If you haven’t heard yet, Tyler Buchner is set to have surgery on his shoulder tomorrow, which means he will likely be out for the rest of the season. Marcus Freeman named Drew Pyne the starter for Saturday and Steve Angeli the backup. Let’s get into detail about all 3 of these guys. Tyler Buchner - Buchner left in the 4th quarter of Saturday’s game against Marshall after taking a big hit. He left the game completing 18 of his 33 passes for 201 yards and 2 interceptions. He ran 13 times for 44 yards and 2 touchdowns. Buchner has thrown for 378 yards and 0 touchdowns in the 2 games he has started this year. He has ran for 62 yards and 2 touchdowns in the 2 games combined. Buchner hasn’t really been able to get it going through the air, and received some boos early into the Marshall game as the Irish offense couldn’t do anything. Drew Pyne - Drew Pyne entered the game late into the game after Buchner suffered his injury and had 2 drives. He finished completing 3 of his 6 passes for 20 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. This was Pyne’s only action all season, but last year he did appear in some games when Jack Coan wasn’t performing. In the 2021 season, Pyne completed 15 of his 30 passes for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns with 0 interceptions. Drew Pyne has shown in spurts that he can be very electrifying if he gets that opportunity, and going forward he will have that chance as he is now the starting quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Steve Angeli - Angeli is just a true freshman from Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey. Angeli has not played a snap for Notre Dame yet but has a chance to appear if Drew Pyne doesn’t perform well. In his senior season, Angeli threw for 1,717 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. He only appeared in 6 games and put those numbers up. I am very high on Angeli, and think if given the right opportunity, he can be a very good QB. I would love to see Angeli get some playing time this Saturday, especially if it is not a close game. Drew Pyne will start the game this Saturday, but if he doesn’t perform well, I would love to see Marcus Freeman and Tommy Rees pull the trigger early and give the freshman a shot. If you enjoyed reading this, subscribe to the Irish Tribune. Go Irish, Beat Cal

Written by Liam Gaudet, Senior Editor Notre Dame Football has reached Defcon 1. After the events of Saturday, it's hard to say that we aren’t looking at the worst case scenario as a program, and I’d be lying to you if I were to say otherwise. The “Freeman Era” is quite literally off to the worst possible start as Notre Dame drops a game at home to Marshall 26-21. This snaps a win streak of 42 straight wins over unranked teams, and is also the most embarrassing home loss we’ve seen in quite a long time. The question at this point is not what has gone wrong, but what has gone right, and spoiler alert, literally nothing is the answer. So together, let's swallow our pride and put the program under the microscope for a closer look. Photo by Slap The Sign Offense. Garbage. Plain and simple, one of the worst displays of offense I’ve ever seen from an Irish team, and it spans from the coordinators downward. Firstly, let's discuss the offensive line play. When you have high four star talent at every position, and you’re bigger and stronger than the opponent, there really isn’t a reason to be averaging less than 3 and a half yards per carry against an average Sun Belt school. Harry Hiestand was supposed to be the chosen one in shaping these young men into the top 10 draft picks they supposedly have the potential to be. They were beaten off the line virtually every snap, and gave almost no chance for the backs to even fall forward. I’m not here to slander the student athletes at Notre Dame, and I think with proper coaching this unit has the potential to be in the upper echelon of college football, so I’m holding Hiestand and Rees accountable for the proverbial pylon “blocking”. Wide Receivers. I get it, we currently have five scholarship receivers on the roster. That is a problem that pre-dates the Marcus Freeman regime, but one that could have been addressed in the offseason. Why didn’t we address this issue in the transfer portal? Even if we couldn’t pull a diamond out of the portal we could have at least settled for more depth. No separation was seen anywhere, and again, I tend to blame Tommy Rees for not seeing this issue and at least attempting to scheme players open. My sincerest apologies to Michael Mayer for having to suffer through this offense, by the way. It’s like that meme of the Bugatti that's parked in the driveway of a crackhouse for God’s sake. Find more ways to get our playmakers the ball in space. If your plan isn’t working, re-evaluate and take what they give you. That clearly didn’t happen. Quarterback. We don’t know the extent of Tyler Buchner’s injury, and I really hope he’s okay. It’s hard to place too much blame on him when the line is collapsing and the receivers aren’t getting open. It’s even harder for him considering we have a coordinator who thinks you can sleepwalk through play calling and expect us to win. What is extremely evident is the fact that we don’t have a quarterback who is ready right now. I said this in the offseason, but I was never sold on Buchner being the savior. He was too indecisive with his throws and that cost us big time. I’m not convinced he can properly read a defense, and it's also clear that we don’t have a single quarterback who can. I gave Buchner the pass in the Ohio State game because he took care of the football and was efficient for the most part. There are no excuses for the interceptions thrown during the Marshall game at all. Pyne came in and looked lost. Buchner looked shaky at best. Our best weapon was Buchner on the run and Rees obviously didn’t see that. Whoever is under center next week gives me absolutely zero confidence we can score points, plain and simple. Defense. Six and seven yards per carry on first down against a group of five school is pitiful, especially considering we’re supposed to have a top 10 defensive line in the country. Outside of the sacks, which were few and far between, the line got pushed around at will. Al Golden didn’t do a very good job at all this week, which is extremely concerning because he did an excellent job at Ohio State. The inconsistencies were apparent almost everywhere on the field. It was harrowing to watch the supposed strength of our program get throttled by a team with inferior skill, but much superior heart. That probably says a lot more about our coaching staff than anything else. The secondary played average at best, and the linebackers were missing tackles left and right. That is pure and utter failure on the coach's part. Coaching. Tommy Rees has been calling a completely uninspired offense, and refuses to make adjustments not only on the fly, but at halftime as well. Instead of realizing that our line cannot get a push, Rees was insistent on running the ball up the middle directly into a wall of defenders forcing the offense into second and third and long situations. We showed little to no effort in trying to attack the perimeter, and our offense was completely one dimensional and predictable as a result. Tommy Rees needs to improvise and realize that adapting your plan is a big part of the game. I’ve almost seen enough miserable play calling for him to be put on thin ice. Coach Freeman. I knew that there was risk involved in this hire, particularly considering the fact that Marcus Freeman has never been a head coach before. I’m not saying that this hire will necessarily turn out to be a failure, but the inexperience and risk factors have been prevalent early on. I am optimistic that Coach Freeman will be able to right the ship, but for now, this was a reality we were willing to accept when we brought on a new coach. The players need his leadership now more than ever in order to salvage a season that is very clearly on life support. It starts this week against Cal. I trust Marcus Freeman, and now is the time for him to prove me right.

