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Notre Dame continues their journey to a National Championship on New Year’s Day at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, against a team that has won two of the last three national titles, the Georgia Bulldogs. We preview the SEC Champs’ defense here: Photo by The Irish Tribune The Bulldogs’ defense features at least six potential 2025 NFL Draftees, including three potential first-round selections. Georgia’s star-studded group has been reliant on the ‘bend but do not break’ philosophy this season. Here is how the Dawgs have fared this season: vs Clemson (in Atlanta, 34-3, Win) vs Tennessee Tech (48-3, Win) at Kentucky (13-12, Win) at Alabama (34-41, Loss) vs Auburn (31-13, Win) vs Mississippi State (41-31, Win) at Texas (30-15, Win) at Florida (in Jacksonville, 34-20, Win) at Ole Miss (10-28, Loss) vs Tennessee (31-17, Win) vs UMass (59-21, Win) vs Georgia Tech (44-42, 8OT Win) vs Texas (SEC Championship in Atlanta, 22-19, Win) Georgia’s defense is allowing 336.5 total yards per game, the ninth-fewest in the SEC and 35th among all FBS teams. Their 20.4 points per game allowed are the seventh-fewest in the conference and 21st in the country. One point of success for the Bulldogs this season has been their third-down defense. Opponents are converting just 33.1% of their attempts, the sixth-lowest percentage in the SEC and 23rd among all FBS teams. The Irish offense will need to execute on these key downs, as they are only converting 40% of their third-down attempts. However, they did do well versus Indiana, converting 7/12 attempts. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Against the pass, Georgia’s defense has been fairly solid. They are allowing 208.7 pass yards per game, the eighth-fewest in the SEC and 50th among all FBS teams. Opposing passers are averaging a 122.09 passer rating, the seventh-lowest rating in the conference and 40th in the country. One reason for this is that they average 2.77 sacks per game (36 total), the sixth-most in the SEC and tied for 20th nationally. Interestingly, Georgia has combined for just eight interceptions this season, tied for the fourth-fewest in the conference. Let’s preview some key players in the Bulldogs’ secondary: The unquestioned leader of the Georgia secondary is junior safety Malaki Starks. The potential 2025 NFL Draft first-round prospect is, in my opinion, the best true safety in the upcoming draft. Starks entered this season with 120 tackles, 14 passes defended, and five interceptions in 29 games played across the last two years. Last season, he was named a consensus First Team All-American and First Team All-SEC selection. This year, the versatile defensive back was named an AP Second Team All-American and, again, a First Team All-SEC selection. Starks has 73 tackles (leads team), three passes defended, and an interception this season. He has at least one tackle in each game including eight games with six or more. He posted a season-high of ten tackles and a pass defended versus Georgia Tech. Starks, who can also play slot corner, has been great against the run and tackler with just six misses this season. In addition, he has been solid in coverage, having allowed 33 receptions for 449 yards and two touchdowns on 50 targets this year. There is no doubt that Starks will make his impact felt this Wednesday.  Another safety featured in this defense is redshirt senior Dan Jackson. He entered this season with 76 tackles, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles in 33 games played across the past three years. Jackson is enjoying a career-best season this year, entering the Sugar Bowl with 60 tackles, three passes defended, two interceptions, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. As another versatile defensive back, he has at least two tackles in each game including nine games with four or more. Jackson, who like Starks, can play slot corner, posted a season-high of ten tackles and an interception at Alabama. Overall, Jackson is not a very talented defensive back. The best aspect of his game is coverage, where he has allowed 22 receptions for 167 yards on 31 targets this year. He is a below-average tackler with 13 misses this season including three in the SEC Championship. Additionally, Jackson has no impact against the run. The third true safety to highlight is freshman KJ Bolden. He entered Georgia as a consensus five-star recruit from in-state powerhouse Buford. The All-SEC Freshman Team selection racked up 54 tackles, a sack, an interception, and a forced fumble this season. Bolden has at least two tackles in each game including seven games with five or more. He recorded a season-high of eight tackles versus Tennessee. Overall, Bolden is a well-rounded defensive back with the potential to be one of the best in the country at his position for years to come. He has been good in coverage, having allowed 16 receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown on 27 targets. Additionally, he is a good run-stopper and tackler with just six misses this season.  One starting cornerback for the Dawgs is junior Daylen Everette. Last season, he recorded 29 tackles including three for a loss, five passes defended, and an interception. This year, Everette has totaled 53 tackles, three interceptions, two passes defended, two forced fumbles, a sack, and a fumble recovery. The junior has at least one tackle in 12 games, including six games with four or more. He had a season-high of ten tackles versus Georgia Tech. In addition, Everette was named the SEC Championship Game MVP following his two-interception performance. He has been solid all season, especially in coverage where he has allowed 43 receptions for 532 yards and two touchdowns on 61 targets this year. Everette is an average run-stopper but has struggled with tackling, totaling 13 misses this season including at least one in the last five contests. As a corner, the junior is rarely utilized as a pass rusher, however, he has been very effective in this role when called upon. The final secondary player to highlight is sophomore cornerback Daniel Harris. He is enjoying a breakout season, with 20 tackles and three passes defended in 11 games played. Harris was held out for two games due to “coach’s decision.” He has at least one tackle in ten games and tied his season-high of three in the SEC Championship in addition to a pass defended. Harris has good potential but has struggled all around this season. He is an average run-stopper and tackler with three misses on the year. Also, he has struggled in coverage, having allowed 24 receptions for 390 yards and a touchdown on 36 targets this season. Georgia features a solid rushing defense, allowing 127.8 rush yards per game, the eighth-fewest in the SEC and 36th among all FBS teams. Expect a big game from the Irish rush attack that is averaging 222.4 rush yards per game, the 11th-most in the country. As a team, the Bulldogs average 6.6 tackles for loss per game, tied for the eighth-most in the conference and tied for 32nd in the country. Let’s preview key players involved in this potentially dangerous front seven: The Bulldogs have three solid interior linebackers led by sophomore CJ Allen. Last season, he had 41 tackles including three for a loss, two passes defended, and a sack in 14 games played. This year, Allen has recorded 72 tackles including three for a loss, four passes defended, and an interception. The sophomore has at least one tackle in each game including nine games with five or more tackles. He had a season-high of ten tackles and two passes defended versus Georgia Tech. Also, Allen played well in the SEC Championship when he had seven tackles and a pass defended. Overall, this is a good, well-rounded linebacker. Allen is an elite run-stopper and great tackler with just four misses this season. Additionally, he is a solid pass rusher with 19 pressures on 80 pass rush snaps. Allen has struggled in coverage, having allowed 19 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns on 28 targets. Another featured interior linebacker is senior Smael Mondon Jr. He entered this season with 144 tackles including 13 for a loss, four sacks, two passes defended, and an interception in 26 games played across the last two seasons. The 2023 Second Team All-SEC selection led the Bulldogs with five tackles in their 2022 National Championship victory. The versatile linebacker, who can line up as a slot corner, has recorded 48 tackles including three for a loss, three passes defended, and two sacks in nine games played this season. Mondon missed four games with a leg injury. The senior has at least one tackle in each game played, including eight games with three or more tackles. He had a season-high of 13 tackles including a sack versus Georgia Tech. Mondon is another well-rounded linebacker for this defense. He is a good run-stopper and tackler with three misses this season. In addition, he is a good pass rusher with 13 pressures on 69 pass rush snaps. Mondon has been solid in coverage, having allowed seven receptions for 50 yards on 12 targets. The final true interior backer to highlight is sophomore Raylen Wilson. He is experiencing a breakout season, as he has 42 tackles including seven for a loss, one and a half sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Wilson has at least one tackle in each game including a season-high of seven versus Florida. The sophomore is a solid backer; he is a good run-stopper and tackler with just four misses on the year. He is fairly average in coverage, having allowed 10 receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. Wilson has struggled as a pass rusher with just nine pressures on 66 pass rush snaps this year. Georgia also features the Butkus Award winner, junior linebacker Jalon Walker. The potential 2025 NFL Draft first-round selection is the best true linebacker in the upcoming draft, in my opinion. Last season, he recorded 20 tackles including six for a loss, five sacks, and a forced fumble in 14 games played. In addition to being named the best linebacker in the country, Walker was also named an AP Third Team All-American and Second Team All-SEC selection this year. The versatile backer who is capable of playing ILB or OLB has racked up 58 tackles including 11 for a loss, six and a half sacks (tied for the team lead), and two fumble recoveries this season. Walker has at least two tackles in 12 games, including six games with five or more. The junior recorded a season-best performance of eight tackles, three sacks, and a fumble recovery during the regular season matchup with Texas. Walker is an all-around solid backer; he excels as a pass rusher with 29 pressures on 180 pass rush snaps. He is a good tackler with seven misses this season and has been solid in coverage, having allowed 10 receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets. Walker has been fairly average against the run this year. The first of two true outside linebackers is senior Chaz Chambliss. The occasional edge rusher entered this season with 35 tackles including six for a loss, two sacks, two passes defended, and an interception in 26 games played across the past two years. This season, Chambliss has 38 tackles including ten for a loss, six and a half sacks (tied with Walker for the team lead), and a fumble recovery. The senior has at least two tackles in 12 games