Irish fans holding their breath. To say Defensive Coordinator Al Golden can stop the Heisman hopeful receiver would be foolish, but Notre Dame has one of the best pass defenders in the country this season, and the Irish secondary won't be backing down. So if stopping Marvin Harrison Jr. is off the table, then at the very least Notre Dame needs to limit him, but how? The short answer is.... Benjamin Morrison. Morrison burst on the scene last season for the Fighting Irish, racking up 6 interceptions during his freshman season. By the end of the season he was Notre Dame's best defensive back on the roster. Heading into his Sophomore season Benjamin Morrison was voted a pre-season All American, and is regarded by some as the best defensive back in the nation. So, what is there to worry about? Ohio State has the best receiver in the country, Notre Dame has the best defensive back in the country, sounds like a pretty even matchup. But as most people know, receivers naturally have the advantage when it comes to 1-on-1 reps. So as much as I anticipate this to be a heavy-weight bout between Morrison and Harrison, number 20 is going to need some help. I anticipate defensive back Thomas Harper and safety Xavier Watts to help carry some of the load defending Harrison. This will only be Harper's 5th game for the Irish, transferring from Oklahoma State in the spring. However his role has been increasing week by week for this Notre Dame defense. Being that this is his 5th season of college football, his experience will show to be vital in Notre Dame's success limiting Harrison. Xavier Watts was recruited to Notre Dame as a wide receiver, then moved to linebacker, eventually finding his home at the safety position. Despite this, Watts has shown that he is no where near "out of position". His emergence as one of the best defenders for the Irish this season has been a pleasant surprise for fans. Whatever Watts lacks in experience at the safety position, he makes up for with raw athleticism. Having a bigger body than many are used to at this position, he still is able to fly around and is one of the best tacklers on the team. I am very excited to see how the Notre Dame defense deals with and responds to Marvin Harrison Jr and the rest of the Ohio State offense. In my opinion, if the Irish defense can hold the Buckeyes under 30 points they have a very good chance at winning. The first step to doing this is for Benjamin Morrison, Thomas Harper, Xavier Watts, and the rest of Al Golden's defense to limit the pass attack of Ryan Day and Brian Hartline's offense. Go Irish! Follow me on Twitter/X @eliasjoyce7

Written by Phil Kowalis｜Writer｜Twitter: @PhilKowalisIT (Photo: Saturdayroad.com) When Michael Mayer announced his intention to forgo his final season of eligibility and enter the 2023 NFL Draft, Marcus Freeman and his offensive coaching staff were left with the daunting task of finding a way to replace the production the loss of Mayer created. While it is unlikely that Notre Dame has an individual on the current roster that can match the 69 receptions 809 yards and 9 touchdowns that Mayer accounted for last season, through the first four games of the 2023 season the Irish have turned to a trio of tight ends to replace Mayer's offensive production. Juniors Mitchell Evans and Davis Sherwood, as well as Sophomore Holden Staes have all found themselves on the receiving end of passes from Irish quarterback Sam Hartman. Let's look at how the production of the trio of tight ends compare to the production of Mayer through the first four games of the season. (Photo: 247sports) Through the first four games last season, Mayer had 22 catches for 222 yards and three touchdowns. Despite not being targeted in the season opener against Navy, the trio of Evans, Staes and Sherwood have combined for 13 catches good for 204 yards and four touchdowns. Through the first quarter of the season, the level of production for the tight end position in 2023 is very comparable to the numbers Mayer put up a season ago. The trio of Evans, Staes and Sherwood trail both in the number of catches and total yard, but lead Mayer's production in Touchdown receptions. Digging deeper into the numbers, the one thing that needs to be remembered is that in 2022, the quality of quarterback play for Notre Dame was less than desirable. The combination of Tyler Buchner and Drew Pyne combined to go 72-for-113 passing for 837 yards with 6 touchdowns and three interceptions. Those numbers were buoyed by Pyne's week four performance against North Carolina in which he completed 24-of-34 passes for 289 yards and three TD's. By comparison this season, Sam Hartman in four games has completed 64-of -90 passes for 1,061 with 13 touchdowns and no interceptions. The poor quarterback play through the first four games makes Mayer's numbers just that much more impressive. Mayer's production really didn't pick up until the play of the quarterback became a little more stable starting in week four when Mayer had a seven-catch game against the Tar Heels, and followed that up with a 11 catch 118-yard two touchdown game against BYU. So while the trio of Evans, Staes and Sherwood have been able to match Mayer's production through the first quarter of the season, their ability to step up there play and match Mayer's numbers for the full season remains to be seen. The trio of Evans, Staes and Sherwood is currently on pace for season totals of 39 catches, 612 yards and 12 touchdowns. (Photo: 247sports) Looking at the stable of tight ends individually this season, Staes has recorded six catches for 123 yards and three touchdowns. Evans has caught five passes for a total of 63 yards, and Sherwood has added two catches good for 18 yards and a touchdown, So while as a group, the Irish tight ends match Mayer's' production through the first four games of the season, only Staes has posted individual numbers that are close to what the Irish all-American put up a season ago. It is important to note, however, that Michael Mayer was undoubtedly the primary target for the Irish offense last season, and this season the tight end group must compete for targets not only with each other, but with the group of newly emerging receiving threats on the outside. This season Sam Hartman has been more determined to spread the ball around and show an ability to take what the defense is giving him, as at least eight different receivers have caught passes in each of Notre Dame's first four games this season. The continued growth of this season's tight end group both in terms of development and production will be worth keeping a close eye on as the year progresses, and may play a big role in how successful the season can be.

