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Photo via Notre Dame Athletics This Saturday afternoon, CJ Carr, Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, and Co. lead a top-10 scoring Notre Dame offense into Boston College’s Alumni Stadium. The Irish, 5-2 and ranked 12th, look to extend their win streak to six as the Eagles (1-7) find themselves amidst a seven-game losing streak.  Boston College Results (1-7) 66-10 vs Fordham (W) 40-42 at Michigan State (OT L) 20-30 at Stanford (L) 24-28 vs California (L) 7-48 at Pittsburgh (L) 10-41 vs Clemson (L) 23-38 vs Connecticut (L) 24-38 at Louisville (L) The Boston College defense is led by Defensive Coordinator Tim Lewis. Head Coach Bill O’Brien brought on Lewis as his DC when he received the role prior to the 2024 season. Lewis, a former Pitt standout CB, was selected in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, the CB’s career was cut short following a severe neck injury. Lewis has been able to stay around the game ever since in a coaching role. He has served as a DB coach for various NFL organizations, and was most notably the DC with the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers in the early 2000s. Before O’Brien called Lewis, the Eagles' DC was working in the UFL in the same role from 2022-23. It has been a tough second year for Lewis and the Boston College defense. After holding Fordham to 10, the Eagles have failed to hold an opponent to under 28 points, a key reason for their current skid. It is tough to find a bright spot on a defensive unit that fails to create pressure, stop the run, or make plays in coverage. There are a couple of promising underclassmen, including freshman nickel TJ Green, but it looks like it might be another long Saturday with a top-20 offense in their way. Below are Boston College defensive stats with their respective national ranking: 34.4 points per game allowed (126th) 17 pass touchdowns allowed (tied-123rd) 410.6 total yards per game allowed (111th) 163 rush yards per game allowed (101st) 1 of 9 teams to have allowed multiple 70-plus yard rushes 247.6 pass yards per game allowed (tied-112th) 4 tackles for loss per game (tied-122nd) Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Defensive Personnel: Interior Linemen: Chris Marable Jr. - After beginning the season as a backup, this Wake Forest transfer has earned a starting role. Marable has 11 tackles and a pass breakup this year. The redshirt sophomore DT has at least one tackle in seven games. Across the past two games, the 6-2, 305-pound transfer has tallied four tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a pass breakup. Marable has been pretty decent this season, but he definitely has his struggles. He has five pressures on 135 pass rush attempts and seven stops against the run, with one of his two missed tackles coming here. Sedarius McConnell - More of a run-stopping DT compared to Marable, this redshirt senior has 22 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. McConnell leads the Eagles in tackles for loss and sacks. The 6-3, 279-pound senior has at least one tackle in each game, including a season-high of five last week at Louisville. McConnell’s pass rush has been decent with seven pressures across 180 attempts. He has been good against the run with nine stops; however, all three of his missed tackles occurred in this situation. Others to watch: Kwan Williams Edge Rushers: Edwin Kolenge - Boston College’s left-side edge rusher is this redshirt junior. Kolenge, 6-3 and 252 pounds, has 22 tackles with no misses on the year. He has at least one tackle in seven games, and tallied a season-high of six at Stanford and Pitt. The junior is a pretty solid defender and will rarely drop into coverage. Kolenge has been good against the run with nine stops and has 12 pressures, including three QB hits, across 128 pass rush attempts. Quintayvious Hutchins - Opposite of Kolenge is this redshirt senior pass-rushing threat. Hutchins did leave last week’s contest with an injury, so keep an eye on his status for this weekend. If he can not go, expect to see Favor Bate step up. In seven games played, Hutchins has 20 tackles, three for a loss, two sacks, and a pass breakup. The 6-3, 240-pound edge has at least one tackle in each game, including a season-high five tackles and one sack at Michigan State. On a negative note, Hutchins has three missed tackles and leads the defense with five penalties. Besides that, he has been good with seven run stops and a team-leading 20 pressures and four QB hits across 123 pass rushes. Others to watch: Favor Bate Linebackers: Owen McGowan - The Eagles’ premier LB is the six-foot, 236-pound redshirt senior. McGowan has 39 tackles, four for a loss, one sack, a pass breakup, and a fumble recovery this season. He has recorded at least two tackles in each game, and has three contests with a season-high of eight tackles. The senior’s best game came at Michigan State when he finished with eight tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery in the overtime loss. McGowan’s eight missed tackles have been an issue this year, resulting in a struggling season. He has been okay against the run with a team-leading 13 stops; however, four of his missed tackles have come here. The LB’s coverage has been bad, with 212 yards and two touchdowns allowed on 17 receptions across 20 targets. He has also not flashed in pass rush scenarios, with just two pressures on 54 attempts. Others to watch: Kemori Dixon Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Defensive Backs: KP Price - Boston College’s leading tackler is this versatile defender. Price, listed as a safety, plays more of an LB/DB hybrid role on the field. He has 64 tackles, three for a loss, a team-high two interceptions, and one fumble recovery. The 6-1 DB’s eight tackles per game are tied 50th among all FBS defenders. He has tallied at least five tackles in each game, including a season-high of 14 with an interception against Clemson. Price showed out again last week at Louisville when he finished with eight tackles, an interception, and a fumble recovery. The junior does have nine missed tackles this season. To add on to the versatility element, Price can line up as an ILB, Edge, CB, or S whenever needed. The DB’s coverage has been up-and-down this year, with 249 yards and a touchdown allowed on 25 targets. He has been decent against the run with 10 stops, but five of his missed tackles have come here, and as a pass rusher, with six pressures on 32 attempts.  Omar Thornton - Starting at safety, is the 5-11, 201-pound sophomore. Thornton has 54 tackles, six for a loss, one sack, two forced fumbles, an interception, and a pass breakup this season. He has at least one tackle in each game, including three games with 10 or more. The sophomore DB recorded a season-high 12 tackles, one sack, and a forced fumble at Michigan State. He also had a nice performance at Pitt when he finished with 10 tackles and a forced fumble. Thornton’s largest issue comes with his team-leading 17 missed tackles. He could be a legit defender if he cleans this up. The sophomore has allowed 16 catches for 118 yards and four touchdowns on 20 targets in coverage this year. Against the run, he has been able to make 11 stops, but he has 10 missed tackles in this situation, basically cancelling out any production. Carter Davis - This redshirt sophomore CB starts wide but is also capable of playing LB, S, or moving to the slot. Davis has 43 tackles, one sack, and two pass breakups this season, including at least one tackle in each game. The 6-1 DB recorded a season-high nine tackles in the loss at Michigan State. The sophomore has been okay in coverage, with 160 yards and two touchdowns allowed on 12 receptions across 17 targets. He has come up with three run stops, but two of his three missed tackles have occurred against the rush. TJ Green - One of the more promising players on this defense is the freshman nickelback. Green has 15 tackles, a sack, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble in six games played. The 5-10 DB began the season as a reserve and did not even see the field in the first two games. Green made his first start of his collegiate career last week and looked the part, with a season-high eight tackles, one sack, and a forced fumble in the road loss. Green has at least one tackle in five games, and both of his pass breakups came at Pitt. The young DB has had a limited impact against the run, but overall, I think Green has a bright future at nickel. He has been solid in coverage, with 15 catches allowed for 142 yards on 21 targets. In limited reps, Green has two pressures, including the sack, on just seven pass rush attempts. Green has one missed tackle this year. Isaiah Farris - This redshirt junior CB can be found opposite of Davis out wide. Farris has 17 tackles, three pass breakups, and a fumble recovery this season. The 5-11 wide CB has at least one tackle in six games, including a season-high of six against Cal, where he also tallied a pass breakup. Farris has five missed tackles, with two coming against the run. He has added two stops against the run, though. In coverage, the junior has been alright with 226 yards and two touchdowns allowed on 15 receptions across 25 targets. Others to watch: Omarion Davis, Max Tucker, Marcus Upton Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