Written by Nick Kremer, Editor for the Irish Tribune Photo from On3.com Marcus Freeman has been relentless on the recruiting trail while he has been the Head Coach of Notre Dame. He has received commitments from an abundance of top targets, but the most important of them all may have been recruiting Al Golden to join his staff as the Defensive Coordinator. In the 2021-2022 season, Ohio State was the clear leader in points per game averaging 45.7. Ohio State came into this game as having the best offense in the nation, and the Buckeyes had not scored less than 30 points in a game since 2018; the entire Ryan Day era. Day is credited as one of the nation's best play-callers with one of the nations best QB's, WR's, and RB's; a tough debut for the Irish DC, but one he was ready for. Al Golden's defense stepped up to the nation's top offense, and stood toe to toe. The Irish held OSU to under 6 yards per play, and only one play of 30 yards or more. Notre Dame made CJ Stroud uncomfortable for most of the night, and it paid off. Stroud and the explosive OSU offense passed for 223 yards, and only 6.6 yards per attempt. For reference, Smith-Njigba had 346 yards receiving by himself in the Rose Bowl. Major credit needs to be given to Coach O'Leary and Coach Mickens. The secondary was considered a weak point headed in to this season, and they absolutely showed out in this game. Tariq Bracy, Senior, played the best game of his career at nickel, and corner during the game. He was an absolute difference maker. Brandon Joseph showed All-American type ability, and Clarence Lewis bounced back in a big way from his disappointing bowl game performance. We can't forget the freshman. The future is BRIGHT in the secondary, showcased by Benjamin Morrison and Jaden Mickey. Both players showed that they are headed for stardom in their near future; this is huge for Golden's defense going forward. The front 7 of the defense had some amazing moments, and some moments that left a bit to be desired. Touted Senior DE Isaiah Foskey came in with high expectations, but was unable to make any major impact in the game. Jayson Ademilola, another returning starter with big expectations, did not have his best game. To be fair, it was clear that the OSU offensive line was MUCH improved. JD Bertrand and the linebackers had a solid night. Bertrand did what he usually does; plays disciplined, triggers quick, and plays aggressive. Bertrand had some missed tackles, but that is to be expected against the athleticism and speed of OSU. Liufau had a solid game, but was still out of position at times. His athleticism and explosiveness still make him a key piece to this defense. Howard Cross was the player of the game on defense (in my opinion). Although undersized, Cross continues to show an elite first step, phenomenal hands, and exceptional quickness for an inside defensive lineman. What he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in other areas. Rylie Mills was another player that stood out on the defensive line, and he will only continue to get better as he gets more reps. All together, the outcome of the game was not what Irish Nation wanted, but there are still a lot of positives to take away from the game. The biggest positive was the Notre Dame defense. If Al Golden can continue to game plan his defense to perform like this, there will be a new defensive attitude in South Bend. A GOLDEN standard for the Irish defense; a defense that can win championships.