By Liam Farrell｜Senior Staff Writer｜Twitter @LiamFarrell_IT Via Ethan Hyman, The News&Observer Over the past decade, Notre Dame fans have been blessed by great safety play. NFL All-Pros like Kyle Hamilton, or Harrison Smith, are the first ones to come to mind. Since Hamilton's departure in 2021, Notre Dame hadn't really had a true ball-hawking safety. Brandon Joseph didn't live up to the hype that he was presented, but was a valuable member of the 2022 team. With many question marks heading into the season about the safety room, coach Chris O'Leary had faith in seasoned players like DJ Brown, Ramon Henderson, and Xavier Watts to make a big jump in their progression. Against NC State, we saw what Coach O'Leary was talking about. The ability of these Notre Dame safeties to create turnovers, and cause havoc was something we haven't seen in a while. Let's take a deeper look at the starting talent in this safeties room. Free Safety Tandem Via NBC The free safety position has been taken over by two guys who were not recruited for the safety position out of high school. The 1-2 duo of Ramon Henderson and Xavier Watts have held down the fort at the free safety position. Henderson, a 4 star Cornerback recruit from California, has made a big jump in his position switch over the past three years. I see Henderson as more of a natural ball-hawk in the free safety position than that of Watts. Henderson has shown tremendous range from the free safety position, already having an interception and forcing a fumble. Click here to purchase Henderson's right hand man at free safety is Xavier Watts. Watts has had quite the player development path over his Notre Dame career. Watts was brought in as a highly touted wide receiver, and immediately got shipped to the safety position. Then, following Avery Davis's injury at the beginning of the 2022 season, Watts had a selfless act of moving back to the wide receiver room, which ultimately halted his development at his new safety position. With him moving back to safety halfway through the season, and an entire year preparing as a safety, Watts has come into his own. A hard-hitter with natural instincts on the defensive side of the ball, Watts has also demonstrated his great ball skills with an interception of his own against the Wolfpack. Boundary Safety: A Veteran and Some Newcomers Via NBC The boundary safety position is another unique mix of people at one position. On one hand, there is DJ Brown who has been with the Irish since 2018 and is currently a second-year graduate student; on the other, two fresh transfers in Thomas Harper and Antonio Carter. Brown has been a constant in this Notre Dame defense. This year, Brown has come out of his shell and is playing with significantly more conviction. He has transformed from a bit of a timid playing style, to a more instinctive based, reactionary player. The two transfers, Harper and Carter, have had two different paths for the Irish. Harper has sketched out significantly more playing time, especially in the Irish's Aztec package. Harper has displayed great on-ball defense in space, while having numerous pass breakups in one-on-one coverage. Harper is the leader for the Irish safeties in solo tackles (8) and total tackles (15). He has also displayed the ability to blitz the quarterback, as he had a forced fumble against Central Michigan this past week. Carter, who transferred way later into the offseason camp, is still trying to make his way onto the field in a loaded safety room, but provides great depth at the position. Wrap Up The Notre Dame safeties have answered all the questions presented in front of them so far. With the Irish having one more quiz, before the big Ohio State test, these Notre Dame safeties need to do their best in order to limit the daunted Ohio State passing attack. Communication and play recognition will be vital as it will be Kyle McCord's first real big game of his career. I have the utmost confidence the Irish secondary will be up for the test.