While Notre Dame will likely reach the playoffs for a second year in a row with a 10-2 record, there could be some disaster scenarios for the Irish that would see them on the outside looking in even after winning 10 straight games. photo by Irish Tribune The Notre Dame Side of Things It is clear to Notre Dame and its fans that the Irish must finish 10-2 to have any chance of making the CFP. Before the year started, many thought it would take an 11-1 record to get in, but with Miami and Texas A&M exceeding expectations, Notre Dame has been allowed a little more wiggle room. Luckily for Marcus Freeman and his team, the remaining schedule is incredibly manageable, as they will likely be heavy favorites in every game to finish the year. With that coveted 10-2 record, Notre Dame will give itself a good chance of seeing their second straight playoff berth. That idea has started to become the national consensus among college football pundits, but it will be interesting to see what the CFP committee thinks of Notre Dame when their first rankings are announced in the coming weeks. For now, Notre Dame needs to cheer on Miami, Texas A&M, and, yes, even USC, as their success only benefits Notre Dame at this point. Most importantly, Notre Dame needs to take care of their remaining schedule, which many know, is easier said than done when it comes to Notre Dame football. 10-2's in the SEC One potential scenario that could spell out trouble for Notre Dame's playoff chances is a cluster of 10-2 SEC teams all fighting for the remaining spots in the CFP. As it stands now, there are eight teams in the SEC with one or two losses. While a few of those teams still have to play each other, there is a chance that many of these teams will remain with one or two losses by season's end. If that happens, Notre Dame will then have to be judged with that cluster of teams, which could add some drama to the final CFP reveal. Whether it is true or not, there always seems to be some sort of SEC bias when it comes to the rankings. Some of it is deserved, as the SEC has consistently produced some of the best football teams every year. While that may be the case, it is also a possibility that the SEC this year may just consist of good teams, not great ones. This makes it tricky to rank them, as they all beat up on each other, never knowing if those are really good wins or just a bunch of good teams exchanging wins. This back and forth is exactly what Notre Dame wants to avoid. While Notre Dame has quality losses, they lack a lot of quality wins, something that SEC teams sitting at 10-2 could win a conversation with. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Miami Misses ACC Championship Another scenario that could hurt Notre Dame's playoff hopes is if Miami does not play for the ACC Championship. Due to their surprising loss to Louisville, Miami does not control its own destiny to the ACC Championship game. Right now, Georgia Tech and Virginia are the front-runners in the ACC and have a manageable path to finish undefeated in conference. If that happens, Miami would be left out of the championship game, meaning the ACC could get three teams into the CFP. While that does not necessarily mean Notre Dame misses out, it does take potential bids away from them. With the SEC and Big 10 likely getting three to four teams in, the spots for a CFP bid start to get slimmer and slimmer. Chaos in the Big 12 Like the ACC, the Big 12 is shaping up in a way that could see multiple teams make it to the playoffs, which would only put Notre Dame's chances further into question. In the Big 12, there is a five-team race for a spot in the conference title game. BYU, Cincinnati, Texas Tech, Houston, and Utah are still in the running, with no team having more than two losses. Thankfully for Notre Dame, a lot of these teams still have matchups against each other, so maybe the conference will figure itself out, but the Big 12 is notorious for chaos and unexpected outcomes. If by the end of the year this conference still features multiple teams with one loss, Notre Dame could have a tougher than expected chance to make the playoffs. All in all, the likelihood that any of these scenarios will play out down the road varies. The most important thing for Notre Dame and its run to the CFP rides solely on the team. This team still has everything to play for after suffering two devastating losses to begin the year. With those losses, however, there is no margin for error. This team will have to keep playing at a high level to complete their run of 10 straight wins. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Photo via Notre Dame Athletics This Saturday afternoon, 12th-ranked Notre Dame (5-2) travels to Chestnut Hill for a matchup with Boston College (1-7), which enters this weekend with seven straight losses amidst a disappointing season for the Eagles. Boston College Results (1-7) 66-10 vs Fordham (W) 40-42 at Michigan State (OT L) 20-30 at Stanford (L) 24-28 vs California (L) 7-48 at Pittsburgh (L) 10-41 vs Clemson (L) 23-38 vs Connecticut (L) 24-38 at Louisville (L) The Fighting Irish, coming off a bye week, will embark on a five-game stretch to close the regular season featuring three road contests. Notre Dame’s defense will look to continue its dominant run after holding an elite USC offense to a season-low 24 points. Chris Ash and Co. have another opportunity to display their elite talent against a struggling Boston College offense. Below are some Eagles offensive stats with their respective national ranking: 26.8 points per game (76th) 371 total yards per game (83rd) 268.9 pass yards per game (31st) 102.13 rush yards per game (127th) 7 fumbles lost (tied-128th); the only team with more than 3 fumbles that has yet to recover one of their own Boston College’s Head Coach and Offensive Playcaller is former New England Patriots offensive assistant and Houston Texans HC Bill O’Brien. O’Brien first shone in the coaching scene as a Patriots assistant during their dominant run from 2007-11. In 2012, Penn State hired O’Brien as HC after Joe Paterno stepped down amid the Nittany Lions' scandal. After two seasons in Happy Valley, O’Brien made the jump back to the NFL as the Texans' HC, where he was fairly successful with four division titles in six seasons. After a 0-4 start in 2020, O’Brien was fired and went back to the college ranks for two seasons, serving as Alabama’s Offensive Coordinator in 2021-22 under Nick Saban. After Saban retired, O’Brien went back to the Patriots as an OC in 2023 but was not retained following Bill Belichick's firing. Boston College inked O’Brien as their HC prior to the 2024 season, where he has gone 8-13 overall and 4-9 in ACC play since taking over. This season, O’Brien opted for a major offensive shift following a 41-10 home loss to Clemson. The Eagles benched QB Dylan Lonergan in favor of Grayson James in a move that has not really paid off yet for a pass-heavy offense. Boston College has dealt with some injury issues throughout the season, mostly on the offensive line, with a question mark at right tackle this weekend. Starting RB Turbo Richard missed last week with an injury, but should be expected to suit up on Saturday.  Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Offensive Personnel: Quarterback: Grayson James - Set to make his third start of the season after a midseason QB1 change, the redshirt senior has failed to provide the spark HC O’Brien was probably seeking. James has completed 52.3% of his attempts for 668 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions. With just four games played, the senior’s three picks already put him tied-40th among FBS QBs in this stat, something that should have Notre Dame DBs drooling. The 6-3 signal-caller impressed off the bench against Fordham when he threw 5/5 for 190 yards and a touchdown in the blowout win. James set all sorts of season-highs last week in the loss at Louisville when he threw for 244 yards and three touchdowns on 23/46 attempts. He also tossed two interceptions in the road loss. The QB has taken some punishment since taking over the starting role, with nine sacks across the past two games, including seven against UConn. In my opinion, the switch from Lonergan to James reeks of desperation from O’Brien. Through three games now, Lonergan was the better QB, is younger, and still has unlocked potential, which I assume will now be used at a new school after being benched. Regardless, James is a below-average passer whose completion percentage drops to 32.4% under pressure. The Irish front should be able to cause chaos this Saturday based on their recent success in this facet. On the ground, James has rushed for 61 yards on 31 attempts. 