including a season-high of six with two sacks versus Florida. Overall, Chambliss is a great defender who is an elite tackler with just two misses this year. He has been good against the run and in coverage, having allowed three receptions for 26 yards on four targets. Also, he is a solid pass rusher with 15 pressures on 151 pass rush snaps. The second outside backer to highlight is sophomore Damon Wilson II. As another occasional edge rusher, he has experienced a breakout season with 20 tackles including six for a loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Wilson has at least one tackle in 11 games. He has decent potential but has struggled in certain aspects this year. The sophomore is a solid tackler with five misses and pass rusher with 21 pressures on 210 pass-rush snaps. However, he has struggled against the run and in coverage, having allowed three receptions for 50 yards on five targets this year. In my opinion, the defensive player most capable of blowing up an offensive game plan by himself is junior edge rusher Mykel Williams. The potential 2025 NFL Draft first-round selection is among the top four edge defenders in the upcoming draft. Williams entered this season with 46 tackles including 14 for a loss, nine sacks, two passes defended, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 28 games played across the last two years. He was named to the ‘22 SEC All-Freshman Team after recording five tackles and a sack in the National Championship. Last year, Williams was named to the All-SEC Second Team. This season, Williams repeated as an All-SEC Second Team selection as he recorded 20 tackles including nine for a loss, five sacks, and two forced fumbles in 11 games played. The junior missed two games with an ankle injury. He has at least one tackle in nine games including a season-high of five with a sack and forced fumble versus UMass. Additionally, Williams tallied two sacks in both games versus Texas. He is an elite run-stopper and good pass rusher with 26 pressures on 227 pass rush snaps. Also, Williams is a solid tackler with just three misses on the year. This will be the largest test for Notre Dame’s offensive tackles since the season-opener versus Nic Scourton and Texas A&M.  On the interior, Georgia features three solid defensive tackles including senior Warren Brinson. Last season, he recorded 21 tackles including three for a loss and two sacks in 13 games played. This year, Brinson has totaled 24 tackles including six for a loss and two sacks in 11 games played. He missed two games with a lower leg injury. The senior has at least one tackle in eight games including a season-high of five with a sack versus UMass. Brinson is a well-rounded lineman; he is a good run-stopper and tackler with just three misses this season. Also, he is a solid pass rusher with 13 pressures on 209 pass rush snaps. Another tackle to highlight is redshirt sophomore Christen Miller, who has injury concerns heading into the Sugar Bowl. He was experiencing a breakout season before missing the last two games with a shoulder injury. His status for Wednesday is unclear, but expect him to suit up. This year, Miller has recorded 22 tackles including four for a loss and one and a half sacks in 11 games played. He has at least one tackle in each game played including a season-high of four with a sack versus Tennessee Tech. When healthy, Miller has been very good for the Bulldogs. He is a great run-stopper, but it remains to be seen how his injury will affect his play. Miller is also a solid tackler with just two misses and a valid pass rusher with 18 pressures on 185 pass rush snaps. The sophomore’s status will be one to watch as we approach game time.  The final defender to spotlight is redshirt junior lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. The versatile defender is capable of lining up anywhere on the line. He is enjoying a breakout season with 17 tackles including eight for a loss, three sacks, two passes defended, and a forced fumble. Ingram-Dawkins has at least one tackle in eight games and recorded a season-high of two sacks versus Auburn. The junior is a good run-stopper but struggles as a pass rusher, with 19 pressures on 285 pass rush snaps, and as a tackler, with ten misses this season. How much he plays on Wednesday may be dependent on Miller’s health. The winner of this elite Sugar Bowl matchup will earn a date with Penn State or Boise State in the Orange Bowl on January 9th. While Georgia has the top-end talent splattered throughout their defense, they have shown moments of weakness. It is up to Notre Dame to expose those potential flaws, ideally with a strong rushing performance. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

As 2024 comes to a close, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a chance to end it on a high note as the (8-5) Virginia Cavaliers travel to South Bend. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics The Notre Dame women’s basketball team has seen plenty of highs and lows through the 2024 calendar year. Since losing to Syracuse on the road on Dec. 31 of last year, the Irish have picked up nine ranked wins, an ACC tournament championship, and a run to the Sweet 16 of last year’s NCAA Tournament. Before turning the page to 2025 however, the Fighting Irish have one final date in Purcell Pavilion against the in-conference Virginia Cavaliers.   The Irish opened conference play back on Dec. 8 against Syracuse on the road, a game that saw them win by 31 points behind Sonia Citron’s 25 points. They are now on a nine-game winning streak in ACC play dating back to Feb. 19, with an average margin of victory of 17.8 points. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Virginia, a team that is coming into Purcell Pavilion with an 8-5 record after a four-game losing streak that trickled into the beginning of December, is led by sophomore guard Kymora Johnson. She’s averaging 18.4 points per game, scoring in double figures in all 13 games this season. Johnson holds a presence all over the floor, grabbing 5.9 rebounds per game, 4.8 assists, and 1.8 steals.   Johnson, a Charlottesville, Virginia native, has taken a leap as a consistent shooter as well. She has seen spikes in both three-point and field goal percentages, shooting 47.2% from the field and 40.3% from beyond the arc. Defensively for the Irish, it’s going to start out front when it comes to slowing down the Cavalier offense that’s averaging just 73.5 PPG.   While the Notre Dame offense has been one of the best in the ACC, averaging 88.8 PPG on 49.3% shooting from the field, this game will be controlled on the defensive side of the ball. The Irish currently leads the conference in rebounds per game with 45.7 per game, giving them an average advantage of 10.8 per game. With 12.83 steals per game and 6.33 blocks per game - both lead the ACC – the Cavaliers ACC worst -1.15 turnover margin is going to be an issue.   Down low, Virginia is anchored by its 6’4” forward Latasha Lattimore who enters averaging 12.8 PPG on 52.7& shooting and 9.3 RPG. Lattimore, a native of Toronto, has been in double figures in five straight games with three double-doubles in that span. In the Cavaliers' most recent game, Lattimore put up 18 points and 10 rebounds in 35 minutes, while also blocking three shots.   The Irish’s main post presence freshman Kate Koval, who is tied for third in the nation with 35 blocks, missed Notre Dame’s last two games. With Koval expected to play, it will be hard to find areas of success for the Cavaliers. Against Syracuse in the Irish’s first ACC game, Koval played 26 minutes, blocking two shots and scoring 12 points.   Senior guard Olivia Miles, who didn’t play her first game of 2024 until Nov. 4, is coming off her third triple-double of the season and fifth of her career. Against Loyola-Maryland, Miles scored 18 points, grabbed 11 boards, and collected 10 assists in the Irish’s 97-54 victory. Miles has been impressive in her return to the team after missing all last season. She’s now averaging a career-high 17.2 PPG on 56.8% shooting while picking up 6.5 RPG and 6.7 APG. She’s attempting the most threes in her career with 4.5 per game and knocking down 2.3 of them giving her a 50% clip from three-point land which is tied for fifth in the nation. Even after tearing her ACL on Feb. 26, 2023, Miles has come back and put up unfair numbers.   Regardless of what either team has, Notre Dame has Hannah Hidalgo and that’s enough to give an opposing team no chance. The sophomore guard is averaging 25.8 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 3.8 APG while collecting an unprecedented 4.3 steals per game.   While she was already one of the best players in the nation during her freshman season, Hidalgo has seen jumps in multiple categories. Her three-point percentage, which has jumped by 10.6%, might be the most important. Despite shooting an average of 1.2 more threes per game in 2024 with 5.4, Hidalgo is knocking down 44.6% of them. It doesn’t matter who is on the floor across from her, Hidalgo is always going to be a mismatch for the opposition with no real answer for how to stop her.   The Irish will not only close out 2024 on Sunday but also set the tone for how 2025 will go. They have a great opportunity at hand to move to 2-0 in conference play as a top-three team in the nation according to the AP Poll. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame continues their journey to a National Championship on New Year’s Day at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, against a team that has won two of the last three national titles, the Georgia Bulldogs. We preview the SEC Champs’ offense here: Photo by The Irish Tribune This Georgia offense features at least eight potential 2025 NFL Draftees, most notably right guard Tate Ratledge, who is easily top-three at his position among other prospects. The Bulldogs’ pass-heavy approach has not always been the greatest, however, they are SEC Champions for a reason. Here is how Georgia has fared this season: vs Clemson (in Atlanta, 34-3, Win) vs Tennessee Tech (48-3, Win) at Kentucky (13-12, Win) at Alabama (34-41, Loss) vs Auburn (31-13, Win) vs Mississippi State (41-31, Win) at Texas (30-15, Win) at Florida (in Jacksonville, 34-20, Win) at Ole Miss (10-28, Loss) vs Tennessee (31-17, Win) vs UMass (59-21, Win) vs Georgia Tech (44-42, 8OT Win) vs Texas (SEC Championship in Atlanta, 22-19, Win) For their season, Georgia averages 33.2 points per game, fifth-most in the SEC and 29th among all FBS teams. In addition, they average 413.8 total yards per game, which is the eighth-most in the conference and 47th in the country.  The Bulldogs find most of their success in the red zone, featuring an elite unit. 93.1% of their trips inside the 20 end up with a score, the best percentage in the SEC, and tied for the fourth-best in the country. On the other side, Notre Dame also features a top-ten red zone defense, only allowing their opponents to score on 73.3% of their red zone trips. Another aspect that the Bulldogs have success with is on fourth down. They have converted 18/24 (75%) attempts, tied for the seventh-best percentage in the country. Conversely, the Notre Dame defense has been great in these situations, holding opponents to just a 34.3% conversion rate, the sixth-lowest percentage in the country.  Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Georgia utilizes a pass-heavy offense that will be without their starting quarterback, Carson Beck. The redshirt senior underwent season-ending elbow surgery after suffering a UCL injury in the SEC Championship, forcing the Bulldogs to turn to redshirt sophomore Gunner Stockton. Georgia averages 284.6 pass yards per game, the third-most in the SEC and 12th among all FBS teams. However, their 13 interceptions are tied for the second-most in the SEC. It is uncertain how well Stockton will lead this offense, but we preview the key players involved in the passing game: As just mentioned, Gunner Stockton is expected to be making his first collegiate start of his career. In limited playing time, Stockton has completed 37/51 (72.5%) pass attempts for 354 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. The redshirt sophomore has appeared in three games this season including the conference championship following Beck’s injury; here is how he has performed: vs Tennessee Tech - 10/12 for 90 yards vs UMass - 3/4 for 45 yards vs Texas (SEC Championship) - 12/16 for 71 yards and an interception In my opinion, Stockton’s inexperience will play a large role in the Sugar Bowl. The offense was not performing up to the “Georgia standard” with Beck, and it is hard to imagine they can turn it around in one game with a backup. This is even more true against a top-15 Notre Dame pass defense, adding in the natural pressure of a playoff game. Bulldogs fans hope Stockton is the next Georgia legend, but other than his accuracy, he has yet to show it.  One of the Bulldogs’ top receivers is senior Arian Smith. The wideout is experiencing a breakout season, after playing a limited role on the ‘21 and ‘22 National Championship teams. This year, Smith has 47 receptions for 750 yards (leads team) and four touchdowns. He has at least one catch in each game, including a season-high of six at Alabama when he recorded 132 yards and a touchdown. Smith has three games with over 100 receiving yards, including a season-high of 134 on five receptions including a touchdown versus Mississippi St. The senior has struggled with drops this season with ten drops on 71 targets. In addition, he had a fumble versus Tennessee. As you will see, these drop issues are a common theme in the Georgia receiver room.  Another starting receiver for the Bulldogs is senior slot man Dominic Lovett. The former Missouri transfer entered this season with 110 receptions for 1,459 yards and seven touchdowns in 26 games played across the last two years in Columbia and Athens. This season, Lovett leads the team in receptions (56) and receiving touchdowns (6) with 571 yards. He has at least three catches in each game including a season-high of seven for 52 yards and a touchdown versus Florida. The senior recorded a season-high 89 receiving yards on six receptions at Kentucky. Lovett will be looking to rebound off his worst performance of the season in the SEC Championship when he had three catches for zero yards. He is a reliable option for whoever is quarterback, with five drops on 87 targets. Lovett also has two fumbles this season. While he may not be the most productive receiver, he is, again, a reliable one. Junior wideout Dillon Bell is another passing-game option for the Bulldogs. Before this season, Bell played a limited role on the ‘22 National Championship team, and last year he recorded 29 receptions for 355 yards and two touchdowns. The junior is having a career-best season this year with 37 catches for 443 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games played. Bell missed Georgia’s contest versus UMass. He has at least one catch in 11 games, including a season-high five receptions for 100 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown  at Alabama. Li ke Lovett, Bell’s worst performance of the season occurred in the SEC Championship, when he finished with no catches on two targets including a drop. Overall, Bell has been solid this season with five drops on 64 targets. The final true wide receiver to highlight is sophomore London Humphreys. The Vanderbilt transfer recorded 22 receptions for 439 yards and four touchdowns last season. Additionally, he was named to the SEC All-Freshman team before transferring to Georgia. In 12 games played this season, Humphreys has 15 catches for 244 yards and two touchdowns. He missed the Alabama game due to an illness. The sophomore has at least one reception in seven games, including a season-high three catches for 63 yards versus Tennessee. Humphreys has been held to zero targets three times this season, including in the SEC Championship. The former Commodore is a solid receiver with two drops on 26 targets. He will not beat the defense over the top, however, he is a threat when he has the ball in his hands with 128 yards after catch this season. The Bulldogs feature a trio of talented tight ends, most notably Lawson Luckie and Oscar Delp. Luckie is a sophomore with 24 receptions for 348 yards and three touchdowns this season. He has at least one reception in 12 games, including a season-high four catches for 60 yards versus UMass. Overall, Luckie is an average tight end; he is a solid receiving option (no drops on 34 targets) and pass blocker, however, he has struggled in run-blocking situations. Junior Oscar Delp is the more experienced tight end. He played in a reserved role on the ‘22 National Championship team, and last season he recorded 24 receptions for 284 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games played. This year, Delp has 19 catches for 230 yards and four touchdowns. The junior has at least one reception in nine games including a season-high four receptions for 56 yards and two touchdowns versus Tennessee. Like Luckie, Delp is a solid receiving option with just one drop on 28 targets, but he struggles as a blocker. Georgia’s best receiving back is redshirt junior Cash Jones. In my opinion, the two-time National Champ is a better receiver than a running back. Jones has 22 receptions for 238 yards and three touchdowns this season. He has at least one reception in ten games including a season-high four receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown versus Georgia Tech. Jones is a reliable, short-yardage option for whoever is quarterback with just one drop on 26 targets. The Bulldogs feature a solid, but underutilized, rushing attack with a duo of talented backs. It would not be surprising if Georgia tries to rush more in the Sugar Bowl, given they will be without their starting quarterback. Their 129.2 rush yards per game are the second-fewest in the SEC, however, their 24 rushing scores are tied for the sixth-most and their 4.2 yards per carry ranks tenth in the conference. We preview the combination of Trevor Etienne and Nate Frazier below: Etienne, a junior, is the more talented runner of the two. The Florida transfer totaled 1,472 yards and 14 touchdowns on 249 carries in 24 games played during his time as a Gator. In Etienne’s first season at Georgia, he has rushed for 571 yards and nine touchdowns on 111 carries in nine games played. The Third Team All-SEC selection missed the last few weeks of the regular season with a rib injury before returning for the conference championship. In the SEC Championship versus Texas, Etienne rushed for a season-high 94 yards on 16 carries including two touchdowns. During Georgia’s first contest at Texas this season, the junior rusher recorded a season-high three rushing touchdowns on 19 carries for 87 yards. Overall, Etienne is one of the more talented rushers in the SEC with 390 yards after contact, 25 missed tackles forced, and one fumble, and he is a capable pass-blocker given his 5-9, 205-pound frame. Etienne’s primary backup is freshman Nate Frazier. The former four-star recruit was an All-American at powerhouse, Mater Dei. The freshman has rushed for 634 yards and eight touchdowns on 129 carries in 12 games played this season. He did not play versus Alabama. The SEC All-Freshman Team honoree has recorded five games with 50-plus rushing yards including a season-high of 136 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries versus UMass. Frazier is a good runner with loads of potential, however, he does have three fumbles this season including one in the SEC Championship so that needs to be cleaned up to give Georgia their best shot at a National Championship. On the line, Georgia’s strength is their interior as they feature three All-SEC players at the center and both guard positions. The Bulldogs’ 4.46 tackles for loss per game allowed are the fourth-fewest in the SEC. Let’s highlight these all-conference performers: The starting left guard is redshirt junior Dylan Fairchild. He is a returning starter from last season and was named to the Second Team All-SEC this year. Fairchild is a great pass blocker who has allowed just ten pressures on 499 pass snaps this season. Additionally, he only has three penalties called against him in the year. In the middle is redshirt junior center Jared Wilson. This season, he has played in 11 games after missing two contests with a foot injury. The Second Team All-SEC selection is another great pass blocker who has allowed just five pressures on 470 pass-block snaps this season. In addition, Wilson is a good run blocker and, like Fairchild, has just three penalties called against him this year. The final player to highlight is, arguably, the most ‘complete’ player on this team. Starting right guard Tate Ratledge is a senior who entered this season with 28 starts across the past two seasons. Last year, he was named an AP Second Team All-American and First Team All-SEC. This season, Ratledge has played in nine games and missed three contests with an ankle injury. He was, again, named to the First Team All-SEC this year. Like Fairchild and Wilson, Ratledge excels in pass protection, with just four pressures allowed on 270 pass snaps this season. He is also a good run blocker and has just one penalty against him this year. How well Gunner Stockton plays could end up being the reason Georgia wins or loses this game. The amount of pressure being placed on this inexperienced backup is hard to transcend for anyone, let alone a young college student making his first career start in the biggest game of his team’s season. Another key will be how Notre Dame’s interior performs versus this talented offensive line without defensive tackle Rylie Mills. If the Irish pass rush gets going, it should be a long night for Stockton and the Bulldogs. The winner of this matchup earns a date with Penn State or Boise State in the Orange Bowl on January 9th. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame is locked and loaded, looking to build momentum after a convincing first round performance. We take a look at how they stack up in the film room against an SEC powerhouse. Photo by The Irish Tribune After a stellar first round performance against Indiana, the Fighting Irish have solidified their belonging in the first ever twelve team playoff. Leading up to their Friday night game vs IU, the talk was about each team's perceived strength of schedule, and who may end up getting exposed. Those questions were quickly answered on the field, as Notre Dame controlled the game from start to finish. The final score did not reflect just how dominating ND was due to some garbage time scoring (which we will revisit later in this article), but it did put the rest of the country on notice that this is a team with as good of shot as any to be the last one standing. The high of such a victory, unfortunately, did not come without some bumps and bruises. More injuries on the defensive side of the ball to players like Bryce Young and Rylie Mills, the latter of which is now done for the season, raises the concern of how long Notre Dame can lean on their depth before it becomes too much to overcome. With a team like the Georgia Bulldogs waiting on deck, we will get an answer to that question sooner than later. Georgia won the SEC Championship after defeating Texas for the second time this season, and yet outside of Athens, there is a sense that this is not the "same old Georgia". After losing to Alabama and Ole Miss, and narrowly getting by teams like Kentucky and Georgia Tech, for the first time in recent memory, Georgia is not the run away favorite. Add in the fact they will now be without their starting quarterback Carson Beck for the duration of these playoffs, and it almost seems trendy for people to pick against Georgia, which has been unheard of over the last few seasons. UGA Head Coach Kirby Smart is a master motivator, and even as his teams were winning back to back National Championships, would lead you to believe they were the underdogs, and no one thought they had a shot. I imagine now that there may finally be some legitimate doubt over what they could accomplish this season, the bulletin board material is endless, and with a roster full of 5-stars that have a chip on their shoulder, in reality they are just as dangerous as ever. Use code " IrishTribune20 " to get $20  off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Notre Dame will be facing Georgia for just the fourth time in school history, and the last two meetings, 2017 and 2019, were decided by a total of only 7 points combined. This time around should be just as competitive, as both teams are as talented as ever with all of their goals still ahead of them. After breaking down the film from some of Georgia's biggest games this year, these are some things to look for in the 2025 Sugar Bowl. When Notre Dame is on Offense: Georgia is a base 3-4 defense that utilizes a reduced front, meaning the linemen squeeze down making it hard to run inside. Their nose tackle, Nazir Stackhouse, stands at 6'3" and 320 pounds and is hard to move off his spot. This a game to test Georgia's ability to set the edge, as they have had their struggles in that department all year. Alabama found some success using a "pull and pin" blocking scheme, to spring some outside runs which helped them build a big lead in that game. Edge Chaz Chambliss is one of their better pass rushers, but can be moved in the run game. Notre Dame would benefit from running to his side rather than away from him and allowing him to use his speed to shut down plays from the backside. When breaking down their game vs Georgia Tech, I couldn't help but recognize the similarities between Georgia Tech's QB Haynes King and Notre Dame's very own Riley Leonard. King was able to grind out over 100 yards on the ground, and I think for Notre Dame to be successful in this game, Leonard will have to do something similar. The linebackers for Georgia sometimes struggle with eye discipline against the option, and overcommit to the to running back leaving lanes for the QB to pull it and go. They were also gashed for a ton of big plays by Jalen Milroe when they played Alabama, although Milroe presents a different type of threat as a runner. This would be a game for Mike Denbrock, who does have some experience facing Georgia from his time at LSU, to install a lot of pre snap motion and "window dressing". As mentioned above, the linebackers for UGA do let their eyes get caught in the backfield, and even being a half a step late to filling their gap against someone like Jeremiyah Love could lead to some big plays. Where Indiana was a heavy zone coverage team, Georgia is much more balanced mixing in a lot of man. They are hard to beat on the perimeter even when their corners are one on one, but where they can be had is in the short to intermediate passing game. Mixing in some crossing routes to create natural rubs is perfect against man, and because they do trust their linebackers to play coverage, this is a game to get Love involved in the passing game, as I do not think they would be able to cover him one on one. Georgia will run a lot of "cross-dog blitzes", which just means they will send both inside linebackers at once to create a numbers mismatch for the offensive line. When they do this, the middle of the field becomes a soft spot for the defense, and I truly believe Jordan Faison can have a huge game finding the empty area at the second level and just sitting down. In 3rd and passing situations, Love/Price/Williams will need to key the blitzers and do a good job in pass protection, because if they do, the middle of the field will open up for quick throws. Players to Watch No. 11 Jalon Walker - Walker may be Georgia's best pass rusher. He has a good jab step and routinely beats linemen inside with a rip move. Whoever he lines up against must do a good job of not over setting on their kick step. If they get too much depth too quickly, Walker will be able to get inside of them and into the face of Riley Leonard, and that's when disaster could happen. No. 3 CJ Allen - The Georgia linebacker is a big time hitter when coming downhill, and they like to use him as a blitzer as well. Will lose eye discipline occasionally looking to make a big play, and Notre Dame's best bet is trying to keep him off balance. When he is able to key plays and react fast, he lives in the backfield of the offense. Denbrock must give him extra things to think about pre snap. When Notre Dame is on Defense: There is no way around the fact that Rylie Mills being out for this game hurts the Irish. Georgia likes to mix in some "Duo" run blocking concepts. In this situation, the left guard and center will block one interior DT, the right guard and right tackle will block the other, and a tight end will seal the edge defender one on one. When a team runs this, a defensive tackle must be able to hold the point of attack vs the double team, and Mills was more than capable of that. Whoever Notre Dame decides to run out there in his stead will need to play with good leverage and keep lane integrity, or risk the defense getting gashed up the middle. This will be a tough matchup for Notre Dame's linebackers. Georgia runs a lot of 12 personnel on offense, meaning one running back and two tight ends. Both tight ends are good blockers and legitimate threats in the passing game. Out of this formation, they are pretty balanced with what they call, so the linebacking corps for the Fighting Irish needs to not be drawn in too quickly on play-action while still being able to key on the run and get downhill fast enough to beat second level blockers to their spot. Georgia Center, Jared WIlson, does an excellent job getting up on LB's quickly. Georgia's O-line is better in pass protection than they are getting a consistent push in the run game. In obvious passing downs, Notre Dame may need to bring a little extra heat to be able to get home. Gunner Stockton is liable to make some questionable decisions when under duress, so the ability to bring pressure will play a big factor in how this game goes. Throughout the course of the year, UGA's receivers have struggled with drops and contested catches. The defensive backs for Notre Dame really shined against Indiana, and if they can stay in phase and be physical against Georgia's WR's, the advantage goes to Notre Dame the same way Georgia's DB's probably have the upper hand against Notre Dame's receivers on the perimeter. This does not mean Georgia does not have talent on the outside. Arian Smith is an absolute burner, and if he gets a step, he is most likely gone. If ND is going to press or be physical at the line it better be with caution, as missing on a jam against a WR like Smith will spell trouble. Senior wide receiver Dominic Lovett is also a big threat after the catch. Good at making people miss in space and can quickly turn a short gain into a big play. Colbie Young may be their best all around WR, but he is dealing with a personal issue and although it has not been officially announced whether or not he will play in the Sugar Bowl, based off Kirby Smart's stance when the incident initially took place, he is most likely not going to play. Quarterback Carson Beck went down in the second half of the SEC Championship and was replaced by Gunner Stockton. There is not a plethora of film on Stockton, but UGA's offense did change to an extent when he came in. He is not the natural thrower Beck is, and has a much longer wind up and slower release. He is, however, a more fluid runner and they called his number multiple times on designed QB runs. Notre Dame faced Kurtis Rourke in round 1, who is much more of a pure pocket passer. Stockton on the other hand, has no problem looking to leave the pocket and throw on the move or take off when things break down. Notre Dame will need to be disciplined in this area as they haven't played many true dual threat QBs this season. Players to Watch No. 11 Arian Smith - As discussed above, Smith is your prototypical vertical threat. He has track speed on the outside, and it may be beneficial to keep a safety over the top more times than not. He has burned some really good secondary's over the course of the year, and averages over 16 yards a catch. Not as effective when trying to catch the ball in traffic, but if he gets some space he is a game changer. No. 32 Cash Jones - Travis Etienne Nate Frazier get most of the fanfare when it comes to the running back room for Georgia, but Jones is just as dangerous. Primarily used on third down, Jones is an excellent receiving back out of the backfield, and Notre Dame must keep eyes on him as a lot of times he will stay in and block and then release late. Jones was their leading receiver against Georgia Tech, and caught a key touchdown which fueled that comeback victory. Additional Thoughts and Notes Georgia had to play from behind multiple times this year, and a lot of that was attributed to the type of year Carson Beck was having before he got hurt. Coming into the season, many viewed him as a first round NFL type talent, but before his injury, he was struggling with accuracy and taking care of the ball. Still, when UGA had their furious comeback attempt against Alabama, it was due to the arm of Carson Beck. When Georgia needed to erase a 17-point deficit vs Georgia Tech, Beck once again led the way. They have played from behind at various points this season, and I just don't know if they would be able to live like that during these playoffs with Gunner Stockton under center. If Notre Dame can find a way to build a lead, I think it would be a much tougher ask this time around for Georgia to put points on the board in bunches and in a hurry. If Notre Dame finds themselves in that position, they can not let their foot off the gas like they did in the waning minutes vs Indiana, which gave the box score a much different look than how the game actually played out. I still worry about the kicking game for ND. Yes, Mitch Jeter was able to knock through two field goals which was great to see, but both those kicks came with a lead in low pressure points in the game. He also had a third kick blocked, which seemed to have a way lower trajectory than needed considering the distance of the attempt. Kicking is sometimes viewed as being outside the main parts of the game, but the deeper in the playoffs we go, the more talented the teams Notre Dame will face, and the tighter the point margins become. These kicks will be more and more crucial going forward, and I hope he can get back to his South Carolina form where he was 23-25 of FGA's in two seasons. Test number one for the Fighting Irish in these 2024 College Football Playoffs was passed with flying colors. Test number two, a much tougher test, awaits them in New Orleans on January 1st. Notre Dame did not get here by accident, and this is a chance to show the world exactly why they belong on the big stage. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