By Mike Stacey ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter (X): @MikeStaceyIT ⏐ IG: @mikestaceyit Photo Credit: Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame defeated Central Michigan 41-17 in another convincing, yet sloppy performance by the Irish. Similar to the prior week against NC State, the Irish ended up winning by a wide margin but had trouble getting separation until the 2nd half. In this game, we saw the Irish defense give up some big runs, which certainly had something to do with JD Bertrand being out and Jack Kiser having to play out of position. Regardless, against an opponent like CMU you would like to see the Defense be a bit more dominant and be able to adjust to being down one man on that side of the ball. You can certainly argue that they may have been looking ahead with OSU coming to town next week, and with JD possibly returning next Saturday this should not be an issue. These would be valid points. Am I worried about Notre Dame's linebacker play for next week? Not so much. I think it is a strength on this team and will be more assignment correct against the Buckeyes. However, there is a unit on the defense that continues to give me concern going into the OSU game, and that is the Defensive front. The Irish came away with 2 sacks yesterday, but not one of them came from a Defensive Lineman. This has been a theme so far this season. Now don't get me wrong, it's not that the Defensive Line has been bad by any means so far this season. In the first 4 games this unit has contributed to holding the opposition to 137, 84, 89 and 126 Rushing Yards, respectively. They have mainly been very stout against the run, but my concern is if they will be able to affect the passing game the way they will need to next Saturday. So far, this unit has accounted for 4 sack in 4 games, and one of them came from Donovan Hinish in garbage time against NC State. (That being said, very excited about his future) This is not going to be good enough against Ohio State, even with how good our secondary is. The Irish are going to have to be WAY more disruptive up front if they are going to slow down the incredible talent the Buckeyes have at Wide Receiver. Marvin Harrison Jr is the best receiver in the country, Emeka Egbuka is a 5 star recruit, Julian Fleming was the #1 Receiver out of high school and their tight end, Cade Stover, is currently second on the team in receptions. They also tout highly coveted freshman receiver Carnell Tate, who Irish fans will know for all the wrong reasons. Simply put, you can not give the quarterback time with these targets on the field or they WILL get open and it could be a very long night for the Irish. This Saturday should tell us a great deal about what we have on the D-Line. Although the numbers haven't been impressive, it may not all be due to a lack of execution. Navy is not going to give you many opportunities to get to the QB due to their option style offense and limited pass attempts. NC State's Brennan Armstrong is most effective outside of the pocket and I do believe the Irish game-plan was to keep him in check and not force him out of the pocket, a game-plan they executed very well. So although there is some cause for concern, I think it is still premature to claim this unit has an issue getting to the QB. My hope is they will be coached up and put a major emphasis this week on getting more pressure and sacks. The crowd (As long as ND fans don't sell their tickets, but I digress...) will hopefully be an added boost that will get the juices flowing and add some extra intensity and energy. We will need to hear Botelho, Jean-Baptiste, Mills, Cross and whoever else wants to get involved names early and often over the loud speaker in Notre Dame Stadium if the Irish are going to win this one. If not, this could be another big game that the Irish were unable to take advantage of, but if they can be disruptive and put McCord on his back, it may be a historic night in South Bend, Indiana for Marcus Freeman and his legacy. GO IRISH!

By: Connor D'Aquila ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter: @ConnorDaquilaIT Photo via @DeuceKnight on Twitter In a surprise move, Notre Dame has landed a commitment from elite 2025 quarterback Deuce Knight. For those unfamiliar with the name, he is a 6-5, 200-pound dual-threat passer out of Lucedale, Mississippi. Knight is a four-star by all platforms and ranked as high as number 26 overall by Rivals, which also has him as the number one quarterback in the class. 247Sports is the only site to have him outside of the top 100 overall or the top-four quarterbacks. Knight possesses a combination of athleticism, size, and arm talent that is truly unique. With a 40-time in the 4.5s, a vertical jump nearing 42 inches, and an arm that can make any throw on the field, he is a special player. Largely because of the offense he has played in, on-field production has been limited, but watching any film makes the tools he possesses evident. For a little backstory on this recruitment, it has been clear for a little bit now that the Irish staff have narrowed their 2025 quarterback board to Deuce and Bear Bachmeier. Bear made his first visit to campus this weekend, and the hype around him was quickly gaining steam. Knight, however, was supposed to be on campus this upcoming weekend for Ohio State, and it was seemingly becoming a race to see who would commit first and lock up their spot. Luckily, we got the finish to that race today, and ND has themselves a stud. Not only is this a huge get for the staff as a whole, it is a great sign for new quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli. While we had heard great things about him and the relationships he creates, seeing him be so impactful on both these recruitments is really promising. It is clear throughout the commitment video, and on his social media, that the coaching staff made a big difference for Knight. We should also not underestimate the impact Freeman had here as well. It was so profound that a picture of him can be seen on Deuce’s Instagram story with the caption “us vs. (the world emoji).” With every commitment, it becomes clearer and clearer how effective of a recruiter Freeman is. Pair Knight with fellow 2025 commits Davion Dixon and Justin Thurman, the Irish have put together a great beginning to the class. Already ranked 7th overall with just three players, this ‘25 group has the potential to be truly special. Ohio State comes to town this weekend, and with the eyes of the nation on South Bend, it is a chance to show everyone that Notre Dame has returned to the highest level of college football. We can also expect tons of recruits to be on campus, and a win would certainly go far in adding to this class. Hopefully, the addition of Knight will only add another recruiter to the team and will give any offensive player more confidence in joining the Irish. Another name to keep an eye on is Kaleb Beasley, who was teammates with Deuce during his brief stint at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville this fall. Beasley has been rumored as a potential flip for some time now, and having this connection will only help. The impact of this commitment cannot be overstated. Notre Dame has secured themselves another elite quarterback to make it three straight classes with big-name, high-level passers. We have certainly entered a new era at ND, and it is this type of recruiting that the staff needs to maintain to consistently compete at the highest level.