30 of the senior’s recorded carries have come across the past two games, with 52 yards tallied; 26 in each game. James will not bust any big gains, but he is a solid runner who has favored scrambling to the right side. The QB did fumble in the loss against UConn. Running Backs: Turbo Richard - As mentioned earlier, the Eagles' starting RB missed last week’s contest following an injury sustained against UConn. I expect Richard will give it a go this weekend, but keep an eye on any Boston College injury report. The 5-8, 207-pound sophomore is tied-56th among all FBS players with seven total touchdowns on the year. In seven games played, Richard has rushed for 431 yards and five touchdowns on 88 carries. He ranks in the top 100 among FBS rushers in rushing touchdowns and rushing yards per game (61.57). The sophomore rushed for a season-high 171 yards and two touchdowns, including a 71-yard score, against Cal on just 15 carries. Richard is a good runner who has not fumbled since week three. He has flashed some toughness with 3.75 yards after contact per attempt and 17 missed tackles forced. He is capable of going up the middle or outside, but most of his success this season has come to the left. In my opinion, Richard is a below-average receiving threat, but he has put up some numbers. Through the air, the sophomore has 19 receptions for 175 yards and two touchdowns this season. He recorded a season-high seven receptions at Michigan State for 66 yards, including a score. Richard then recorded a season-high 83 receiving yards on five catches, including a 49-yard touchdown at Stanford. He has two drops on 24 targets and can do damage if he gets the ball in open space. Richard struggles as a pass blocker. Jordan McDonald - Whether or not Richard is healthy, this senior RB will at least be featured occasionally. McDonald has 69 carries for 301 yards and a touchdown this season. Across the past two games with Richard’s injury, the 6-1 senior has compiled 203 yards on 43 carries. McDonald rushed for a season-high 123 yards on 24 carries against UConn. He is a good runner with no fumbles. He has forced 15 missed tackles this season, with 11 in the past two games, and likes to get outside the tackles. McDonald is a better receiving threat than Richard, in my opinion, but he is still fairly average. The senior has 10 receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown across 14 targets with one drop. For a 211-pound RB, McDonald struggles as a blocker. Others to watch: Alex Broome Receivers: Lewis Bond - Boston College’s leading receiver is this 5-11, 190-pound redshirt senior. This season, Bond has racked up 56 receptions for 547 yards and a touchdown. The slot-man’s seven catches per game are tied-6th among FBS pass-catchers. In addition, his 68.4 receiving yards per game rank 59th. Bond has tallied at least two catches in each game, including a season-high 11 receptions for 138 yards in the win against Fordham. While the receiver is mainly utilized out of the slot, he does kick out wide on about 35% of pass plays. Bond is a good, strong-handed weapon with just two drops on 70 targets, and he is 2/3 on contested catch attempts. He has also flashed his shiftiness with 12 missed tackles forced while doing most of his damage between the numbers. With improved QB play, I could see Bond being a hidden gem in the NFL Draft. The senior is an average run blocker. Reed Harris - The Eagles’ favorite deep threat is the 6-5, 217-pound redshirt sophomore. Harris has 390 yards and three touchdowns on 24 receptions this season. His 16.25 yards per reception ranks 66th among FBS pass-catchers. The starting wideout has at least two catches in seven games, including a season-high seven at Stanford when he racked up 141 yards. Harris is a pretty solid receiver who works out of the slot on about 29% of pass plays. He has displayed strong hands with no drops on 45 targets, and he is 8/12 on contested catch attempts over 20 yards. The big wideout is a solid run blocker. Dawson Pough - Opposite of Harris is a six-foot freshman. Pough has 145 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions this season. He has at least one catch in five games, including a season-high of three against Fordham when he recorded 96 yards, including a score. Pough, mainly found out wide, works from the slot on about 21% of pass plays. The young receiver has flashed some decent potential, but has not popped as a real threat yet. He has one drop on 20 targets, and is averaging a solid 16.1 yards per catch, including 6.6 yards after catch per reception. The freshman does most of his work between the numbers and is a good run blocker for a young wideout. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Tight Ends: Jeremiah Franklin - Boston College features two receiving-type tight ends, starting with the 6-3, 244-pound senior. Franklin has 31 receptions for 321 yards and two touchdowns this season, including at least one catch in each game. The senior TE recorded season-highs at Michigan State when he tallied eight catches for 84 yards, including a score. On pass plays, Franklin splits his time in-line and in the slot. The solid receiving option averages 10.6 yards per catch and has three drops across 49 targets. Franklin’s lone fumble came in the loss at Pitt. Almost all of Franklin’s production has come between the numbers, but he is not a serious vertical threat. The 6-3 TE is a solid blocker. Kaelan Chudzinski - The Eagles’ younger TE is the 6-3, 236-pound freshman. Chudzinski has recorded 216 yards and three touchdowns on 15 receptions this season. He has at least one catch in seven games and recorded a season-high four receptions and 80 yards, including a score last week. The freshman enters Saturday’s contest with back-to-back games featuring a touchdown. While Chudzinski is listed as a TE, he is really more of a true big body receiver working out of the slot on about 63% of pass plays. I would say the freshman might already be a better receiving threat than Franklin, with no drops on 26 targets and averaging 14.4 yards per reception. Chudzinski can beat defenses over the top and in the short game. He has hauled in four catches on seven targets for 121 yards on throws of 20 or more yards this season. Given limited reps, the freshman appears as a solid run blocker. Others to watch: Zeke Moore Offensive Line: LT Jude Bowry, LG Robert Smith IV, C Michael Crounse, RG Logan Taylor, RT Kevin Cline or Ryan Mickow - The Eagles’ front has struggled this season, with injuries certainly playing a factor. There is an outside chance that starting LG Eryx Daugherty returns this week and starting RT Cline exited last week’s game, putting his status for Saturday in jeopardy. Overall, this group has allowed 2.63 sacks per game (21 total), which is tied-112th among all FBS teams. The right side of the line has been pretty good with Cline and RG Taylor, but they have had their faults. Cline has allowed a team-high 16 pressures, including two sacks, and Taylor leads the offense with six penalties. If Cline can not go, expect the Irish pass rush to tee off on Mickow, who has allowed nine pressures, including a sack, on just 64 pass block snaps. LT Bowry is a team captain and returning starter who has allowed 14 pressures, including two QB hits, in six games played. LG Smith IV, who has stepped in for Daugherty, is a freshman and former three-star recruit who began the season as a backup. In four games played with three starts, Smith has allowed just three pressures, although two were sacks, on 136 pass block snaps. C Crounse also began the season as a backup but has now assumed the starting role with seven games played this season. Crouse, a redshirt sophomore, has allowed six pressures, including a sack, across 237 pass block snaps. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Art by The Irish Tribune I’ll always give credit where credit is due, and Brian Kelly did help make Notre Dame relevant again. Although I’d argue he did so only in the win column and somewhat in recruiting, a brand like Notre Dame will always be relevant whether they go 12-0 or 4-8. After all, they are a “blue blood” and one of, if not the most storied programs in the history of college football. Brian Kelly consistently brought more wins to Notre Dame, but was often outcoached and never seemed to have his team motivated to win in the big games when the bright lights were on. So much so that many Notre Dame fans would often refer to him as “Big Game Brian” due to his lack of showing up in the games that mattered. Notre Dame went through some really tough times after the glory days of Lou Holtz. And when I say tough times, I really mean horrific. After Holtz, we were subjected to the likes of underperforming coaches such as Bob Davie, Tyrone Willingham, and Charlie Weis. Say what you want about Weis, he was the one who started the turnaround with high-caliber offensive recruits returning to South Bend, but that also proved to be a problem of the Weis era. Weis, a former offensive coordinator, was great at landing 5-star talent on the offense (such as Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate, Michael Floyd, and Kyle Rudolph, to name a few), but he abandoned or at least didn’t focus on the defensive side of the ball. In short, Notre Dame under Weis could score on anybody, but also couldn’t stop anybody either. In comes Brian Kelly, who recruited equally on both sides of the ball, but never could land the big talent that even Weis was able to land. In fact, Weis signed more five-stars (7) through his five classes than Brian Kelly did in his first 10 classes (6).  In many ways, Notre Dame effectively sells itself in terms of recruiting, particularly in the academic realm and the potential for playing at the next level in the NFL. Brian Kelly took the lazy approach while relying on his coaching staff to do the majority of the work in recruiting, which seemed to match the rumors of some former players saying that they never even met Kelly until they reached campus. Kelly didn’t exactly do a great job of shooting down these rumors when he famously once said that he would rather be on a golf course than out recruiting. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Brian Kelly was good at getting Notre Dame anywhere from 9 to 11 wins in a season consistently (and even going undefeated twice during his tenure), but that was the ceiling for him. Many were growing tired of his attitude that fans should just be happy with that, but coaches are hired at Notre Dame to win championships, and if they fall short, fans will make their displeasure heard.   Fast forward to 2016, which proved to be a breaking point for many fans when the team led by Kelly finished the season at 4-8. With a storied program such as Notre Dame and a dry spell of championships since 1988, fans had run out of patience with Kelly and his smug attitude and wanted him fired. When Kelly decided to bolt for LSU in 2021 (in what felt like a middle-of-the-night move, much like he pulled on Cincinnati when he left for Notre Dame), although many were tired of his antics, it was a slap in the face to a university that had loyally stood behind him, to a fault, I might add. If that wasn't enough, he left with some parting shots when he said, "I want to be in an environment where I have the resources to win a national championship." That was a clear shot at the university and placed all the blame on the reason he fell short of a national championship at Notre Dame. Placing blame on others for his shortcomings has always been the route Kelly liked to take, as he would often throw players and his coaches under the bus when things weren't going right. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Notre Dame fans tried to warn LSU fans all across social media that Brian Kelly wasn't all that he seemed to be, which led to LSU fans calling Notre Dame fans "jealous" and "scorned ex-girlfriends." Fast forward four short years later and the LSU student section rained chants of "Fire Kelly" as they were getting their doors blown off at home at the hands of Texas A&M last night. Notre Dame fans were never anti-LSU, as the two schools don't have much of a history facing off against each other, but they were trying to warn them of the negative side of what hiring Brian Kelly brings with it. In any sport, there are good coaches and then there are great coaches, and Brian Kelly is a good coach, not a great coach. LSU is not a patient school that will sit around and wait for a coach to get it together. It was only a matter of time before they would get tired of Kelly's antics and lack of big wins, before they would be ready to move on. Today, many Notre Dame fans feel vindicated and rightfully so, as they had already seen the ending of this movie. Notre Dame was never the problem; Brian Kelly was and is. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

As week nine of the college football approaches, Notre Dame enters their bye week with a 5-2 record. After suffering two heartbreaking losses to begin the year, the team has rallied to win five in a row. Let's take a look at who has been the most impactful to start the year, and who still needs to improve heading into the back half of the schedule. CJ Carr, Quarterback: A In just his first season as the starting quarterback, CJ Carr has exceeded expectations to become one of the brightest young stars in college football. Coming into the year, the biggest question surrounding Notre Dame was at the quarterback position. The competition between Carr and Kenny Minchey went right down to the wire with Carr prevailing. Since that moment, Carr has been largely lights out. In seven games, Carr has totaled 1,758 yards, 14 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. He put up these impressive numbers all while throwing at an efficient 66% completion rate. Carr has also shown an impressive level of composure in big moments this year, leading a game-tying and a go-ahead drive late in the Miami and Texas A&M games. Most recently, Carr may have had his worst game of the season against USC this past week. From the start, he looked off, as he missed some easy throws and threw a truly head-scratching interception in the red zone. Even with this performance, Carr has answered any questions people had about the quarterback position at Notre Dame, cementing his place on this team with his stellar play. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, Running Backs: A If there were still any questions about who made up the best running back tandem in the country, these two have silenced them. The combination of Love and Price has been dominant ever since they were inexplicably underutilized against Miami. To start with Love, he has picked up right where he left off in the 2024 season. Coming into the season, Love was regarded as the best running back in the country, and he has not disappointed. As of now, Love has already ran for 758 yards and has accounted for 12 touchdowns. While he is still looking for his signature breakaway touchdown run, Love has devastated opposing defenses with his explosive athleticism and punishing physicality. In the Irish's most recent matchup against USC, Love was a man possessed, as he carried the Notre Dame offense with 265 yards of total offense. With that performance, he is now starting to get Heisman considerations, a testament to his talent and impact on this team. To claim the title of the best running back room in the country, there needs to be at least two outstanding players. For Notre Dame, they may have the best "two" in the country. While he may be widely known as the backup to Love, Price is good enough to be the starter on pretty much any other team. That is what makes this duo so dangerous for opposing defenses. If Love needs a breather, there is no noticeable drop-off in talent, meaning the defenses never get a chance to take a break themselves. So far, Price is already up to 509 yards and nine total touchdowns. He has been able to grind away at defenses while also showing his exciting ability to break long runs for touchdowns. Though it seemed like it could not get any better, Price also made his presence felt on special teams, when his 99-yard kickoff return gave Notre Dame the lead back against USC in emphatic fashion. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Chris Ash, Defensive Coordinator: B- Chris Ash has been the topic of conversation surrounding Notre Dame this season, for better or worse. Ash took over a defense from Al Golden that ranked amongst the very best in the country a season ago, especially in the secondary. The expectation was that the Fighting Irish defense would be just as good once again. After the first three games of the season, that expectation was spoiled quickly. In those first three games, Notre Dame allowed just under 33 points per game, a far cry from the standard Notre Dame defenses had established years before this 2025 season. If this grade was based off just those three games, Ash's grade would easily be an "F". Luckily for Ash and this defense, the situation began to improve rapidly after the Purdue game. Just one week after that game, Notre Dame was able to hold Arkansas' offense to just 13 points, which is the only game where they were held to under 31 points all season. Since then, Ash's defense went on to smother Boise State and NC State, as they only let up seven points in each of those contests. The biggest test to see if this defense really had improved came last week against the Trojans. Going into the game, USC touted one of the best offenses in the country, and Notre Dame handled them well. While they did allow 24 points, Notre Dame largely held USC's offense in check, even causing multiple game-altering turnovers. The turnovers point to one of the biggest improvements this defense has seen under Ash's leadership. To start the year, Notre Dame looked slow on defense. They reacted slowly to plays, they never seemed to be around the ball, and lacked the game speed to create chaos for the opposing offense. Now, this defense looks like they are beginning to increase the speed at which they play at. The sacks are starting to see an uptick, the created chaos is leading to turnovers, and the aggressiveness is leading to more negative plays. While it was fair to criticize him when his defense was struggling, it is time to give him some flowers for the improvements this defense has shown. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame has wrapped up one of the biggest recruiting weekends of Marcus Freeman's career thus far. The "who's who" of top-tier talent from across the country was in attendance on Saturday to watch the Irish dominate the USC Trojans. The weekend went about as good as it gets, with many of the attendees raving about their time on campus. One of those was C/O 2028 Composite 5-star RB Zaiden Jernigan. Photo via Zaiden Jernigan, Instagram (@cantguard_.zay) Jernigan is a 5'11", 195lbs RB out of Louisville High School in Louisville, Mississippi. He is currently ranked by 247Sports Composite as the No. 1 Running Back in the country, and the No. 27 overall recruit in the nation. In 2024 as a freshman in high school, he surpassed 2,000 yards from scrimmage and scored 30 touchdowns. He rushed 1,798 yards and 27 TDs while averaging 8.3 yards per carry, and caught 16 passes for 266 yards and 3 TDs. I recently caught up with Zaiden, and we talked about his visit, the recruiting process, his favorite part of the trip, his relationship with the coaches, and so much more. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! So, how did the trip go for Zaiden? "It was great. I loved everything about my visit. The atmosphere was great and it lived up to expectations." There can be a multitude of reasons a recruit enjoys their recruiting trip. For Zaiden, his favorite part was learning that he had received an offer from the coaches. "My favorite part about the trip was getting the offer. When I received the offer, it felt unreal. I never imagined I would be in the position I am today to land an offer from a school like Notre Dame." Zaiden loved his view from the sidelines during the USC game, and watching Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price have their way on the ground against USC was his favorite part of the game. "Watching the game up close was amazing. I've always watched Notre Dame on TV, and this was the first time watching them in person. Watching Love and Price rush for over 300 yards combined was my favorite part of the game." How is his relationship with the coaching staff developing? Zaiden already has a pretty good relationship with RB Coach Ja'Juan Seider and is excited to continue that with the rest of the coaching staff. "Coach Seider and I already have a pretty good relationship, and I'm looking forward to building relationships with the rest of the coaches." Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Getting an offer from any D1 school is special for any recruit, but for Zaiden, getting the offer from Notre Dame really means a lot to him. "It means a lot to receive an offer from a school like Notre Dame. They have a rich history, and I grew up watching them when I was younger." So, what is it about Notre Dame that interests Zaiden the most? "Notre Dame is a place where I can become the best version of me in the classroom and on the field ." Zaiden is a very talented and humble young man who has a bright future ahead of him. We at The Irish Tribune would like to wish Zaiden good luck on his journey to the next level, wherever that may be. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

No. 13 Notre Dame had their first ranked win of the season with a 34-24 victory over the No. 20 USC Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium. Photo by Notre Dame Athletics SOUTH BE ND, Ind. - It was a far from perfect night in South Bend, both on the field and the weather, but Notre Dame was able to play Marcus Freeman's style of football: physical, violent, and bloody. Countless times, Freeman has described Notre Dame's program as offensive and defensive line driven. Tonight, the Irish were able to personify Freeman's message. Notre Dame gained 306 yards on the ground as compared to USC's 68 rushing yards. "The moment wasn't too big... you're not rushing for those types of yards unless you got O-Lineman blocking," said Marcus Freeman. Jeremiyah Love put together a career-defining performance with 228 rushing yards, 37 receiving yards, and a touchdown. Love's tenacity was on full display, running over instead of hurdling over USC defenders, and simply trusting his eyes and hitting the gap with explosiveness. It was clear USC was trying to get into Love's head with countless hits after the whistle and consistent jawing, but the Heisman candidate seemed completely unfazed. As it's been all season, when Love needed a quick break, Jadarian Price was there without skipping a beat. Price added 87 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown, and a 101-yard kickoff return that completely turned the tide in the game. For as solid as Notre Dame was running the ball on the ground, CJ Carr showed his inexperience tonight. It appeared like he was pressuring himself too much and simply overthinking everything. The normal layup-style throws were half-court hucks, and it halted Notre Dame's offensive rhythm. Carr ended the game with 136 yards, a touchdown, and a red zone interception that encapsulated his struggles tonight. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Defensively, Notre Dame continued their dominant performance. Yes, the Irish gave up 24 points, but it was to an extremely talented offensive attack. Jayden Maiava entered the game as one of the nation's most efficient passers and ended this one with 328 yards and two interceptions. While the box score may not reflect the Irish's defensive performance, Notre Dame got stops when it needed it the most. Christian Gray, for the second year of the row, was getting targeted on the outside against Ja'Kobi Lane. Gray was called for plenty of pass interference calls and gave up a 59-yard touchdown pass. Similar to last year, Gray flushed his struggles away and came back with an interception on the next drive for the Irish. The two keys to Notre Dame's defense today were: Leonard Moore blanketing Makai Lemon and the Irish defensive line performing exceptionally against the run on early downs. Lemon was held to a season-low four catches and snapped his three-game touchdown streak. Ash and Freeman's plan to keep their best cover corner on the opposing team's best option worked to perfection. In terms of the running game, many players needed to step up in the absence of Gabriel Rubio. Jared Dawson, Elijah Hughes, and Jason Onye all stepped up to the challenge and held King Miller to 3.9 yards per carry. "For the most part we stopped them in the run game," said Freeman. It was a highly emotional night in South Bend with the season and rivalry seemingly on the line, and the Irish delivered with a somewhat complete performance. Kicking woes, both on the kickoff and field goal department, are a serious concern, but the Irish did enough to outlast a ranked opponent. With the BYE week upcoming, getting healthy will be paramount for Freeman's team, but if they can keep stacking victories, the Irish certainly have a discussion for another College Football Playoff berth. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @ LiamFarrell_IT  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Following back-to-back losses against the current third and ninth-ranked teams in the country, Notre Dame fans, myself included, raised questions about the Irish defense under first-year Defensive Coordinator Chris Ash. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! In the five games since the home loss against Texas A&M, the Notre Dame defense has been flying around the field for the most part. This past week, we saw them hold the top offense in the country to a season-low 24 points. Late last month, the Irish defense traveled down to Arkansas and held the Razorbacks' offense to just 13 points, an offense that has scored at least 31 in every other game. Below is a comparison of the key defensive stats after two games and after seven games, with their respective national ranking: Points per game allowed: 34 (tied-118th) → 21.3 (tied-45th) Total yards per game allowed: 413.5 (108th) → 357.9 (62nd) Pass yards per game allowed: 282.5 (126th) → 257.1 (tied-119th) Rush yards per game allowed: 131 (68th) → 100.71 (21st)     Keys to Defensive Success Across the Past Five Games: Against the Run The most consistent producers against the run have been LBs Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa  and Jaiden Ausberry . S Adon Shuler  has come along recently after a brutal showing at Miami. DE Boubacar Traore  has been fairly consistent, with his worst outing coming against the strong Texas A&M front. In my opinion, the next two guys have been the unsung heroes in this defensive phase. After combining for just nine snaps in the Irish’s first two games, DL Elijah Hughes  has consistently been a factor against the run while other interior linemen have maybe struggled. If Hughes keeps performing as a backup, he may force Ash’s hand at some point to start the USC transfer. Finally, DE Jordan Botelho  has also been pretty consistent over the past few games. He somewhat struggled against USC, but having the edge rusher back after multiple serious injuries has been a welcome sight. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Pass Rush Maybe the most drastic improvement has come in this facet after tallying just one sack in the Irish losses. In the five games since then, this group has compiled 16 sacks, including four sacks against both Boise and NC State. Traore has led the way with 5.5 sacks in the past five games, putting him over an impressive sack per game average. In addition to Traore, I would say the most consistent pass rush producers have been Bryce Young , Donovan Hinish , Viliamu-Asa, Botelho, and Jared Dawson . DE Junior Tuihalamaka  has performed in his limited playing time after struggling at Miami. LB Drayk Bowen  has also been able to make an impact on his limited pass rush snaps after struggling in this area the first three games this year. Coverage Thanks to an improved pass rush, Notre Dame’s coverage has reaped the benefits with 12 interceptions across the past five games after coming up with just one against Miami and Texas A&M. The Irish came away with four picks against Boise State and three against NC State. S Luke Talich  leads the team during this span with three interceptions, while CB Leonard Moore  has two after missing the Purdue and Arkansas games with an injury. CB Christian Gray  is Christian Gray. It is truly a 50/50 chance on whether he will give up a big gain or come down with a clutch interception or pass breakup every time he is targeted. I think the Irish defense has learned to live with the highs and lows that come with the junior CB. Freshman nickelback Dallas Golden  has really impressed after not playing in the first two games. Arguably, he just had his best game of the season against the number one pass offense in the country, a great sign for the future. Moore is him, not much else needs to be said. Bowen has been locking down the middle the past three games, with three receptions allowed for just nine yards across six targets and a pass breakup against USC. Shuler has done well in coverage this season, outside of the corner touchdown allowed to the Trojans' TE last week. Another freshman who has come out this season is S Tae Johnson , who has started each week after Texas A&M. He did not play great against USC, but he held his own enough to start envisioning an elite Notre Dame secondary coming soon with the amount of young talent. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Coming into this game, there was so much talk surrounding the rivalry between Notre Dame and USC. Would this be the last face-off between the two storied historic programs for the foreseeable future? With no contract extension agreed upon by either team, we may have seen the final game between these two, which would be awful in my opinion, as this is truly one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports, dating back to 1926. I don't care what they have to do, but something has to be done to continue this rivalry forever. If that worry wasn't enough, reports kept swirling that come game time, there was a possibility for major rainfall, and if that wasn't bad enough, lightning was being forecasted as a major part of the storm. Many started to worry. Would the game be delayed for a significant period of time, or would the game even happen at all and be cancelled? But as luck would have it, the storm seemed to be pushed back farther and farther into the night. In fact, it didn't really start to rain heavily until later into the fourth quarter. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! USC received the ball to start the game and immediately went to work and marched down the field on 10 plays for 75 yards, which was capped off by a 10-yard pass from Jayden Maiava to Lake McRee. USC immediately took Notre Dame into deep water, and they weren't up to the task. Notre Dame's defense once again started the game slowly, with poor tackling, and looked lost and unsure in what they were doing. It started to feel like if Notre Dame was going to win this game; it would have to be in a shootout situation. The Notre Dame offense on its first series had no problem getting going after the second play when Jeremiyah Love busted loose for a 63-yard run down to the USC 12, where he capped off the drive on a 12-yard run for a touchdown. Carr completed this drive with two underwhelming passes for incompletions, something that would linger with him as the game went on. This was by far his worst performance of the season and his third week in a row where, at times, he lacked accuracy and just looked overall uncomfortable. Carr made one of the worst decisions you'll ever see when he scrambled around with no one open, and instead of throwing it away and living to see another down, he panicked and threw it right to two defenders, resulting in an interception in Notre Dame's own red zone. Which begs the question, is Carr regressing? Or is this just freshman growing pains that were likely to happen all along? I'd tend to believe it's the latter. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price were an absolute force to be reckoned with Saturday night, and USC had no answer for the two-headed monster. Love rushed for a career high of 228 yards and a touchdown, while Jadarian Price rushed for 87 yards on 13 carries and lit the stadium up with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Love and Price continue to be one of the most dynamic RB tandems in the country, and their 1-2 punch seems to be too much for any opposing team to deal with. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Special teams was once again an absolute nightmare last night, with a missed field goal, a missed extra point, and if that wasn't bad enough, kicking the ball out of bounds on kickoffs, resulting in a penalty. I don't know what's going on with the kicking game at Notre Dame, but Marcus Freeman and special teams Coach Marty Biagi better figure it out and fast. These types of kicking debacles can and will eventually cost you a game, and if they do make the College Football Playoff, they are most certainly gonna need a serviceable FG kicker. I don't care what they do to fix it, but it has to be fixed and fast. Maybe they should take a peek at the soccer team and possibly strike gold like the Dallas Cowboys did when they landed Brandon Aubrey. The defense as bad as they started this game; they really have to be credited for helping this team beat their longtime rival in USC. They settled down, especially in the second half, and dominated the USC offense, especially in the 4th quarter, when they shut down the high-powered USC offense and held them to zero points. Chris Ash, like him or not, deserves a lot of credit for the 2nd half adjustments of the defensive side of the ball and their continuing progress from week to week. With that being said, he still has work to do with this defense when it comes to starting the game slowly and the poor tackling that shows itself at times every week. There were certainly quite a few negatives coming out of this game, but even with Notre Dame playing as rough as they did at times, they still managed to dominate their longtime rival in USC, and at the end of the day, that's all that truly matters. If this truly is the last time that the Irish will play SoCal for the foreseeable future, what a way to go out on top and secure the jeweled shillelagh trophy, where it may now possibly live forever in South Bend. On to the next one... Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. 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Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame put on a show for the Irish fans at Compton Ice Arena in a sweep of the St. Lawrence Saints. The Irish outscored the Saints 11-2 in the two games, with newcomers leading the way offensively and solid performances from sophomore goalie Nicholas Kempf. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! The Irish gave a warm welcome to first-year Head Coach Brock Sheahan on Thursday when they routed St. Lawrence 8-2. Six Notre Dame skaters recorded multiple points in the game, with Michigan transfer Evan Werner leading the way with four points (1 goal, 3 assists).  After allowing two of the first three shots he faced behind him, Kempf had a clean rest of the game thanks to good defensive play, finishing with 19 saves. The Irish’s second line got the scoring started with under five minutes remaining in the first when Cole Knuble found the back of the net for his first goal of the season off of a pass left behind by Brennan Ali. Linemate Pano Fimis was also credited with an assist on the score that brought the Irish within one nearing the end of the period. The rest of the game was pure domination from the Irish as they outshot the Saints 34-10 in the second and third frames. In the second, Werner and defenseman Axel Kumlin each tallied a goal and an assist, leading Notre Dame to a 4-0 period that put them ahead 5-2. RPI transfer Sutter Muzzatti has made his impact felt early in his Irish tenure, as he added his team-leading third goal of the season with under a minute remaining in the period.  Notre Dame’s top power play unit put on a clinic in the third period, adding two goals on three man-advantage opportunities. Knuble added his second goal of the game 3:46 into the frame off assists from Paul Fischer and Werner. Then, with under three minutes left in the game, Fischer and Knuble assisted on Henry Nelson’s PPG, his second of the season. Freshman Cole Brown notched his first goal of the year midway through the third after finishing his own rebound. Some keys to the Irish victory on Thursday included a strong penalty kill unit and dominance at the dot. Notre Dame successfully killed ten penalty minutes, again, thanks to good defensive play from the likes of Fischer and Kumlin. The Irish finished the game with a 35-20 advantage in faceoffs, led by Fimis who went 13-1. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Notre Dame debuted their new “Hockey Leprechaun” alternates on Friday in a feisty game featuring 19 penalties totaling 38 minutes. This did lead to a more tame result compared to the night prior, with Kempf posting a 26-save shutout in a 3-0 Irish win, marking his first collegiate career shutout. Coach Sheahan and Defenseman Captain Michael Mastrodomenico sang Kempf's praises postgame, acknowledging his development and status as one of the best goalies at his age in the country. Brown led the offensive attack with assists on all three goals, bringing him to four points on the year.  Mastrodomenico knocked in his first goal of the season in front of the net on the power play 8:52 into the game with assists from Brown and Kumlin. Kempf finished the first period with 12 saves, as the Irish held on to the early 1-0 lead. Irish freshman Will Belle and a Saints defenseman got into it as the period ended, resulting in matching minor penalties. Just over seven minutes into the second, Fischer tallied his second goal of the season on a coast-to-coast rush with assists being awarded to Brown and the rare goalie point for Kempf. Saints Goalie Mason Kucenski had an otherwise strong period, coming up with 17 saves against the Irish during the frame. Notre Dame outshot the Saints 18-9 in a period that featured eight combined penalties, including an unsportsmanlike conduct against Henry Nelson as the period buzzer sounded. The third period was more of the same with Notre Dame outshooting the Saints 12-5. With about eight minutes left in the game, Fimis found a trailing Werner on a breakaway opportunity and he was able to bury his second goal of the season. Brown was also awarded an assist on the score that put the Irish up 3-0. Danny Nelson picked up two minor penalties in the frame, but the Irish PK was too strong for St. Lawrence as Notre Dame completed the sweep of the Saints. Stars of the Series: F Evan Werner - 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists), 10 shots, +4 ice rating F Cole Brown - 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists), 5 shots, 1 blocked shot, +3 ice rating D Axel Kumlin - 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists), 3 shots, 2 blocked shots, +4 ice rating D Paul Fischer - 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists), 4 shots, 3 blocked shots, +2 ice rating G Nicholas Kempf - 2-0-0, 45 saves, 2 goals allowed, 1 assist Notre Dame will look to continue their roll at home next week against Robert Morris. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. 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Notre Dame is preparing to have one of the biggest recruiting weekends of Marcus Freeman's career thus far. The "who's who" of top-tier talent from across the country will be in attendance on Saturday when the Irish take on the USC Trojans. This weekend may prove to be huge for the future of the program. The Notre Dame staff will be sure to roll out the red carpet in an attempt to impress as many elite prospects as they can. Art by The Irish Tribune One of the biggest names in attendance this weekend is C/O 2027 5-star Elite RB Kemon Spell (recently decommitted from PSU). Spell is a 5'10", 205lbs RB out of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, and is ranked by 247Sports as the #1 RB in the country for the class of 2027. Notre Dame will do all it can to try and convince the talented running back that South Bend is where he should call home for his collegiate career, and a win against USC (a historic rival) would certainly work in Notre Dame's favor. But Kemon Spell will not be the only 5-star elite talent visiting Notre Dame this weekend. As of right now, at least seven more who aren't committed to the Irish are scheduled to be in attendance this Saturday. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Those are as follows: C/O 2028 DL Asher Ghioto (16 Natl. 3 Pos.) C/O 2028 DL Marcus Fakatou (3 Natl. 1 Pos.) C/O 2028 RB Zaiden Jernigan (27 Natl. 1 Pos.) C/O 2027 WR Jamier Brown (5 Natl. 1 Pos.) C/O 2027 Edge David Jacobs Jr. (10 Natl. 2 Pos.) C/O 2027 WR Monshun Sales (12 Natl. 3 Pos.) C/O 2027 Edge Chris Whithead (24 Natl. 4 Pos.) Notre Dame will also be welcoming back a multitude of Irish commits, and they are as follows: C/O 2026 CB Khary Adams C/O 2026 Edge Ebenezer Ewetade C/O 2026 WR Kaydon Finley C/O 2026 WR Bubba Frazier C/O 2026 TE Preston Fryzel C/O 2026 OL Sullivan Garvin C/O 2026 QB Noah Grubbs C/O 2026 OT Grayson McKeogh C/O 2026 OL Tyler Merrill C/O 2026 OL Ben Nichols C/O 2026 ATH Joey O'Brien C/O 2026 RB Javian Osborne C/O 2026 S Ayden Pouncey C/O 2026 S Nick Reddish C/O 2026 WR Brayden Robinson C/O 2026 CB Chaston Smith C/O 2026 OT Charlie Thom C/O 2026 RB Jonaz Walton C/O 2027 DL Richie Flanagan C/O 2027 QB Teddy Jarrard C/O 2027 LS Sean Kraf t As you can see, there will be a star-studded cast visiting campus this weekend for the USC game, and all eyes will be on the Irish as they take on the Trojans in what could be the last game between the long-time rivals, which would make a win that much more important for Notre Dame. Marcus Freeman and the staff have a very unique opportunity here, not only to continue their playoff hopes, but also to impress some of the best talent from coast to coast with a victory against a Top 25 team in primetime at Notre Dame Stadium. Stay tuned, Irish Fans, as this weekend is huge for the future of this program. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

It's rivalry weekend in South Bend, and the stakes couldn't be higher. The staff at The Irish Tribune are back to drop predictions heading into a game that has serious playoff implications on both sides. Let's get into it! Photo via USC Athletics Liam Gaudet - Senior Editor: 28-24 Notre Dame Buckle those seatbelts, because this has the potential to be one of the greatest matchups in the history of this rivalry. With both teams vying for a playoff spot, and the future of this great rivalry in question, this almost feels like a "winner takes all" game given the circumstances. Notre Dame finds themselves in a bit of a weird position ahead of Saturday's game. CJ Carr has come every bit as advertised for the Fighting Irish, and is currently changing the narrative surrounding ND quarterback play. Gone are the days of the game manager in South Bend, the Irish have a true gunslinger, which is usually the calling card of their opponent. Carr boasts an incredible efficiency rating, and runs one of the most prolific offenses in the sport. Pair that with a tandem of backs that include Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, and I don't see too many defenses capable of slowing this group down. But with rain in the forecast, we could definitely see a lower point total in this game. Still, expect to see another solid outing, but with a greater emphasis on the run game for the Irish. USC will need to be stout up front to have a chance in this game, and the results hinge on whether they will be able to slow Price and Love down. On the other side, USC once again returns one of the B1G's best duos in Makai Lemon and Jayden Maiava. Lemon gave Christian Gray all he could handle last year, so expect them to try and work a favorable matchup through the air. With Leonard Moore in the mix, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Irish try and neutralize the playmaking abilities of Lemon by shadowing him with the best DB in the country. Even if that is the case, USC proved they could win a game on the ground, as they did last week with King Miller who averaged nearly nine yards a carry against a stingy Michigan defense. With Gabriel Rubio ruled out for this game, USC might try and grind this thing out similar to last week. The Trojan's aren't just an air-raid squad, they'll take what they can get on the ground no problem, which means Notre Dame will need to play extremely well up front. The defenses are also much improved on either side of this matchup. After some early struggles, Chris Ash has really picked things up after an incredibly sloppy start. The Irish have seven interceptions in their last two games, a testament to the talent and scheme this defense has put forth. USC also has proven athletes on the other side of the ball as well, namely Bishop Fitzgerald, who is the highest graded safety per Pro Football Focus this season. One mistake on offense could very well be the difference in this game. I like the Irish to win a sloppy game, similar to Miami but with different results. It might be a game that sees a few drives before the offenses really open things up in the second half. Both teams will try and run the ball, with the trenches making the difference in this one - mainly the Irish offensive line, even without Ashton Craig. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Clayton Stohler - Podcast Host: 38-13 Notre Dame This is the first time since 2017 that USC comes to town, and both teams still have playoff hopes on the line. Lincoln Riley and USC love to run 12 personnel, and that means Notre Dame has a third linebacker on the field - this bodes well for the Irish. Look for Auberry, Bowen,  and KVA to have big days in coverage. In fact, I expect KVA to have a big day in general after he was unable to play in this game last season due to a leg injury.    While Ashton Craig is out, and USC will surely do what they have to do to stop the run, Love will hit his first big one of the year. USC's secondary struggles over time and the aerial attack takes over for the Irish- regardless of weather. And it's all on the backs of an offensive line that needs to have their best overall game of the season thus far.    KK Smith may just have a coming out party given the absence of Micah Gilbert. Malachi Fields will remind viewers of who he is. Pauling and Faison will be who they've been all season...really good.    Notre Dame Stadium is just different when USC comes to town. Especially at night. And if this is truly the last time they come to South Bend, this rivalry will go out in style.  Liam Farrell - Senior Sports Writer/Editor: 38-24 Notre Dame The potential last game of the storied rivalry will look to be a shootout early on. Notre Dame and USC will both have tremendous success moving the ball through the air despite the wet and rainy conditions.   However, in the second half, Chris Ash and Notre Dame's defense, which has been stellar after halftime, will force Jayden Maiava into difficult situations. The talented USC quarterback will throw two second half interceptions and drown the Trojans upset bid.   With an injured center and USC's commitment to stopping the run, CJ Carr will put together a legacy-defining game. Fighting Irish wide receivers Malachi Fields and Jordan Faison will feast on one of the worst passing defenses in Power Four football and lead Notre Dame to victory.  Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Noah Wehby - Sports Writer: 34-31 Notre Dame Notre Dame finally gets another chance to add a strong win to a resume that needs it.    In a game where it isn't hard to imagine both teams nearing the 40's, the wet conditions will somewhat dampen the scoring. Notre Dame will find success in the run game, using their tandem of elite running backs to hit on big plays and keep the offense on schedule.    Defensively, Notre Dame is going to have a tough time stopping this USC offense. The Irish have had problems guarding slot wide receivers, and now they will be going up against maybe the best in the entire country. The weather may prove to be a friend for the Irish, as USC is the team that really wants to air the ball out.    Overall, this is going to be a great back and forth game where both teams display their elite offenses. If this is the last game in the series, it will surely go out in style.  Max Uretsky - Sports Writer/Recruiting Analyst: 35-32 Notre Dame I think the 2025 version of the Notre Dame - USC rivalry has the makings of a potential classic. Defenses for both teams will get their biggest tests of the year to this point so it will be about who can bow up in key moments.   Notre Dame's defense has come a long way since the week 2 debacle against Texas A&M, but for me, not all of the concerns in the secondary have been erased. USC's 1-2 punch at WR with Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane present legitimate match up issues, and Lemon in particular gave the Irish fits a season ago when these teams faced off. Christian Gray will be targeted as he was last year, and will need to perform much better for ND to have a chance.   The potential for some bad weather does make things interesting, but it may hurt the Irish as much as it would USC. CJ Carr is turning Into a budding star, and his ability to push the ball downfield has really allowed Notre Dame to be a potent and balanced offense. USC showed a week ago vs Michigan that they are much improved in the trenches, only allowing 3.5 yards a carry to one of the better rushing attacks in the country. If ND were forced to go more conservative, will they be able to get enough push against a stout USC front to let the likes of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price take over? They have been inconsistent at best thus far, allowing RBs to be hit in the backfield on too many occasions. For USC, their ground game has kept pace with what they do in the air, averaging almost 6.5 yards a carry. Gabe Rubio being out won't make things any easier for the Irish in the run defense department, and I expect to see a healthy mix of run blitzing from the LB group to prevent offensive linemen from getting up to the second level.   Notre Dame ultimately dominated their last two games vs Boise State and NC State respectively, but they were sleeping walking at times, shooting themselves in the foot via penalties, and getting off to very slow starts. Not coming out firing on all cylinders against USC would spell disaster as they are too talented for ND to overcome too many self inflicted wounds.    Marcus Freeman has a great opportunity to get ND squarely back in the playoff mix with a win Saturday, and I'm excited to see how it all plays out. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!