The Irish are set for the first home game in the Freeman Era this weekend. After a 21-10 loss to Ohio State in The Shoe, the Fighting Irish are returning to a more friendly and welcoming environment in South Bend (for the Irish that is, not for any traveling teams). The Irish faithful have long been awaiting this day. All the buzz and the excitement around the Freeman Era will surely not have lost any steam. After hanging with one of the top three teams in the nation and playing some stellar defense everyone is still on the Freeman hype train. But this article is not going to dwell on analyzing and discussing that game, here at Irish Tribune there is other stellar content to check out to get your fix on post-game wrap ups and for the review of the upcoming game against the Thundering Herd of Marshall. Today I will be focusing on you, the fans! Everyone knows that traveling to Notre Dame is more then just a football trip. It is a pilgrimage to one of the cathedrals of college football. A journey that should be planed with diligence and should be awaited with anxious anticipation. I myself have been to Notre Dame almost ten times in my young life. Each trip has brought with it numerous memories that I will never forget and I optimistically await my next trip to South Bend. No matter how many times you go, there will be a new experience awaiting and new stories to tell for the rest of your life. I wanted to share some of my favorite traditions to take part in, places to visit and food to try, so that your experience this weekend at Notre Dame will be one of the best it can be. Source: Google Maps A- Trip to Notre Dame can not be started any other way! Check out the book store for the newest Irish apparel and snag some memorabilia to decorate your home office or your sports cave! Also don't forget the shirt for the year! B-The South Quad is the place to be this weekend. Friday night the pep rally will be held here starting a 5:30 pm. Get there early or stay a little later to sneak into the Rockne Memorial to rub the great coach's nose for some good luck on Saturday and the rest of the season. Also on Saturday the South Quad will be littered with some of the best tailgate food on campus. Various non profits and charity groups will be serving up steak sandwiches, burgers brats and dogs. Stop by and show your support! C- Working our way up the campus we'd find our selves at the God Quad. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart is must see. From the stained glass windows, beautiful architecture and the painted ceilings it is a cant miss. Their will also be Mass for those that wish to attend 30 minutes after the end of the game on Saturday. And of course only just few steps away is the picturesque Grotto. It is most awe-inspiring at dusk when the full effect of the votive candels can be appreciated. But this does not mean that it will be worth the walk at any point during the weekend. Its also less busy in the early parts of Friday and Saturday. From here one can walk to just below the Golden Dome and truly see the shine and shimmer of Lady who looks over all the Fighting Irish faithful. And you do not want to Trumpets Under the Dome which is on Fridays of game weekends at 4 p.m. and an hour before kickoff on game day. Photo Credit: Notre Dame Football Twitter D- Touchdown Jesus will never disappoint, whether you can see him from your seat in the stadium or if you posed for pictures before the kickoff this icon is one that gives you a sense of how special the school and team really are! E-About two hours before kickoff stay close to Touchdown Jesus and you see hundreds if not thousand of blue and green clad faithful starting to line the sidewalk heading towards the stadium to get a sight and maybe even a high five from one of the Irish players and coaches. Fun side note, at one player walk Ian Book gave me a high five and then went on to throw five TDs that day. 1- This is where it all goes down! Where 80,000 fans unite and come together as one and cheer on the greatest team in college football! The Irish have made significant upgrades since my first game at Notre Dame. There is now a jumbo-tron, which I would've appreciated on my first trip because I missed the one and only TD. The grass has been switched t turf whit a giant ND at center field. But trust me the stadium still caries its magic and mystic. Get in town early on Friday and you might be able to walk thru the tunnel and to the edge of the filed. Even if there's a wait its definitely worth it! Photo Credit: The New York Times 2- The Joyce Center is typically where the pep rally will be held if there is bad weather on Friday night. So keep an eye on the forecast! The most important things to remember for Saturday: root your heart out for those players; go back home with a phone full of photos to share with friends and family; create countless memories from tailgating and make new Irish faithful friends; and lose your voice from cheering so much.

Photo Credit: @ndfootball on Instagram After a disappointing loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes last Saturday, Notre Dame fans are filled with questions, concerns, and overreactions. Scoring ten points in modern college football will not be enough to challenge the likes of Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, and Clemson respectively. Irish fans expected more out of an offense that features players like Tyler Buchner, Michael Mayer, Chris Tyree, and Lorenzo Styles. The Irish have playmakers, but for a variety of reasons, we did not see plays being made against the Buckeyes. During his weekly press conference on Monday, September 5, Freeman said: “We didn't accomplish the goal that we had. The goal was to win and we didn't do that. As I said after the game, there's no moral victories around here. The expectation for us and this football program is to win every game we play, including playing the number two team in the country. But, again, as I'll tell them in our team meeting today, this hopefully is the floor. This is the foundation of what we have to build off of.” Beyond the two scoring drives, the Irish offense never seemed to find a rhythm. Outside of Audric Estime and Michael Mayer, fans would be hard-pressed to identify players who stepped up to the moment last Saturday night. I believe this starts with the offensive line stepping up and playing at a higher level. The talent is there, but they must embrace the “I want to dominate every snap” type of attitude that players like Quentin Nelson, Mike McGlinchy, Alex Bars, Robert Hainsey, Ronnie Stanley, and Zach Martin showed while playing at Notre Dame in years past. If the line can play better, it should allow the run game to establish itself and take the pressure off of Tyler Buchner. On the other side of the ball, Notre Dame fans should be very excited about what they saw on defense Saturday night. There are areas to improve, but many of the weaknesses from last year were strengths on Saturday night. This begins with the improved play from the secondary. Brandon Joseph and the safeties played much better as a unit. Along with two impressive freshmen performances from Mikey and Morrison, Clarence Lewis had a much improved bounce-back game as well. There are not many freshmen corners that can handle Ohio State’s receivers in all of college football. Linebacker play was improved over last year, but they still need to improve their tackling. The defense was clearly a bright spot for the night and should prove to be the strength of the team once again. Final Take- So what does Notre Dame do now? Again, Freeman stated at his press conference: “I think you got to look at the game and learn from all those different opportunities that you had to execute. Now we have to use that same motivation when we get ready for Marshall. We aren't looking at the spread but we are looking at the opportunity. We get 12 guaranteed opportunities. 