By Phil Kowalis ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter: @PhilKowalisIT Photo By: Matt Cashore /USA Today sports For the second week in a row Notre Dame football has turned in a performance that has left many fans scratching their heads, wondering exactly how good this year's team will be and what the remainder of the season has instore. A 34.5-point favorite over CMU at kickoff, the Irish turned in a sloppy first half effort filled with missed tackles and assignment errors on defense and inconsistent play on offense that left the Irish leading only by seven points at halftime. The Irish regrouped after intermission to play a much stronger second half to post a fairly convincing 24-point victory and improve to 4-0 on the season. Let's take a look at how the Irish's grades in the win over the Chippewas. Photo By: Matt Cashore/USAToday Sports Offense: Offensive line/Tight Ends: Grade - B Once again, the offensive line turned in an inconsistent performance struggling at times to open running lanes against an undersized CMU defensive front. The Notre Dame line finally started to find success in the second half wearing down the CMU defense and opening gaping holes for Audric Estime to run through. The Irish front did not allow a sack of quarterback Sam Hartman, but Hartman did spend time running for his life and took several nasty looking hits that saw Hartman limp to the sideline on multiple occasions. The Offensive line, despite their struggles, still managed to pave the way for 236 yards rushing on 37 attempts, good for an average of 6.4 yards per attempt. Irish tight ends were only targeted twice in the game and Holden Staes pulled in the only catch, a one-handed grab of a 4-yard touchdown pass from Sam Hartman for Notre Dame's final touchdown of the day. Quarterback/Running Backs: Grade - A Sam Hartman torched the Chippewas secondary for 330 yards and three touchdowns on the day. Hartman connected with Tobias Merriweather for a 75-yard touchdown pass on Notre Dame's opening position of the game. He later added a 76-yard strike to Chris Tyree in the second quarter to put Notre Dame up 21-7. Audric Estime led the Irish ground attack with 176 yards and 1 touchdown on the afternoon. Wide Receivers Grade: - B After not recording a catch last week at North Carolina State, Jayden Thomas led all receivers with four catches for 63-yards and Rico Flores Jr. added three catches for 60-yards as wide receivers grabbed 13 of Hartman's 16 completions on the day. Dion Colzie was once again missing in action, failing to record a catch for the third straight game. Photo By: Matt Cashore/USAToday Sports Defense: Defensive Line: Grade - B- Defensive line struggled for much of the first half as they found themselves being pushed off the line of scrimmage by the Chippewas offensive line. The group rebounded in the second half holding the Chippewas to a total of 131-yards on 34 carries on the afternoon. Rylie Mills led the defensive line in tackles with five, all of which were solo, and Donovan Hinish chipped in with four. Linebackers: Grade - B- The absence of defensive captain J.D. Bertrand had an effect on the defense throughout the first half as the Irish defense struggled with missed assignments and poor tackling. Like the rest of the defense, the linebackers regrouped and played much better in the second half. Jack Kiser led the linebackers with 10 tackles on the day and had one of Notre Dame's two sacks of Chippewa quarterback Jase Bauer. Marist Liufau added two tackles for a linebacker group that at times seemed to lack aggressiveness. Secondary: Grade - B Other than the one blown coverage that resulted in a 31-yard completion to Tyson Davis that set up the Chippewas final touchdown of the game, and a very controversial pass-interference penalty against Jaden Mickey, the Irish secondary had a very solid afternoon. Safety Xavier Watts led the secondary with five tackles and one pass break-up. Thomas Harper contributed four tackles, a sack and forced a fumble. The secondary held CMU to 137-yards passing on the day as Bauer completed only half of his total attempts for the game. Special Teams: Grade - C The special teams unit struggled on the afternoon. Chris Tyree had two blunders in the punt return game, fielding one punt inside his 10-yard line that resulted in poor field position and not catching a second Chippewa punt allowing the punt to roll deep into Irish territory. Again, leaving Notre Dame with poor field position. Kicker Spencer Shrader also was penalized for having a kickoff go out of bounds. Shrader was perfect on all five PAT attempts and was two of three on field goal attempts, with his only miss coming on a 59-yard attempt in the second quarter. Shrader did make a 50-yarder in the second half. Punter Bryce McFerson had another solid game, averaging 49-yards on his two punt attempts. Overall: The Irish have plenty to work on ahead of their top-10 matchup against Ohio State next weekend at Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish will have to have much better play along both the offensive and defensive lines in order to come out victorious against the Buckeyes. Notre Dame will also need to clean up the penalty issues which have now plagued them for the past two weeks, as the Irish have been penalized 18 times between their last two contests. Ohio State will enter the matchup against the Irish with a 3-0 record, after defeating Western Kentucky University by a score of 63-10.