As the excitement from Notre Dame's victory over Indiana still looms large, here are the key takeaways from the Irish's historic victory over the Hoosiers. Photo by Notre Dame Athletics After a couple of days of reflecting on No. 7 Notre Dame's 27-17 victory over in-state foe No. 10 Indiana, the Irish are still far from their best performance of the season. While their play against the Hoosiers was enough to secure a Sugar Bowl matchup against No. 2 Georgia, here are a few takeaways from this key playoff game. Historic Atmosphere Notre Dame Stadium was electric the entire night. From a rowdiness standpoint, Notre Dame fans had all day to gear up for the nighttime kickoff and create a true home-field advantage for the Fighting Irish: and they did just that. From the introductory videos to the final whistle, Notre Dame fans did their part in making the game a true home-game atmosphere, despite the regulations set in place by the college football playoff committee. The rally towels were a great idea and the return of Irish legends such as Jaylon Smith and Jerome Bettis sure helped energize the crowd. The week's storyline focused on how few 'firsts' remain in Notre Dame football history, but this past Friday night displayed how truly rejuvenated the fanbase is in the Marcus Freeman era. Use code " IrishTribune20 " to get $20  off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Diminishing All Hope Notre Dame controlled the action for most of the night, except for a brief four-play stretch after the Hoosiers picked off Riley Leonard's deflected pass and converted on one of their back shoulder plays on 3rd and long. Outside of that brief sequence, the Irish controlled the game and never looked back. This is largely thanks to the dominant performance of the Notre Dame defense and the game plan implemented by Al Golden. It is also credited to the consecutive touchdown possessions that were polar opposites. One was the explosive 98-yard run by Jeremiyah Love, who while still dealing with a knee injury and flu-like symptoms, could outrun every one of the Hoosier defenders. The other was the methodical 16-play, 83-yard touchdown drive that spanned 9 minutes. In much of the pregame analysis, Indiana's only shot at winning was due to their stellar run-defense halting the formidable Irish backfield, yet these two drives displayed Notre Dame could do whatever they wanted in this one. Eliminating the Kicking Woes... somewhat It was encouraging to see Mitch Jeter return to form in this game, despite his final kick being blocked due to its low trajectory. The 49-yard field goal that matched Indiana's field goal on the previous possession was instrumental for the Fighting Irish as they desperately needed points to stop Indiana's momentum. In their Irish breakdown video released earlier today, Jeter was quoted as saying "I'm back" on the sidelines. It will be imperative for Notre Dame to get a similar effort from Jeter in the upcoming matchup against Georgia where points will be at a premium. The kicking conditions in Caesars Superdome should also trump the bone-chilling night in South Bend. Marcus Freeman's Growth While Curt Cignetti drew much of the spotlight in this matchup, it was Marcus Freeman who out-coached Cignetti. By burning one of Indiana's second-half timeouts after the Irish came out in an unusual fake field goal formation, Freeman laughed and smiled on the sidelines. It's also unusual that Cignetti's off-the-field bravado didn't carry over into the game atmosphere. On Indiana's field goal drive, they opted to run the ball out of a wildcat formation on 3rd and medium yet jogged the field goal unit out after only picking up a yard. Then, there was the decision to punt the ball down by 17 points and ten minutes left in the 4th quarter. Even his decision to not let his return man attempt to run back a kickoff that barely reached the 10-yard line left ESPN commentator Sean McDonough flabbergasted. It could easily be said that first-time head coach Marcus Freeman, fresh off his new contract extension, out coached the AP coach of the year. The Injury Bug Continues In less satisfying news, Freeman confirmed this morning that Rylie Mills will be out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury. That is now the fourth season-ending injury for this Notre Dame defense, and the second defensive captain to be out for the year. In his last game for the Fighting Irish, Mills was dominant along the defensive line, and this is a brutal injury for Notre Dame to endure before going up the physical line of the Georgia Bulldogs. On the offensive side of the ball, RG Rocco Spindler is questionable to return, with Sam Pendelton being his likely replacement; however, Freeman also said that Charles Jagusah returned to practice this week. While it's unlikely that Jagusah will take over for Anthonie Knapp, who has grown significantly this year, it will be interesting to see if Jagusah could fit into the guard position if Spindler can't go. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa was also listed as questionable, but Marcus Freeman said that Bryce Young will be good to go against the Bulldogs. As Notre Dame has struggled with injuries all year, it will simply be "next man up" for the Sugar Bowl. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

C/O 2026 4-Star IOL Ben Nichols from Davison, Michigan, has announced his commitment to Notre Dame. He becomes the second offensive lineman to commit to the Irish in the 2026 class. He joins 4-star QB Noah Grubbs, 4-star LB Thomas Davis Jr., 4-star CB Chaston Smith, 4-star Sullivan "Sully" Sullivan, and 3-star WR Dylan Faison, as early commits for the Irish in the 2026 class. Graphic by The Irish Tribune Nichols is a 6'6", 310lbs interior lineman from Davison High School in Davison, Michigan. He is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 3rd overall IOL in the state of Michigan, the 16th overall IOL in the nation, and the 227th overall best player nationally. Prior to committing to the Irish, he held 19 offers from such notable schools as Alabama, Penn State, Florida State, Ohio State, Tennessee, Iowa, and Notre Dame among others. I had the chance to speak with Nichols, who was happy to share some insight on his decision. The most important part of the recruiting journey is the relationships that are built with the coaches. For Nichols, this was very important to him, and it showed just how much the Notre Dame coaching staff believed in him. "My relationship with the coaches is great, we're on the phone 4-5 times a week just checking up on each other and building our relationship even more. That kind of commitment from them shows how much they care and believe in me, which means a lot to me." An offer is a great achievement, and a true testament to the hard work any recruit has put in. But for Nichols, the offer from Notre Dame meant more, and the excitement of landing an offer from a school like Notre Dame was exactly what he was looking for. "I was super excited to get an offer from Notre Dame just knowing how historical of a program it is and how they develop all their athletes, especially with the offensive line position. The respect the coaches have for their players not only as athletes, but as a person too, means a lot to me and what I'm looking for from coaches at the next level." So why was this offer so special for Nichols? And why did he end up choosing Notre Dame? As he puts it, it was the total package of what he was looking for both on and off the field. "I'm choosing Notre Dame because I not only want to be the best athlete I can be, but I also want to become the best person I can be. They develop their football players into great people both on and off the field, and set them up for success in life after football. The talent they produce is second to none, as they've proven that time and time again, and I want to be a part of that." Use code " IrishTribune20 " to get $20  off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here For every recruit, there's always a moment when they realize that the place they are meant to be is the particular school they are looking at. For Nichols, this was no different, and he knew early on that Notre Dame was where he was meant to be. "I've known Notre Dame was a top contender in my recruitment since the very beginning. Going to camp and seeing how the coaches work with you and what they're all about really sets them apart from the others. I made other visits, but nothing compared to Notre Dame and I knew early on that Notre Dame was where I was meant to be." So what was it like making the call to the coaches to announce he was committing to Notre Dame? For Nichols, it was an exciting time that drove home that he was making the right decision. "Face-timing Coach Rudolph to let him know that I was committing to the program was an amazing feeling. I called Coach Rudolph, and we spent about 10 minutes catching up, and then I let him know that Notre Dame was home. Seeing the excitement on Coach Rudolph, Coach Freeman, and Chad Bowden's faces was so awesome. They let me know that I was meant to be at Notre Dame, and that they were extremely fired up to have me be a part of the program." What can Notre Dame fans expect to get from a player like Ben Nichols? As he described to me, he's a hard worker who's highly motivated in helping his team be the best they can be. "Notre Dame fans can expect a dawg that comes in every day to work his butt off. No matter what the circumstances are, I will always work as hard as I can every single day to help my teammates be successful. I'm highly motivated and a hard worker, and I can't wait to be around guys with the same mentality as me." For many recruits, it is not uncommon for faith to play a major part in their decision and for Nichols, this was no different. As he described to me, his faith played a major factor and he's very thankful for all the blessings he's received. "I put my faith in God to lead me to the program that would be the best fit for me. I knew that Notre Dame was the place I was meant to be, and God blessed me with the talent and recognition for this opportunity. Without God, I would not be in this position today and I am extremely grateful and blessed for all that he has given me." Ben Nichols is a very talented and humble young man who is continuing to grow and get better each and every day. He’s a hard worker who’s highly motivated to help his team do whatever it takes to succeed. We at the Irish Tribune would like to wish Ben good luck on his journey at Notre Dame! Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish won another game to continue the three-game winning streak this Sunday in a win over Le Moyne, 91-62. The Irish won their third game in a row, and sit at 7-5 (1-0 in ACC play). Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Tae Davis led the Irish in scoring with 24 points. Davis shot 6-10 from the field, and 12-14 from the free throw line. Braeden Shrewsberry had 14 points, and Logan Imes had 11 points. Shrewsberry shot 4-8 from the field. Imes shot 3-5 from the field, while providing a nice spark off the bench. The Irish took an early 11-8 lead at the 15:05 mark in the first half. Davis had the hot hand with seven early points, and the Irish had three early offensive rebounds. At the 11:34 mark, The Irish held onto the lead and led 16-12 after grabbing a flurry of offensive rebounds alongside capitalizing on second chance points. Use code " IrishTribune20 " to get $20  off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Notre Dame went on a nice run and took a 29-17 lead at the 7:24 mark, with Shrewsberry hitting a tough turnaround jumper before the media timeout. The Irish were shooting 59% from the field and were dominating the rebounding battle to the tune of 13-5. Dwayne Koroma, Le Moyne forward, had 15 of the Dolphins 25 points at this point. The Irish had now taken a 41-25 lead, and each starter for Notre Dame has at least six points. Heading into the half, Notre Dame was up 49-30. The Irish were shooting awfully well from the field, and Le Moyne could not find an answer to stop the hot Irish offense. The Dolphins switched from man-to-man to a zone defense which was ineffective. Davis and Shrewsberry both ended the half with twelve points to lead the Irish. The Irish continued the pace, leading 59-35 at the 15:43 mark. Notre Dame had been shooting the ball well all day and that certainly didn’t wear off during halftime. The Irish came out of the 12:00 media timeout hot, and took a 77-49 lead at the 7:53 mark. Notre Dame would head into the final media timeout at the 3:50 mark with a 84-58 lead. The Irish were able to put in a less experienced rotation with the game all but put away. The buzzer sounded and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish had beaten the Le Moyne Dolphins, 91-62. The Irish were able to shoot the ball well tonight as they finished 48.3% from the field, and the Dolphins could not find an answer on either side of the ball. Davis, Shrewsberry, and Imes all had double figures for the Irish in the victory. Three point shooting was something the Irish have been struggling with, however, they shot incredibly at 37.5% from three. Notre Dame earned a blow out victory to keep the win streak going, and they will look to continue the win streak on the road against Georgia Tech on Tuesday, December 31 at 2:30 PM EST on the ACC Network. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

As Notre Dame prepares for conference play, read here about the three games that will prove to be the biggest test for Micah Shrewsberry and the Fighting Irish. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics As Notre Dame concludes non-conference play on Sunday against Le Moyne, the Irish will resume ACC play for the remainder of the season on the road against Georgia Tech on Dec. 31. After a win over Syracuse back on Dec. 7 in Purcell Pavilion, the Irish have started out conference play undefeated. However, with 19 more conference games looming over the next three months, here are the three biggest games of the Irish’s ACC schedule.   Saturday, January 11th @ No. 5 Duke   The No. 5 Duke Blue Devils are by far the toughest opponent on Notre Dame's ACC schedule, and arguably their toughest all season. With the lowest ticket price coming in at $510 just under a month away from the matchup in Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Irish certainly have their work cut out for them.   Despite the lopsided final score last year when the Irish visited Durham on Feb. 7, Notre Dame was within nine points of the Blue Devils with 13 minutes remaining in the game. Then freshman guard Markus Burton led the Irish with 19 points as well as four assists, however it isn’t looking like the Mishawaka, Indiana, native will be available for this year's matchup.   Fast forward to 2025, the Blue Devils are even more loaded behind freshman phenom and consensus future number one overall pick in the NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg. The 6’9” forward from Newport, Maine, leads Duke in four of five major categories, averaging 16.6 points per game, nine rebounds and 3.6 assists, while also swatting 1.4 shots per game. His length coupled with his size have powered him through his first 11 games, scoring 20 or more points in five separate occasions, including their matchup with Kentucky back on Nov. 12 where he scored 26.   Duke has two more players averaging double figures in former Wisconsin High School Player of the Year, freshman Kon Knueppel, as well as junior Tyrese Proctor. Both will certainly be a threat from deep, with Knueppel averaging 5.6 three-point attempts per game, but only knocking down 1.8 per game. Proctor will be the bigger issue for the Irish, as he is sinking 42.6% of his 6.2 threes per game.   With the Blue Devils balance of experience and youth, it will be a tough task for the Irish to walk into a tough environment and come out with a win. Fortunately, it will be the lone time the two teams matchup this season. With Duke classes beginning on Wednesday, January 8th, students will also be back on campus. Use code " IrishTribune20 " to get $20  off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Wednesday, February 19th vs. SMU   The ACC welcomed four new schools beginning this season, with one of them being the SMU Mustangs. In their first season, they are off to a hot start at 9-2, including a win over Virginia back on Dec. 7 that has them at 1-0 in conference play.   They are led by Wake Forest transfer Kevin “Boopie” Miller, who is on his third team in four years. After spending one season with the Demon Deacons, Miller took to Dallas, Texas, to join the Mustangs. Through 11 games, the Chicago native is averaging 14.4 PPG, 5.7 APG, and 3.4 RPG, while also collecting 1.6 steals per game, a career high. While Miller started out the season scoring double figures in each of the first eight games, he has struggled in his last three shooting 7-32 and scoring just 22 points.   Miller remains one of the best distributors in the ACC, with one of his favorite connections being Chuck Harris who is averaging 12.1 PPG. The fifth-year senior, who spent his first three seasons with the Butler Bulldogs, shoots 4.2 threes per game while shooting an impressive 45.7%. Should Burton return to the lineup prior to this game, the Irish will matchup much better defensively with the Mustangs as sophomore guard Braden Shrewsberry will be able to guard Harris.   The biggest issue for Notre Dame in this one will be the 7’2” freshman from Istanbul, Turkey, Samet Yigitoglu. In nine games this season, Yigitoglu is averaging 11.7 PPG and an underwhelming 6.2 RPG. His 1.1 blocks per game leads the team, and his efficient 61.9% shooting from the field further proves his presence down low.   The Mustangs are one of the deepest teams in the ACC, with seven players averaging eight or more PPG, all of which average at least 21 minutes per game. This game, which will take place in Purcell Pavilion, will ultimately be dependent on the health of Markus Burton, and if he will be available to play.   Wednesday, February 26th @ No. 25 Clemson   Just one week later, the Irish will travel to Clemson, South Carolina, to take on the Tigers, who are currently ranked No. 25. However, after losing their last two games against Memphis and South Carolina, the Tigers will likely fall out of the top 25, but it is possible they are back in the rankings in two months.   Last season, the Irish picked up a big win over the Tigers on Mar. 2 in Purcell Pavilion and were once again led by Markus Burton. After losing their best player P.J. Hall, head coach Brad Brownell and the Tigers have adjusted nicely.   Guard-play has been an important part for Clemson this season, with fifth-year senior guard Chase Hunter leading the charge. Hunter, who stands at 6’4”, is averaging 16.9 PPG this season on 47.6% shooting, as this is shaping up to be the best season of his career. In 33.4 minutes per game, Hunter is shooting 40.6% from deep and has been a factor on the defensive side of the ball with 1.3 steals per game.   Ian Schieffelin, a 6’8” forward in his fourth year with the Tigers, is averaging 13.8 PPG, and a team leading 12 RPG, which ranks second in the nation. He will be the biggest threat that the Irish will see all season when it comes to crashing the glass, meaning Notre Dame is going to have to utilize its athleticism and keep the second chance efforts to a minimum. The issue is that Schieffelin is not even the tallest player in the Clemson starting lineup.   Viktor Lakhin, a 6’11” senior from Anapa, Russia, weighs in at 245 lbs and averages 11.4 PPG. He is in his first season with the Tigers after spending the last three years at Cincinnati, but has started all 12 games thus far. His 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks are the biggest threats that the Irish are going to have to keep at bay, although Lakhin is also a 48.6% shooter.   This game will be played from beyond the arc for Notre Dame, proving yet another chance for guards like Shrewsberry, as well as junior guard J.R. Konieczny, and sophomore guard Logan Imes to have big games.   With the ACC being in one of its lesser years as far as standout teams go, the Irish have plenty of opportunities to expand on their seven-win conference record a season ago. While a lot of that will be determined by Markus Burton’s availability, Notre Dame will have to handle every opponent one game at a time. This starts on New Year’s Eve against the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta, Georgia. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