12. We understand that we work 300 days a year for 12 guaranteed opportunities so for us to waste an opportunity in Notre Dame Stadium, it would be a shame. We'll have them motivated to practice. We got to practice with intensity, physicality and an attention to detail and the execution we're looking for.” This team must learn from their mistakes and move on. Yes, that is easier said than done, but that is what the best teams do. If this team hopes to finish strong this season, they must now focus on Marshall and establishing themselves as legit title contenders. Go Irish! Follow “God Country Irish” on Instagram Contact God Country Irish

Photo Credit: @ndfootball on Instagram The Fighting Irish begin the 2022 season with a road game against Ohio State. The excitement surrounding this game cannot be overstated. The Buckeyes are annual championship contenders and bring a lot of NFL potential to this game. Needless to say, this should be a football game for the ages. For the Notre Dame football program, this may be the biggest game in recent history. Games against Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, and others have been exciting to watch, but there is a new excitement around this football team. Marcus Freeman has brought an energy and competitive spirit that seems to have been missing in recent seasons. Like most Irish fans, I find myself cautiously optimistic because our hopes have been quickly brought back down to reality in the past. Yet, many fans continue to find themselves growing more and more excited about this game. Breaking Down Ohio State Ryan Day enters his fourth season as head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes. With a 34-4 record in his first three seasons at Ohio State, Day will bring a competitive football team on September 3. After ending the 2021 season with an 11-2 record and missing out on the playoffs, Day looks to rebound with a big 2022 season. All of that starts when the Irish come to Columbus on Saturday. Offensive Players to Know CJ Stroud — QB #7 2021 Stats: 4435 passing yards, 44 touchdowns, 6 interceptions TreVeyon Henderson — RB #32 2021 Stats: 1248 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns; 312 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns Jaxson Smith-Njigba — WR #11 2021 Stats: 1606 receiving yards, 9 touchdowns Marvin Harrison Jr. — WR #18 2021 Stats: 139 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns Defensive Players to Know Denzel Burke — CB #5 2021 Stats: 37 tackles, 1 interception, 1 touchdown Ronnie Hickman — S #14 2021 Stats: 98 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, 1 touchdown Steele Chambers — LB #22 2021 Stats: 47 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception Zach Harrison — DE #9 2021 Stats: 33 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles Keys to an Irish Victory 1. Tyler Buchner must embrace the moment Few quarterbacks in college football history have been able to embrace the moment of a big game, but fans immediately remember those who do. Vince Young, Tim Tebow, Johnny Manziel, Cam Newton, and Deshaun Watson are a few that come to mind in recent history. By no means do I think a victory rests solely on Tyler Buchner's shoulders, but at the end of the day he must rise to the occasion and become the superstar we believe him to be. Buchner has an opportunity to immediately establish himself as a top college quarterback against the Buckeyes. If Tyler can embrace the moment and rise to the occasion on Saturday, I believe the Irish should win this football game. 2. The Defense must make CJ Stroud Uncomfortable This may seem like an obvious statement, but few teams were able to rattle Stroud last season. After watching last year’s Ohio State game against Michigan, it became clear that the Wolverines never let Stroud get comfortable and this was the key to their victory over the Buckeyes. Isaiah Foskey, Rylie Mills, Jayson Ademilola, Justin Ademilola, Howard Cross III, and others must bring the pressure and make the quarterback feel uncomfortable all night long. If the defense can do this, I believe the Irish should be able to score enough points on offense to defeat the Buckeyes on Saturday. 3. The Offense must generate over 35 points With an improved offensive line, I believe this offense should be able to become more explosive this season. This offense needs to generate more 35 points on offense, if they are going to stand a chance against an explosive Buckeye Offense. As I stated before, Tyler Buchner must have a huge day for the Irish, but guys like Chris Tyree, Lorenzo Styles, Michael Mayer, and others must play with a competitive edge on Saturday. If they do, I believe we could see one of the most explosive Notre Dame offenses in recent memory. Final Take- Will it be easy to beat the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday? No, but I believe Marcus Freeman is reestablishing a competitive spirit at Notre Dame and this is infectious to the players. Notre Dame fans have grown accustomed to Irish football teams treating games like this with a “business-like” approach, but I think we are beginning to see a switch in this regard. This is a football team that is starting to show emotion, passion, and a competitive energy that has been severely lacking under former coach Brian Kelly. If Marcus Freeman can capture the magic that made Lou Holtz so successful, I believe we are going to see an Irish football team that believes they can win against any team in the nation. We will quickly see the answer on Saturday night as the Irish go to battle with the Buckeyes. Go Irish! Follow “God Country Irish” on Instagram Contact God Country Irish

Written By Nick Kremer, Editor for The Irish Tribune Photo from Si.com Notre Dame and Ohio State will meet September 3rd at Ohio Stadium for a prime-time matchup. This will be the true start to the Freeman Era for the Irish, and you could not ask for a bigger match up. Marcus Freeman is not only a first-time head coach at one of the most prestigious football programs in the country, but he is also facing off against his alma mater to make his head coaching debut. Ohio State opens up as a 2+ touchdown favorite against the Irish and is expected to play for the National Championship come January. The Buckeyes have been projected as an early favorite to make the College Football Playoff; they are favored to win every game on their regular season schedule. Needless to say, Marcus Freeman and the Irish have their work cut out for them. However, let's not get too carried away. Notre Dame returns a lot of talent on both sides of the ball and will not roll over for the Buckeyes. If Notre Dame wants to get the win in the Horseshoe, there are three things they will need to do to upset the Buckeyes. RUN. THE. BALL. Notre Dame will need to establish a heavy run game against OSU to win this game. A heavy dose of running plays will keep the explosive Buckeye offense on the sideline. OSU’s greatest strength is their offense, so the longer Notre Dame can hold on to the ball and create long drives, the less time Ohio State has to put up points. Ryan Day brought in a new defensive coordinator in Jim Knowles, who is expected to fix the defensive struggles for OSU. Expect Knowles to bring a variety of unique pressures and alignments against ND in the opener. He will try to disguise coverages, mask blitz packages, and rotate personnel often. With an extremely talented offensive line leading the way, headlined by two stud tackles, the Irish should be able to establish a run game early. In last year's season opener, the Oregon Ducks were able to put up 269 rushing yards against OSU in the win. In the loss to Michigan, the Buckeyes gave up 297 rushing yards. Expect for Notre Dame to run the ball early and often. Pressure CJ Stroud is one of the best QB’s in the country, a Heisman candidate, and will be a future NFL player. It is near impossible to completely shut down a player like Stroud, but for the Irish to get the win, they must make him uncomfortable. One of Notre Dame’s greatest strengths is their front 7 on defense. With the return of Isaiah Foskey, and experienced linebackers, getting pressure on Stroud will be crucial for Notre Dame’s defense. This will make Stroud have to make quick decisions, and also give his explosive receivers less time to get open. New Defensive Coordinator Al Golden, fresh off a Super Bowl trip with the Bengals, will have to dial up different pressures and stunts to get after Stroud. Notre Dame is deep in their front 7, so I expect a lot of rotation throughout the game to keep the defense fresh and hungry to get after OSU. If Notre Dame can find a way to win this game, I predict a lot of it will be because of Al Golden and his gameplan. Special Teams/Turnovers This may seem like a no-brainer, but for Notre Dame to win this game, they have to find a couple of big plays outside of their offense. New Special Teams coordinator Brian Mason is in his first year with the Irish. Last year, he led the special teams for Cincinnati, which was among the best in the country. Mason is known to be aggressive when it comes to special teams, so a big play from this group is something to watch for. Notre Dame will also need to take care of the football. They can not afford to give Ohio State any extra possessions. I expect Offensive Coordinator Tommy Rees to have a variety of different formations, but a lot of easy reads for first-time starting QB Tyler Buchner. Additionally, they will need to find a way to cause 1-2 turnovers in this game to quiet the crowd and shift momentum. Notre Dame should come into this game holding nothing back. Being a heavy underdog, I expect Notre Dame to play loose, play with a chip on their shoulder, and play hard for their new head coach. Suppose they can find a way to establish the run game, pressure Stroud, and make 1-2 unexpected big plays. In that case, Notre Dame and Marcus Freeman might be leaving Columbus with one of the biggest wins for the program in years.

Photo Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images Explosive! That is the word that should come to mind when Notre Dame fans think about this year’s defense. This may be the most athletic defense fans have seen since the Lou Holtz days. There are potential playmakers at ever position, and with the most recent recruiting classes, this trend should only get better. Coach Marcus Freeman is building something special at Notre Dame that should truly excite fans. Notre Dame has had playmakers on defense in the past under Brian Kelly, but there always seemed to be one position that was lacking. Players like Manti Te’o, Stephon Tuitt, Louis Nix, Jaylon Smith, Jerry Tillery, Drue Tranquill, Julian Love, Troy Pride, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Kyle Hamilton were stars in their own right, but beyond those stars much was to be desired. Despite not being finished, Coach Freeman appears to finally be building depth at each position on defense. If the following players play to their potential, the Notre Dame defense will finally be one step closer to winning a National Championship. 1. Marist Luifau This list has to begin with Marist because he has the potential to be a superstar at Notre Dame. Luifau has always flashed with potential, but has not seemed to stay healthy up to this point. If he can stay healthy, Marist has the speed, strength, athleticism and football instincts to be an absolute force on defense. I believe the national media will start talking about Marist after three to four games this season. Senior Highlights 2. Ryan Barnes Despite not knowing if Barnes will start this year opposite Cam Hart, he has all of the potential to take that next step this year and be a breakout player on defense. He brings a size, athleticism and feel for the game that has been lacking at the corner position. If he can prove to be more consistent, Barnes should size up well against many of the taller receivers on the schedule this season. Will he overtake Clarence Lewis for the other cornerback spot? We have no idea, but Barnes appears to be in the best position to do so this season. Senior Highlights 3. Brandon Joseph Some would argue that Brandon Joseph already broke out at Northwestern, but he has yet to play a down in a Notre Dame uniform. After watching practice videos, Notre Dame fans should be very excited for what Joseph can bring to the safety position at Notre Dame. Is he Kyle Hamilton? No, but if he can stay healthy and stay on the field, he has the potential to have a bigger impact on defense this year than Hamilton did last year. Northwestern Highlights 4. Rylie Mills Rylie Mills flashed at times on defense last year, but this coming season should put his skillset on full display. Mills has the size and explosiveness to move all over the defensive line and be disruptive. With most of the attention being placed on Isaiah Foskey, Mills will have the opportunity to shine this coming season. Senior Highlights 5. Jordan Botelho Botehlo appears to be an enigma to many Irish fans. Despite Jordan making plays, getting to the quarterback, and bringing an energy that is infectious to the Notre Dame defense, he struggled to see the field on game day. If Jordan can figure out his off the field issues, he has the potential to become a star at Notre Dame. He should remind Irish fans of a bigger, faster, and more disciplined Tom Zbikowski on defense. Senior Highlights Final Take- If these playmakers breakout this coming season, the Notre Dame defense should be the strength of this team. Despite other players needing to step up and breakout as well, these five young men have the opportunity to make an immediate impact on this year’s defense. I believe we are getting ready to witness a defense that will remind many of the glory days under Lou Holtz, so get excited Notre Dame fans. This team has the potential to be one of the most potent defenses in the country this coming season. Go Irish! Follow “God Country Irish” on Instagram Contact God Country Irish Photo Credit: @ndfootball on Instagram

Photo Credit: Indy Star The Fighting Irish enter the 2022 college football season with a new quarterback, new running back, and unproven wide receivers. Those are typically problems for a college football team, but many Irish fans seem to be cautiously optimistic about what this offense can be under Tommy Rees. The Fiesta Bowl proved that Tommy can be creative with the offense, and there is hope that with a more dynamic quarterback, this offense can be truly explosive. The football program has not seen this much talent since the 2015 team, with stars like Malik Zaire, Will Fuller, Quenton Nelson and more. The 2017 team comes in at a close second with players like Brandon Wimbush, Josh Adams, Mike McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson respectively. Injuries, poor coaching, and other factors, caused those teams to not reach their full potential. However, there is a new hope amongst Irish fans that Marcus Freeman can maximize this 2022 teams potential and bring Notre Dame another championship. Here are five candidates that need to breakout this year in order for that to happen. 1. Tyler Buchner Notre Dame fans have seen glimpses of Tyler Buchner’s talent, but he was very limited last year. Now that Buchner has won the starting quarterback job, I do not expect him to look back. He has all the tools you look for in a quarterback capable of winning a national championship. If Tommy Rees can maximize Buchner’s passing and rushing ability, this team has the potential to be one of the most dynamic offenses in all of college football. 2021 Highlights 2. Audric Estime With Logan Diggs recovering, Audric Estime seems to have taken full advantage of the extra practice reps. Despite looking like a wrecking ball type of running back, Audric looks quick on his feet as well. This is a rare combination for any running back, but should be one that allows Audric to take a major step forward this coming season. Senior Highlights 3. Chris Tyree Speaking of running backs, Chris Tyree has the ability to become one of Notre Dame’s most dynamic playmakers. Yes, we saw glimpses last year, but I believe Tyree will become a national name this season. Between his ability to run and catch, Tyree has the potential to make a difference every time he touches the football. 2021 Fiesta Bowl Highlights 2021 Kickoff Return against Wisconsin 4. Lorenzo Styles Jr. Notre Dame fans were given a taste of what Styles could be as a wide receiver during the Fiesta Bowl, but I believe he is only scratching the surface of the dynamic playmaker he has the potential to be. Styles proved he can catch the ball, but after better coaching he has the potential to become Notre Dame’s best wide receiver this season. If Lorenzo can take his game to the next level this season, it will take the pressure off Michael Mayer and others so that this offense can take off with Tyler Buchner under center. 2021 Highlights 5. Blake Fisher Blake Fisher has been one of my favorite players since before he signed with Notre Dame. Blake always seemed destined for Notre Dame and was one of the most active student recruiters that I have seen in recent memory. Though he was just a freshman, Fisher was poised to play as a freshman last year. That was cut short by a devastating injury in the first game of the season against Florida State. Blake worked hard to come back and we saw him hold up well during the Fiesta Bowl. Not only does he bring superstar size and athleticism to the offensive line, he brings a competitiveness that has been missing in recent years. He wants to win against every single opponent he faces, and we should see more of that this year. I believe we will see Fisher become Notre Dame’s best offensive lineman this year and we will start hearing his name in draft discussions. Senior Highlights Final Take- Notre Dame has a plethora of student athletes who are primed to take a huge step this coming season. I could have listed several others who are ready to take that next step in their development and be playmakers this year. For this reason, Notre Dame fans should be excited for what we are going to see on offense this year. Go Irish! Follow “God Country Irish” on Instagram Contact God Country Irish Photo Credit: @ndfootball on Instagram

After a hard fought battle, Tyler Buchner was named the starting quarterback for Notre Dame this past week. With the help of offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, coach Marcus Freeman announced the decision with great enthusiasm. Because he brings the highest upside of all the quarterbacks, most Notre Dame fans expected Tyler to be the choice to lead the Irish in 2022. Buchner will now step into one of the most coveted positions in all of college football. It is hard to describe, but there is something unique about playing quarterback for the Fighting Irish. Buchner will stand on the shoulders of men like: Johnny Lujack, Joe Theismann, Tom Clements, Joe Montana, Steve Beurlein, Tony Rice, Rick Mirer, Kevin McDougal, Ron Powlus, Brady Quinn, Jimmy Clausen, Tommy Rees and many other great quarterbacks at Notre Dame. Those are very difficult shoes to fill, but Notre Dame fans should be optimistic that Tyler Buchner can fulfill his destiny as the next “great” quarterback at the University of Notre Dame. Many have come close, but fans are still waiting for a modern national championship. Here are a few reasons why I believe Buchner can win a championship for the Irish: Skillset As you watch Tyler’s high school film, you quickly realize that he has a unique skillset for the quarterback position. Even though he does not possess a cannon for an arm, he can make deep throws. He makes throws to the middle of the field and short throws as well. Tyler not only throws the ball accurately, he throws his receivers open as well. He possesses that unique ability to throw where he knows his receivers are going to be. This has been desperately lacking at Notre Dame for the past five to six years. One knock on Tyler’s throwing ability is that he has an unconventional throwing motion. However, this does not seem to hinder his ability to put the ball where it needs to be. Some of the better college quarterbacks in recent memory have had unconventional throwing motions, such as: Vince Young, Tim Tebow, Philip Rivers, and Byron Leftwich. Playmaking Ability Notre Dame fans were able to get a glimpse of Tyler’s playmaking ability last year. Fans have not seen a quarterback run like Buchner since Brandon Wimbush was the starter. Buchner has the ability to run when the pocket breaks down, but Tommy Rees should be able to call a few designed quarterback runs as well. This should make the offense very dynamic this season and take pressure off of a injury-prone wide receiver group. Football Knowledge Interview after interview has proved that Buchner possess an incredibly high football knowledge. Before enrolling at Notre Dame, he had already memorized the limited playbook he had received. He appears to be able to learn and apply what he is learning quickly. This is incredibly important for a championship-level quarterback in college football. Team Support Not only does Tyler bring a lot to the table this season, he is also surrounded by improved position groups and skill players. Under Harry Hiestand, the offensive line should be much improved this season. This should pave the way for the running backs to have a monster season. Notre Dame returns the best tight end in college football. Despite being a young group of receivers, they should be better this year and become reliable options for Buchner. If the offense can take the step forward that many believe they can, this is going to be one of the most dynamic offenses Notre Dame fans have seen in years. The “IT” Factor Last, Tyler posses the “IT” factor that any coach wants from their quarterback position. This is what made quarterbacks like: Vince Young, Johnny Manziel, Tim Tebow, Michael Vick, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and more so special to watch. They were able to single-handedly take a game over and put the team on their back. Tyler Buchner has the ability to do that for Notre Dame this year. Even though Tyler seems to be a quiet and laid back young man, he seems to posses the ability to “turn it on” when game day begins. As you watch his high school film, you will quickly notice a level-headed young man that become a “baller” when he is needed most. He plays with a different emotion, passion and competitive spirit that every coach wants from their quarterback. Final Word- Do we know that Tyler Buchner will lead Notre Dame to another championship? No, but he possesses all of the tools to be successful at Notre Dame. Notre Dame fans should rally around this young man as he has the opportunity to go down as another legend in Notre Dame history. Here is to hoping Buchner is the promised one that we have waited for, and he will be the one to win a national championship for the Fighting Irish. Go Irish! Follow “God Country Irish” on Instagram Contact God Country Irish Photo Credit: @tylerbuchner on Instagram

Photo: The Sporting News The University of Notre Dame has produced legends on the gridiron. Players that generations of families would consider household names. Knute Rockne, George Gipp, Johnny Lujack, Tony Rice, Raghib Ismail, Tim Brown, and of course Rudy. Players come to Notre Dame to become legends. But for the critics of Notre Dame, for which there are many, there is quite a noticeable trend for all those names listed: all of those players played before the year 2000. The sport world has created a narrative that the Irish have not been relevant since the turn of the century; and further argued that Notre Dame had not produced a player of legend caliber since the start of the new millennium. That narrative looked to have run its course in the spring of 2009. There was an excitement that was starting to build around the University. Yes, the team was coming over a less than stellar year, despite going 7-6, under Charlie Wiess and losing to USC rather handily (38-8); but the new year was starting out right. The Irish had capped the season off with a bowl win. Granted it was against Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl, but it was a great feeling for the Irish players and their fans, especially since bowl season had been riddled with disastrous endings. Maybe it was a touch of foreshadowing that brought Notre Dame to Hawaii that December, for only a few short months later the Irish got their first win of the 2009 football season on Signing Day when Hawaiian linebacker recruit Manti Te'o committed to Notre Dame over USC and UCLA. Manti Te'o was generational talent. He could’ve gone to any school and rewrote their record books, but South Bend is where he decided to take his talents. Manti Te'o's presence was felt on and off the field. After posting one 6-6 season and two 8-5 seasons Manti was faced with the tough decision of turning pro a year early; forgoing his final season and quite possibly be selected early in the first round of the NFL draft; or stay for one more season and put all that in jeopardy. Te'o had posted back-to-back one hundred plus tackle season, had disrupted the backfield with numerous tackles for loss and sacks. He was playing at the elite level Irish fans had hoped for when he committed three years prior. The team was improving but had not quite put all the pieces together. But Te'o made the decision to give it one more year, to finish the job he came to Notre Dame to accomplish. To be THE Manti Te'o that turned Fighting Irish football into a powerhouse. College football in the year of 2012 was wild one for fans across the nation. The preseason favorite, USC (Southern California), would go on to on to be unranked in the final AP polls of the season. The other USC (South Carolina) would vault as high as number three in the nation, to only subsequently topple as well. For Irish fans it was a return to former days of glory. The season opened with the 50-10 dismantling of the Navy Midshipmen in the land of the Blarney Stone. The season was surely destined to be the one that placed Notre Dame back on the top of college football. But a darkness settled over the Fighting Irish early in their season. Their leader, their caption, their rock, Manti, lost two of the most important figures in his life, within twenty-four hours of each other. His grandmother and his girlfriend. Manti was distraught, but instead of taking time away from the game to leave such losses he came out onto the field with a fire that had not been seen in the young man before. He tore through the season posting over a hundred tackles and seven interceptions. He was not just playing thru his pain his was playing for those behind the pain. He played for his girlfriend Lennay Kekua and grandmother. He was inspired by their love and fought with all his prowess to make them proud. He fought to carry his team, as their leader, to pinnacle of college football, the BCS National championship game. Before he was able to lay it all out on the field one last time in the Blue and Gold his whole world erupted again. Manti received a call from the person he believed was dead. Lennay told him she was still alive. The psychological disruption that this news had on Manti will never be able to be expressed. Until this past week. While the sports world has long speculated over areas of the drama that surrounded the breaking news. Did Manti know all along that his girlfriend was alive? Was this really an early example of "catfishing"? Had he played up the story of his girlfriend and grandmother passing in order to gain national attention and create a push for a change to win the Heisman? How could a college football star be duped for so long and never meet the girl he was so connected to? The rumors swirled, the jokes were made, and memes were circulated. An abysmal showing by the entire Notre Dame team in the Championship only added more fuel to the fire. Manti missed tackles he would always make; read plays wrong that he had been seeing since high school. He was a shell of the player that had commanded the field so dominantly that fall. Talk of his draft stock falling circled Teo. Would he ever be able to play at that commanding level again? What players would look up to someone who had been conned for so long? Manti Te'o was billed his whole career as a general on the field, a leader, one who commanded the respect of his peers and his opponents. Many teams, sports casters and pundits feared that those days were gone. The first round of the