By Liam Farrell｜Senior Staff Writer｜Twitter @LiamFarrell_IT Via Notre Dame Football Notre Dame's test against Central Michigan was one of the most frustrating performances in recent memory. The Irish offense started out strong out of the gates, but faded away over time. The Notre Dame defense was getting gashed in the running game, and the absence of JD Bertrand and DJ Brown were felt. The narrative about the undisciplined Irish defense continued this week, where numerous penalties advanced Central Michigan drives, and put Notre Dame behind the 8-ball. The officiating crew today was another factor that made this game completely unenjoyable to watch. Let's breakdown some quick hitters from today's game. Offense Via Notre Dame Football Sam Hartman. Hartman started off strong and had two beautiful deep balls, in which he found receivers Chris Tyree and Tobias Merriweather. On the day, Hartman was 16/26 with 330 yards and 3 touchdowns. He missed Jaden Greathouse a couple times on the last drive of the 3rd quarter, but for the most part, the graduate quarterback made the correct reads and played a very sound game. There was a scary incident when a CMU defender twisted Hartman's knee after bringing him down, but Hartman returned and looked unfazed in the grand scheme of things. Offensive Line . The Offensive Line struggled a bit today, in which they had some penalties derail a drive. The holding call by Blake Fisher was terrible, and it forced Notre Dame into a 3rd and long, deep in their own end. On the flip side, the run-blocking was alright, but the Chippewas maintained pressure and even got to Estime in the backfield a couple times. Run Game. Today was the first time where the Notre Dame running game looked a bit stagnant. Some of the plays took forever to start, which resulted in losses behind the line of scrimmage. Estime had a good touchdown run on 4th and inches, and continued to display his ability to get yards after contact. You could tell that the Notre Dame coaches wanted to wake the Irish up in the 2nd half, which is why they called three straight physical runs. Wide Receivers . Tobias Merriweather finally had the big break most fans were waiting for, with his 75-yard touchdown catch on Notre Dame's first drive of the day. Chris Tyree had another big play touchdown, this one an over-the-shoulder catch, dropped beautifully in the bucket by Hartman. Jayden Thomas made a couple good plays in space, as well as his big 39-yard catch. Tight Ends. Holden Staes had a big drop on 3rd and long, which would've put the Irish in a better position for the field goal kick. He also had a holding call that brought back a 70-yard Audric Estime touchdown. To make up for these blunders, he made a sick one-handed touchdown catch to put the nail in the coffin in this one. Defense Via NBC Sports The Irish Miss their Captain. The Irish defense was getting absolutely torched on the running game effort by the Chippewas today. The linebackers were nowhere to be found, and were hitting the wrong gaps. The absence of JD Bertrand was seismic, and the young linebacker, Jaylen Sneed, wasn't being physical at all. Penalties. Penalties. Penalties. This defense commits a stupid amount of unnecessary penalties. The two that stand out are the two roughing the passer penalties on Josh Burnam and Rylie Mills, which were both on incompletions. These two penalties gave Central Michigan significant momentum, resulting in touchdown drives. The pass interference on Jaden Mickey was a bit ticky-tack, where it appeared the receiver fell down, but still, it can't happen. Thomas Harper . The biggest bright spot in my opinion today was the play of Thomas Harper. The kid was everywhere, from being great in one-on-one coverage in space, along with blitzing the quarterback that caused a fumble. The Oklahoma State transfer had a great day, and was my defensive MVP of the game. JJB. Jean-Baptiste was another player who stood out today with his hustle. Jean-Baptiste was one of the only players on the defensive line who got to the quarterback, and disrupted a couple run plays behind the line of scrimmage. This is a progression Notre Dame desperately needs from the defensive line. Miscellaneous Kicking Game. I respect the confidence that the coaching staff has in Spencer Shrader, but I think the limit for the kid has to be 55 yards. In a percentages game, I would much rather go for it on 4th and 10, then kick a 59-yard field goal, which just gives Central Michigan great field position. Officiating. The first half lasted about an hour and a half, primarily because of the terrible officiating by the on-field crew. The officials were indecisive, and just bad. The waived off pass interference call when Rico Flores Jr. got tugged to the ground was horrendous, and then the review of the review on the 1st down spot was even worse. ACC officials. Coaching. While I love Freeman trying to burn timeouts to give Hartman enough time before the half, I would've just let Central Michigan score. They were on the half yardline with 46 seconds left. CMU burned 30 seconds by not scoring, and that in turn, gave the Irish no time to get a scoring chance before halftime. Jason Garrett. I'm not a fan. At all. Garrett brings nothing into the broadcasting booth, and much like one of his predecessors, Doug Flutie, often roots against the Irish at all costs. He also is the most "captain obvious" analyst I have ever watched in my life. Having Garrett in the booth makes watching Notre Dame games significantly less enjoyable. NBC, please figure it out.

By Craig James｜Contributor Photo Credit - ESPN For years Notre Dame has been known has O-Line U. Consistently pumping out NFL offensive line products, from Quenton Nelson to the Martin brothers, Ronnie Stanley and the entire 2020-21 line has been drafted, minus Tommy Kraemer who was a undrafted pick up for the Lions. But why does Notre Dame have so many question marks at that position now and how will they fare as the season ramps up? This season we have already seen much improvement from last year. Last year Notre Dame was young and especially young up front. Besides Joe Alt holding down the left tackle position, there were many question marks on this year's Irish O-Line. To start the year the Irish did not get much of a competitive look from their opponents. With a running back like Audric Estime, it is not difficult to run on inferior opponents. But Notre Dame is not going to play inferior teams all year, they have a stretch of very difficult games coming up in the middle and later part of the schedule. Ohio State, USC and Clemson are not going to just let Estime do whatever he wants. I expect Gerad Parker to be creative to work around the deficiencies that the Irish have, but the line needs to improve before they can start thinking about an undefeated season and a National Championship. NC State was Notre Dame's first real test up front. The Irish came into this game hot off a 56-3 win over Tennessee State. NC State boasts a strong run defense and emphasizes heavily on stopping the run. They will come out in different formations to compliment their three down linemen. To start the game they showed just that, the Wolf Pack came out in a 3-4 defense and blitzed the weakside outside linebacker and the slot corner while jamming the strength side with the other 3 linebackers. The Irish were blown off the ball 2 yards, but Estime luckily powered through for a 1 yard gain. On this play Blake Fisher was pancaked 2 yards off the line of scrimmage. The next play the Wolf Pack again brought pressure on the weakside, but this time from safety Sean Brown. Brown raced around the right tackle and made the play on the other side of the line for another gain of 1. On 3rd and 8 Nc State brought pressure up the middle and the entire line got pushed back for a sack and a loss of 10. Not the way the Notre Dame hopeful wanted the game to begin. To start the second drive, Parker drew up a play with both the weakside guard and tackle pulling to the strength with the run direction. While it was a rush for no gain, the Irish began to start pulling different tackles, guards, and even a few times tight ends and receivers the rest of the game. This is significant because while this play didn't work per se, the Irish worked off it. They saw what worked and what didn't work with the pulling, and then attacked the defenses weaknesses with it as the game went on. Attacking with pulling downlinemen not only helps create holes for the back, but it creates more contact on the defense, which in turn wears them down quicker. If you are getting ran into by a freight train like Joe Alt running full speed every play, you are going to ask coach for a break. The Offense did not run into much success in the first half until after the weather delay. Maybe it was hot dogs or brats or just plain out great play calling. Notre Dame came out after the delay in a power gun formation with the fullback offset opposite of the running back. It was a simple play, Audric Estime up the middle for 80 yards untouched. From there the offensive line progressed and the play calling changed to help minimize the Irish's weaknesses at offensive line. A mixture of Audric Estime, Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price continued to pound the ball at the defense and eventually the defense finally broke and the backs were able to find some room to make something happen. Photo Credit - On3 With a heavy run game, the defense started to bring more pressure, and Notre Dame responded by throwing simple dump off passes and screens to their backs and wideouts. The Irish were very successful on their quick passes which negated any rush the Wolf Pack would attempt. By doing this, it was taking a lot of pressure off of the offensive line, as they now have to hold their block for a second and a half instead of three, maybe four seconds. NC State then had to adjust from rushing five, sometimes six pass rushers to only three so they could defend the pass. The Notre Dame offensive line excelled with a three man rush, but when the defense brought multiple rushers and the dump pass was not open, they struggled. Giving up four sacks and having many throws effected by pressure, the line must get better before Ohio State comes to South Bend on September 23rd. There is no reason to believe they wont get better, but will they be able to contain the Buckeyes up front and establish the line of scrimmage is the question. Ohio State is bigger and faster on defense than Nc State, but their run schemes shouldn't be much different. The big difference in Ohio States scheme will be their pass rush. The Buckeyes aren't going to just rush three and let Sam Hartman sit in the pocket all day and find open receivers, they are going to come after the offensive line and try to disrupt the pass game. But that is where Gerad Parker comes in. Parker has shown on tape different formations that we clearly can pass out of but are primarily running out of, and running very successfully. He used a tight trips with a single back formation countless times that showed the receivers and linemen pulling around for run support. I expect him to use formations like that to open up the pass game off of the run game's consistent success. Alleviating the pressure on the offensive line by schemes and getting the ball out faster will lead to success for this team. Audric Estime can open the pass game up by burning the defense at any moment. The Irish will need to start out faster against the Buckeyes than they did against the Wolf Pack or else it will become near impossible to play catch up while establishing the run. An early lead and a strong, long first drive are critical for the success of this team come Saturday night.

Written by Cade Harper | Contributor | Twitter: @CadeHarperIT Photo by 247 Sports This 2023 season has been a whirlwind for Notre Dame fans. Some are nervous for what lies ahead, some are ready to rip Ohio State's head off. It's an even mix, but let's focus on the now based on what has happened just three games in. Which players are turning the most heads? Who is expected to have a breakout season through the next 9 games? Photo by USA Today I think we can start off by saying something that we as fans have been very, very impressed with. That would be the entire Running Back Core. This 5 headed demon we have in the backfield is something some of us fans have not seen before. The best part about this, they are all getting the job done so well. You can say Estime of course, but how about the guys behind him? Ja'darian Price, Jeremiyah Love, Gi'bran Payne are all getting somewhat of an even workload and still producing very impressive numbers despite all being backups. Price is an even mix of an elusive, punch you in your throat type of player that is beautiful for Gerad Parker's offense as he is being used just about everywhere. Jeremiyah Love, who has already exceeded 100 yards on the year, is the more shifty, break your ankles, then dance in the endzone as you pick grass out of your facemask, kind of player. I love the mix, this shows teams that they truly never know what they are going to get when these guys line up next to QB1. Photo by USA Today Here's another guy that has definitely caught my eye, as I'm sure most of the fans as well, is Jaden Greathouse. The freshman Wide Receiver from Austin, TX has had a stellar year so far and has been one of the more surprising pass catchers for the Irish. He is currently sharing the touchdown lead with Holden Staes (3) and listed 4th most in total receiving yards (113). He had a very impressive season opener in Ireland versus Navy and also scored against NCST this past Saturday. I'm looking forward for Greathouse to develop into Parker's offense this season as well as the coming years. Photo by Rivals Let's talk about the defensive side of the ball now. I think we're all excited about what the offense can do, but I personally think the defense isn't getting enough credit for what they have done. Currently, the Irish defense is allowing just a small 13.5 points per game. This past Saturday against the Wolfpack, they let up their first touchdown three weeks into the season. Regardless who anyone plays, that's an impressive stat. One of the leading players I'd love to point out in this defense is Marist Liufau. If you watched this past Saturday's game you would've noticed Liufau around just about every tackle. He is currently one tackle behind Jack Kiser who leads the team with 16 total tackles. So far, Marist leads the team in assisted tackles as well as forced fumbles. The Polynesian beast is a force to be reckon with this season and I'm excited to see how he plays his senior year of football. Photo by Sports Illustrated A player I think most will be surprised is on this list is newly positioned Wide Receiver, Chris Tyree. Tyree is one of the most electric players Notre Dame has had. He reminds me personally of Theo Riddick back in 2012. Tyree's main position was at Running Back but played in the Slot position, lined up as the outside receiver, and then would line up behind the QB. Now in 2023, he's made the transition to WR and is now, quietly, Notre Dame's leading receiver in total yards. Tyree has given us plenty of memories, but I think he has proved a lot of people wrong this year as he has made his transition. One of the best parts about it being early in the 2023 season is that we still have time to see this Hartman to Tyree connection really grow into something special. Photo by 247 Sports Honorable mentions that were not listed above that other fans may have put in this list are Notre Dame's second leader in tackles so far, Howard Cross III, up and coming Tight End Holden Staes who has just come off a career game in Raleigh, and the new record holder for longest field goal in Notre Dame history, Spencer Shrader. These are guys that have definitely turned some heads. Starting with Howard Cross, he holds the spot of second most total tackles on the team as well as sharing the lead of assisted tackles with Marist Liufau, who was listed above. Cross is a guy that has been everywhere on the field thus far for the Irish and I must say I am impressed with how he is performing despite filling the shoes of star defensive linemen Isaiah Foskey, who declared for the 2022 NFL Draft. Holden Staes is coming off a very impressive career high game as he notched just 4 catches, two of the four going for touchdowns, for 115 yards. This made him the first Irish receiver to put up 100+ receiving yards in a game this season. It will be interesting to see how Parker gets these young TE's involved now without Michael Mayer. Last but not least, the kicker, Spencer Shrader. If you watched Saturday's game, you'll know already Shrader had attempted a 54 yard field goal and it was good, making him the record holder for longest field goal from a Notre Dame kicker. They sent him back out for a 56 yarder not long after the first, but it unfortunately bounced off the upright, making the record sit at 54. This is promising because he did this in very tough weather conditions. If Notre Dame is ever put in tough spots in late games I will not doubt it that Shrader can make something happen for us and I will not regret putting our kicker in the "Most Impressive List". As this 2023 season goes on, we'll continue to see a number of Irish players catch our attention and I am sure of that. Be on the look out for these guys listed above as they continue their stellar year.

By: Connor D'Aquila ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter: @ConnorDaquilaIT Photo via Matt Ray - On3 The 2025 quarterback recruiting race is just starting to heat up, and we could see a finish soon. It seems that the Irish staff has essentially narrowed the race down to two players: Bear Bachmeier and Deuce Knight. With Bachmeier visiting this weekend, Deuce coming off a summer visit, and a seemingly imminent commitment from Knight, it is time we break down these two quarterbacks and what they can bring to South Bend. We’ll look through their recruiting profiles, their high school performance, and Notre Dame’s chances. Profiles Bear Bachmeier comes out of Murrieta, CA's Murrieta Valley High School, and measures in at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds. Knight, on the other hand, originally comes from Lucedale, Mississippi, and George County High School, but most recently played at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville. Last week, it was reported, however, that Knight would be making the switch back to Mississippi for personal reasons. He measures in at an impressive 6-foot-4.5, 200 pounds. In terms of recruiting, the 247 Sports Composite doesn’t have them too far off. Bachmeier has 18 offers, comes in at 146th nationally, and is the number nine quarterback. Knight, meanwhile, has 24 offers, is ranked 70th nationally, and is the number five quarterback. For both players, there is a lot of disparity between platforms. Bear is ranked as high as the number four quarterback by ESPN and as low as number 11 by 247. Deuce sees even more of a range, coming in at number one by Rivals and number ten by 247. Nonetheless, both are elite prospects. Knight’s athleticism is off the charts, and he has the potential to be a truly special dual threat. At a recent Elite 11 regional event, he was able to post a 40-yard dash of 4.53 seconds paired with a vertical of 41.9 inches, while flashing impressive arm strength. These numbers are truly eye-popping for someone entering their junior year of high school. While Bachmeier doesn’t have quite the same level of athleticism, he can certainly run the ball and possesses impressive size that makes him very hard to tackle. In terms of recruiting, Deuce is definitely more impressive with the sky-high ceiling, but both are fairly well-regarded. Photo via Overtime High School Performance In one full season as the starter at Murrieta Valley, Bear Bachmeier was prolific. Flashing a connection with his brother, and current Stanford wide receiver, Tiger Bachmeier, he ended with 2,853 yards, 26 touchdowns, and only four interceptions on a 72% completion percentage. He also added 644 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. Watching film, you see a player who is comfortable in the pocket, can make all the throws, can get outside the pocket, and can make people miss with his legs. In three games this year, Bear has had to navigate life without his brother, but has still accumulated 817 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions with a 66% completion percentage. He has also added 83 yards on the ground. Watching those first few games, he is definitely missing his brother, as there are a lot of missed catches on some great throws. He still shows an ability to stay composed and make good decisions, though. Moving on to Knight, the story gets a bit confusing. Last year, in nine games in Mississippi, Deuce had 1,929 yards, 11 touchdowns, and four interceptions on a 62% completion percentage. He also added 488 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing. On film, he is an electric athlete who flashes a very strong arm and as much escapability as you’ll see in a high school player. This year, after his transfer to powerhouse Lipscomb Academy, he struggled in the preseason, but had a decent showing in their opening game against IMG Academy. The 25 of 37 performance for 237 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions was decent, but not enough to get the job done, as they lost 35-10. As he goes through his transfer process now, it will be important to watch his continued performance. In terms of proven ability thus far, I would give Bachmeier a slight edge. Likelihood Recent hype in Notre Dame communities has largely revolved around Bear Bachmeier, and it appears that the Irish are trending in a good direction with him. From the beginning, he was very open that the ND offer was special for him. His grandfather, who passed away ten years ago, was a huge fan of the Irish, which put them in his head for a long time. Working with this, Coach Guidugli has been able to form a strong relationship very quickly with Bear. He’s also a strong student who appreciates what the school can bring to the table academically. Along these lines, Stanford is a big competitor for him, as they have his brother, the academics, and the closer location. Bachmeier will be on campus this weekend for Central Michigan, and it is a major opportunity for the ND staff to close the deal. Knight, on the other hand, has had an interesting recruitment process thus far. Initially indicating an end-of-summer wrap-up time, the timeline has consistently been extending. Now, it seems like a decision should come in the next month or so, as he wants to watch the teams play, but there is no set date. The top three for Deuce appear to be Notre Dame, Ole Miss, and Tennessee with UT generally thought of as the leader. There is certainly no presumed choice, however, and he has been consistent in saying that all have their merits and drawbacks. We also do not know how his recent transfer will impact the recruitment. One thing to note is that he has said ND would be his mom’s choice if it were up to her. At the moment, Bear appears to be the more likely commitment for the Irish, but as is always the case with these recruitments, that could change at any moment. Generally, the ND fanbase seems set on Deuce as the number one guy for this cycle, but I would argue that it is not as clear of a distinction as many think. Bear is a very strong prospect and would bring a ton of talent to the Irish squad. While he cannot compete with the athleticism and upside of Knight, Bachmeier would be a great get. The staff can’t go too wrong with either of these guys, so let’s hope they close the deal with one.