In the inaugural extended college football playoff format, the No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish dominated the No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers in all phases of the game. Photo By The Irish Tribune SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish outclassed the No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers in every aspect of the first-ever home college football game. After exchanging turnovers early in the first quarter, Jeremiyah Love set the tempo with an explosive 98-yard run that Indiana could never recover from. In the first half, the Irish did a good job integrating the run and pass and were extremely successful on third down, completing at a 71% rate. The Irish had many contributions from their wide receiving room from a Jayden Thomas touchdown catch to Jordan Faison being a reliable option over the middle of the field. Indiana had success pressuring the Notre Dame front during passing plays and getting penetration on outside run plays. But in the end, Notre Dame finished with 194 rushing yards against the nation's number one rushing defense, yet Love's 98-yard scamper inflates the numbers a bit. Use code " IrishTribune20 " to get $20  off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Riley Leonard finished with 201 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and added one on the ground, as well. All the pregame talk was surrounding the use of Leonard's legs, but he rarely had any designed runs. Most of his runs were improvised and led to Notre Dame getting three points before halftime. From the passing perspective, his first throw of the game was intercepted, but it was on a deflected pass. Leonard responded perfectly and led his team to victory. Defensively, Notre Dame bottled up Indiana in nearly every facet. The Irish run defense was superb, thanks to the linebacker play of Drayk Bowen and Jaylen Sneed, but the star of the show was undeniably Xavier Watts. Watts led the Fighting Irish in tackles (10) and had the game-changing red zone interception that jumpstarted the Fighting Irish. The key matchup for the Notre Dame defense was pressuring Kurtis Rourke, and the Irish did just that. While not having a plethora of sacks, Rourke never looked comfortable in the pocket and was being rushed all game. He finished 20/33 for 215 yards, but these numbers were inflated due to two garbage time touchdowns. Two players who recorded sacks, Bryce Young and Rylie Mills, both exited the game due to injury, so it is something to monitor as the Irish will be prepping for the Sugar Bowl. Another injury was on the other side of the ball, as guard Rocco Spindler left the game early too. As for the special teams unit, it was yet again another Marty Biagi masterclass. Mitch Jeter looked as though he completely returned to form, nailing 49 and 33-yarders, before getting his last kick of the night blocked. Notre Dame also had a gadget play in the kick return game as Jayden Harrison set up a reverse to Jordan Faison, and Faison took it for 43 yards. While the Irish ended up not scoring on that drive, Biagi's play was run to perfection. In total, Notre Dame handled business. They handled the outside noise and put together a complete performance. While it was still far from perfection, it was enough to catapult the Irish past the in-state Hoosiers. The energy was electric and Notre Dame fans did their part in securing the home fi eld advantage. Now , Ma rcus Freeman and Notre Dame will be gearing up for the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. It is truly an exciting time for this Notre Dame football team. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

It is now a mere handful of hours until Notre Dame kicks off the first 12 team Playoff. The city of South Bend, and the University that rests within it, will be the epicenter of the College Football world come 8 PM ET.  Photo by The Irish Tribune The long, dark winter looms in the black shadows. The frigid grip that clenches its fists from Lake Michigan have ever so aggressively begun to throw its early punches. Featuring snow, wind, and temperatures plummeting as low as 8 degrees already- Mother nature shows no mercy for the city of South Bend. And for its residents, this is nothing new.  A stark contrast from the 66 degree temperatures that were enjoyed by Northern Illinois as they made their inaugural visit to South Bend in week 1, it is expected to be below the freezing point come kick off on December 20th, with potential for snow in the forecast. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, indeed.  ND vs IU is the most expensive ticket in the country, with the cheapest ticket prices still well above other playoff games. Regardless of the outcome, the bracket begins in “The Crossroads of America”. The price to get in is extraordinary, but the stakes at hand are even bigger than that. There is no way to overstate the significance of what will happen within College Football’s Cathedral.  Use code " IrishTribune20 " to get $20  off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here As that fateful hour draws near, there’s been much discussion about Notre Dame and its fans. For the better part of two decades, its fanbase has been described as a “Wine and Cheese” crowd. Capable of limited noise, it has offered a perceived lukewarm home field advantage thru enough time for it to gain its less than stellar reputation. As all eyes pierce their gaze onto the Irish, so will they be fixed on its much Maligned fanbase.  The question at hand - will Notre Dame’s fans answer the call? It’s a nagging question that has been floating around for weeks now, and if we’re honest with ourselves, it’s been a question for much longer than that. Even one of its favorite alums, Aaron Taylor challenged the fanbase, “Here’s my gripe with the Irish fans. They’re just not loud. It’s not loud in that stadium.”  It would be disingenuous to pull up various clips from the Holtz era and point to that as evidence to contradict the premise raised by Taylor. Yes, Notre Dame was  one of the hardest places to play in the country just 30 years ago. And of course, we’d be remiss to not mention that it’s one of the only stadiums that got flagged for excessive noise when Michigan’s offense was driving the ball in 1988. But that, of course, was a different time.  I have been to almost exactly 50 games at Notre Dame stadium from 2006-present. I’ll never forget the first time I walked the campus with my Grandpa. The day he told me he got tickets for Notre Dame vs North Carolina in 2006 can’t be described as anything other than a dream that I wish I could constantly relive. My Grandpa was my best friend, and a second father. As I turned 11, he began to know the time for my first game was here.  We walked into the stadium, and as we made that walk towards our seats, I turned over to my left and saw tears streaming down his cheek. I asked, “Are you okay?” and he answered “Yeah, buddy, I am.” I had personally never been better.  Seeing that  field for the first time is unquantifiable in its significance. The energy was so palpable that I could feel something in me was forever changed moving forward. By the way, Notre Dame won 45-26. But if I’m honest, I was just happy to be there.  My second game was in 2007 with my Dad. I learned how to properly shake another man’s hand that day while we were at the tailgate. It’s served me well as I continue my career in sales, and was one of those days I look back on with a great deal of reverence, fondness. But let’s just say the game didn’t go as well as my first visit. Notre Dame lost to USC in embarrassing fashion, 38-0. My Dad even took a video of my reaction on his blackberry. I had very few words to describe the despair. And that would be the last time I’d ever be in Notre Dame stadium, until… My Grandpa got season tickets as Brian Kelly got hired on as Notre Dame’s new head coach for the 2010 season. From there, I’ve had the privilege and displeasure of seeing both the good and the bad, in ways that only Notre Dame football can provide.  I was there for Brian Kelly’s first game. I can still see Armando Allen running the ball. The visions of Dayne Crist throwing to Michael Floyd. I can recall Purdue’s quarterback, Robert Marve, diving into the endzone untouched as if the game was played 30 minutes ago. The weather was perfect. The energy was rejuvenated. Hope was renewed.  There was an elderly Purdue fan sitting behind me and my Grandpa. He had the unmitigated gall to tell us to “sit down for the love of God! I can’t see anything!” My Grandpa, sharply turned back, “Hey if you wanna watch it on TV, go back to Lafayette buddy!” He turned to me thereafter, shrugging his shoulders with confusion and said something to the effect of “Why come to a game just to be miserable? I’ll never understand old people.” Fast forward towards the end of the year, Tommy Rees threw the inexplicable interception in our endzone, where Notre Dame would completely choke the game away and ultimately lose to Tulsa. The winning field goal was there for the taking, but the already embattled Brian Kelly, was set on going for 6.  Then, just 6 days later, the Irish would host Utah. Utah was ranked 4th in the country before they dropped a game the week prior to TCU. They lost in embarrassing fashion to the Horned Frogs, 47-7. Yet still, Utah would be ranked as they came to South Bend. This was significant as Notre Dame hadn’t beaten a ranked team since 2006. The weather was about as unfavorable as it could get. Cold, dreary, rainy, and windy. It was beautiful.  And by the way, it was loud .  Having the privilege of going to the amount of games I have, I’ve experienced a lot of loud moments in the stadium. Here are the ones that stand out, and could rival any of the loudest environments across the country:  2010 vs Utah A sustained buzz was in the stadium for the entirety of the game. The horrible weather conditions, coupled with Notre Dame’s average record (4-5) enabled the tickets to be cheaper than normal. The fans that showed up were there for two reasons- to make noise, and to see an Irish win.  2012 Michigan (The Manti Teo leigh game) This was one of the more sustained displays of rabid, passionate noise Notre Dame Stadium had enjoyed throughout the Brian Kelly era. It was a homage to Manti Teo and the personal losses he and his family had recently endured. The weather was far from favorable, but the fans would not be deterred. Neither would the Irish. It was a special energy that spring boarded the Irish to a generational run towards a Title game appearance.  2012 Stanford (The “stand”) Again, the weather was horrible. Rainy, cold, and windy. It was defensive slugfest that found the Irish clawing its way to overtime against a quality Stanford team. When the goal line stand occurred, it was bedlam. The people in front of us were standing in shock (We sat with these people for the better part of 9 years- they’re still there in those seats to this day). High fives all around. My Grandpa cried, I cried, everyone cried. And when the call went under review, it was silent. The crowd pop that followed after the officiating crew upheld the call, it was deafening. High fives all around. Tears again.  2012 Pittsburgh  Another day of bad weather, another defensive slugfest. It must be 2012 in Notre Dame Stadium. There wasn’t much of this game that had redeemable qualities until the 4th quarter. The fans were almost shell shocked at how bad the Irish looked for much of regulation. Pittsburgh was leading Notre Dame 20-6 at the beginning of the 4th quarter. This was one of those games you simply wanted to end. It was quiet, somber.  That all changed when Everett Golson danced around in the pocket to find some semblance of an answer. He stood behind the offensive line for what felt like minutes. Finally, he fired a missile to Davaris Daniels who was 1 on 1 with a Pittsburgh defender. All 80,000 went from sad, to psychotic. It never got quiet again as ND won in miraculous fashion in overtime.  2014 vs Michigan  It was one of those nights where everything went right. ND was clicking, and not one moment of the game was it in doubt. The fact Michigan had the short end of the stick made it all the more poetic. The weather was beautiful for a change. 2014 vs Stanford (Ben Koyack’s game winning touchdown catch on 4th and 11).  