NFL Draft came and went without Te'o’s name being called. But he did not have to wait around too long the next day before being drafted by the San Diego Chargers. He would be playing in the same state his supposed girlfriend had lived in. The first years in the NFL Manti looked uncomfortable, out of sorts, lost in coverage, much like the BCS Championship game. Many thought the end of his playing days was near. Would the golden boy of Notre Dame turn out to be a wash in the NFL? But Manti's story was not over. With the release of the documentary series on Netflix Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist Manti was finally able to open about his reactions and feelings on the whole situation. The struggles that he went through were unimaginable. The media had turn him and his life apart. Many would not have been able to carry on. But Manti Te'o is not just anyone. He was able to take the very important step of working with a therapist. This was not an insignificant moment in his journey. As stated on the documentary Manti began working on not only forgiving those involved in the situation that destroyed his world, but he also working on forgiving himself. In an era where mental health for athletes has been scrutinized and debated, especially for male athletes, Manti came forward and told his story. He embraced the tribulations that that had been sent his way. Manti the precede to play some of his best football in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints. But his journey was not just about being great at football again. Towards the end of the documentary Manti stated “I knew that in order for me to continue to be the man who I wanted to be, forgiveness was something that I had to exercise, no matter how hard it was at that time. And I started to realize the power of forgiveness.” Even though Manti had every right to be angry and bitter for how his life had been altered; he chose the path of forgiveness and healing. Manti has become a legend in his own right, a new Irish legend for modern times. A man who was strong enough to forgive, because he knows it is only the weak that hold on to revenge and anger. “If there is anything I wanted from this thing, it was to give some of us hope who needed it, to tell those who needed some love that they're loved, and to help them to forgive, to forgive others and most importantly to forgive themselves.” – Manti Te'o

Written By Liam Gaudet, Senior Editor As ecstatic as I was for the announcement of Marcus Freeman as head coach, I find it hard to be optimistic as a fan of the Notre Dame program. One of the mainstays of Notre Dame football seems to be disappointment, as hard as that may be to admit. Still, there hasn’t been too much to complain about under Freeman this far, and besides a few bumps in the road, it’s been fairly smooth sailing. I could not allow myself to be truly content, however, without taking a deeper look at this hire and its possible outcomes. So let’s have a look at both ends of the spectrum, as well a median approach to keep things somewhat fair. Photo by ON3 Firstly, allow me to play devil’s advocate. Marcus Freeman has no head coaching experience, and this is concerning for a program looking to continue a five year streak of 10-plus win seasons. We also can’t ignore the tremendous pressure on Jack Swarbrick to promote Freeman to head coach in hopes of simply retaining him on the staff. All the hype surrounding Freeman after the initial hire aside, nobody can deny this is a high risk, high reward move from the athletic department. Additionally, the recent de-commitment of a program changing player in the 2023 class has shown that Freeman isn’t impenetrable on the recruiting trail either. To be fair, some recruiting losses are outside the control of the staff, but I figured it might be worth mentioning. The absolute lowest end of the spectrum would be an accumulation of all of these factors, resulting in a complete 2016 level failure. Is this my belief? Not at all. But some of these factors may come into play this season, resulting in shakier play on the field. The majority of Freeman skeptics who believe he is nothing more than a snake oil salesman cite these reasons as to why he will not succeed at Notre Dame, and although I completely disagree, I will humor this argument for the sake of parity. Enough pessimism, we have enough of that as is. Let’s take a look at some aspects of this hire that make me truly excited for the years to come. A defense led by Freeman last season produced one of the highest turnover margins in the Brian Kelly era. Even with injuries to key components of the defense, Freeman was able to game plan in order to get the most of what was available. Freeman’s defense also allowed for defenders to have much more freedom in coverage, which at first led to some blown coverages, but in time was proven to sharpen the instincts of almost every defender on the field. Even though Freeman is no longer leading the defense, it should be comforting to know that he was capable of doing so to a high degree. Now arguably the greatest asset Marcus Freeman has brought to the table has been his ability to recruit high level talent to Notre Dame extremely consistently. Taking a look at the first defensive class (2022) in which Freeman was the primary recruiter, we see an instant rise in blue chip ratio, as well as overall average ranking than in previous years. The same goes for the 2023 class which currently ranks third in the 247 composite rankings. Simply put, Marcus Freeman has ended the myth that Notre Dame “shops down a different aisle” when it comes to recruiting, as his voracious appetite for talent has made the program a hotspot for high-caliber prospects. Piecing this together, we see a young coach, who is extremely knowledgeable and is sensational in connecting with recruits and brings consistently high level talent into the program. A leader like this is one that most certainly has the chance to bring multiple national championships to a program that has been starved for success since 1988. Now let’s talk about some realistic expectations for Marcus Freeman’s tenure at Notre Dame. Obviously, I think most people including myself expect the first couple seasons to fall somewhere in the middle of these two extremes I have laid out. The question is, what end of the spectrum will Freeman’s team lead towards in the coming seasons? The answer is not cut and paste, but personally, I believe Freeman has equipped himself with one of the best coaching staffs in the country to be pushing the boundary for a minimum of 10 wins for the foreseeable future. Of course, questions surrounding the continuity of the staff may arise, but hopefully by the time that issue comes to light, Freeman will have already straightened out the learning curve and made the necessary additions for continued success. With that being said, I believe Marcus Freeman’s potential at Notre Dame is the highest we have seen in a very long time. As long as he continues to recruit at the heights and standards we have seen thus far, and the majority of talent can be translated, there is no reason to believe that he will not be competing for national championships. Until I see a shadow of reasonable doubt on the field, I will continue to drink the Freeman Factor Kool-Aid.