Another one of those Stanford slugfests. It was a brutal watch and admittedly, it wasn’t a game where Notre Dame fans were at their loudest. It was just one of those days where there was very little to cheer for. Until Everett Golson threw a prayer to Ben Koyack on 4th and 11 for a game winning touchdown. If you watch the clip, the stadium was so loud that it temporarily cut NBC’s mic. 2015 vs USC  USC drove the ball on their opening drive and scored. All it took was a bomb thrown by DeShone Kizer to Will Fuller and the Trojan momentum had evaporated. If Notre Dame Stadium had a roof, it would’ve been blown clear off.  2017 vs USC  Notre Dame was rolling as they rebounded from a historically bad season. And the party wouldn’t stop on this night. The energy was aggressively fun. It was a night to remember in South Bend as it’s team gave them plenty of reasons to scream with pure joy.  2018 vs Michigan  What better way to open the season than against Michigan? It was a game that was firmly in control from start to finish. When Chris Finke mossed Michigan’s secondary for a Touchdown, the place erupted. It was bliss.  2023 vs Ohio State From start to finish, this was about as loud as it gets. The result was obviously less than ideal for the Irish. There were many moments where the crowd had reason to erupt. Namely, the 4th down stop Notre Dame had in the 4th quarter, brought deafening noise. Notre Dame’s fans also held the line and refused to allow yet another “red wave” like they had in the past (Nebraska, Louisville, Georgia). It was a phenomenal showing from a rejuvenated fanbase.  2023 vs USC  Even though all post season hopes were dashed, the Irish faithful showed up and made a nightmare for Caleb Williams and Trojans even worse. Not one time did the fans become content, or quiet. It was a fanbase that showed an ability to be engaged from beginning to end.  There’s a common thread of these games aside from one (2023 vs OSU). Notre Dame won. The respective teams and their performances were worthy of adulation and enthusiasm. The games listed were also significant for various reasons. Either it was a marquee opponent, rival, or a team that had a lot to play for - like a post season appearance, Title run. The reality is Notre Dame fans haven’t had the privilege of enjoying games with said implications with any type of regularity over the last decade plus.  A fair conclusion that can be drawn from this article is that not every game is a big one when it’s played in Notre Dame Stadium - that’s obvious. But every time there is a big game being played in Notre Dame Stadium, its fans have answered the call. Notre Dame Stadium, and it’s campus, have a quality that few places on planet Earth possess so abundantly. When you’re walking within it, you not only feel the moment, but the moments that came before it. It’s a collection of fans and their spirit past and present. It captures all the memories and never lets go.  As Athletic Director, Pete Buvaqua stated, “Notre Dame’s doesn’t get to experience a lot of firsts.”  While the team intros will remain neutral for both IU and ND, and controlled by the CFP, the rest of the audio visuals will be handled as a normal home game. Although there’s nothing that feels normal about this. The night is sure to be a culmination of all things tradition as much as it will be a collision of the new generation of rabid Notre Dame fans.  This night isn’t just about the 4 hours that will happen when the game is played. It will be about the moments that have passed us. The fans we wish could be with us, but can’t. The spirit of Notre Dame is derived from these moments, it is born from the people who shared said moments with us.  For all the discourse on crowd noise, one thing has been made clear - Notre Dame fans get up for the big ones. Its spirit comes alive as the moment draws near. And while we’ve witnessed some big ones played within College Football’s Cathedral, it doesn’t get any bigger than this.   Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Tonight's forecast in South Bend calls for chilly temperatures and possibly snow. Here's a full weather report for Notre Dame vs Indiana at Notre Dame Stadium tonight at 8:00 pm EST Photo by Jaydn Robinson // Notre Dame Athletics In the first-ever home playoff game for Notre Dame, I'll break down what to expect weather-wise for tonight's matchup with in-state foe Indiana. From temperature to snow. Note: Weather data was collected around 1:30 am EST on Friday, December 20th Temperature & Sky: Temperatures in South Bend are going to range anywhere from 23-31 degrees throughout the day, with it expected to be 27 degrees at kickoff (8 pm) and have the game finish with a reading of 23 degrees. The "Feel like" temperature will get as low as 16 degrees and will not peak above 31 degrees at any point, so be prepared to have gloves, hats, and extra layers. I recommend the hot chocolate they serve at Notre Dame Stadium, you may want two. The sun will set at 5:17 pm, and the skies will be cloudy for virtually the entire day, with the exception of various moon showings throughout the game. Snow: The good news is there's a likely chance snow will not be a notable factor for the duration of the game. The bad news, however, is that there will be snow in the morning, and the Midwest tends to be moody from time to time. Snow will moderately invade South Bend from 4 am to 10 am and is expected to do 1-3" of damage on the ground. Notre Dame will have its ground crew on hand to clear any snow before the game (Assuming there is no additional snow), so based on the current readings, Notre Dame Mafia will not be born tonight. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Wind Speeds: Wind speeds will thankfully be in the single digits for the entire game according to Mother Nature. It will peak at 9 MPH heading north towards Touchdown Jesus and is expected to be anywhere from 5-6 MPH north after the game. Mitch Jeter and the special teas unit will have decent enough conditions to potentially make good kicks for Notre Dame. Field Surface: Since 2014, Notre Dame Stadium has abandoned natural grass in favor of artificial field turf. While I believe the current turf has been redone since the original switch in 2014, former Notre Dame HC Brian Kelly stated in an interview with ND Insider a decade ago that the field "Holds its heat" and is expected to be "10 to 15 degrees warmer than it normally would have been on natural grass". Watch tonight's matchup between Notre Dame and Indiana at Notre Dame Stadium in the first-ever twelve-team College Football Playoffs at 8:00 pm EST on ESPN and ABC. Who do you got winning tonight? Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame's showdown against Indiana in Notre Dame Stadium is well within sight. The Irish are favored in this game, but if Notre Dame does not execute well, this game could go right down to the wire. Here are a few ways Notre Dame can avoid the upset against Indiana and move on to a matchup with Georgia in New Orleans. Photo by The Irish Tribune Establish the Run It goes without saying that the Notre Dame running attack is the strength of this offense. Jeremiyah Love has been the focal point of this offense all year, and he has delivered breathtaking runs as one of the best backs in the country. Love garners a lot of attention, but Riley Leonard and Jadarian Price have also been important pieces of the rushing attack. Together, these three have shown their ability to put up huge numbers and win games. All three players have rushed for over 600 yards this season, with Love leading the charge followed by Leonard and Price. They have also been very impressive in finding the end zone, combining for 36 rushing touchdowns. On the other side of the ball, they will be going up against the No. 1 ranked rushing defense in the country. Indiana has been able to stifle opposing rushing attacks all year, but Notre Dame will be their toughest test yet. Notre Dame averages 224 rushing yards a game, while Indiana only gives up 76 rushing yards per game. It will be a strength on strength matchup for both teams on Friday night. This matchup could dictate the outcome of this game. Notre Dame wants to create an effective run game that sets up easy passing situations while also having the chance to break one loose at any moment. Indiana wants to dictate the terms of this game through their physical run defense. This puts teams in third and long situations, which is right where they want Notre Dame. The Irish passing attack has been limited and inconsistent all year. A quality run game can help mitigate these problems and even hide them at times, but if Indiana can stop the run, it will be a long night for Notre Dame. Use code " IrishTribune20 " to get $20  off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Start Fast One of Notre Dame's most noticeable progressions this season has been the way they start games. Early on, Notre Dame tended to come out of the gates sluggish. Think back to NIU, Miami (OH), and even Louisville. In all three of those games, Notre Dame started the game slow, and it even cost them in the game versus NIU. Against Indiana, Notre Dame will have to start the game strong. First of all, a hot start will energize what will already be a raucous crowd in Notre Dame Stadium. If the crowd is into it early, that is just another advantage Notre Dame can play into. On the flip side, a slow start will take the crowd right out of the game, which will not only give Indiana energy, but also may cause Notre Dame to tense up. As the favorites, a strong start from Notre Dame could also demoralize Indiana. Notre Dame could immediately show Indiana how hard it will be to win, which could hurt their morale. It works inversely for Notre Dame, however. A slow start from the Irish could give Indiana all the confidence they need to pull off the road upset. Lastly, a fast start from the Irish helps them decide the terms of the game. Whether it is the offense establishing the run game, or the Irish defensive line getting into the backfield, a fast start can put Indiana on their back foot from the start, allowing Notre Dame to play on their terms. Get After the Quarterback In Indiana's only loss this season against Ohio State, Indiana really struggled to protect their quarterback, Kurtis Rourke. In that game, Ohio State was able to bring Rourke down five times, which brought their offense to a screeching halt. Rourke only completed eight passes for 68 yards. Indiana is normally a very efficient passing attack. Rourke is an accurate passer that has thrown 27 touchdowns and only four interceptions this season. That shows a real ability to hit on big plays while taking care of the ball. Throughout the season, Rourke and his wide receivers often connect on back-shoulder deep balls. Rourke puts it right where it needs to be, and their talented wide receivers often come up with it. To avoid this, Notre Dame's pass rush needs to put pressure on Rourke. Notre Dame's pass rush has been a bit inconsistent this year, but Rylie Mills and Howard Cross III have combined for the most sacks by any defensive interior in the country. Those two, along with the rest of the d-line will need to bring their A-game on Friday to give this defense a chance. Against USC, Notre Dame struggled to bring pressure, and that resulted in USC carving up the defense. These young Notre Dame corners will need the help of the defensive line to stop Indiana's passing attack. If Rourke is allowed too much time, he is more than accurate enough to find open receivers and put the ball where it needs to be. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun