The game will begin at 12:00 Noon Eastern time, and will be televised by ABC. It will serve as a prelude to the playoff semifinal games to be played later that day. LSU vs. Oklahoma will follow before Clemson and Ohio State Square off in the other matchup. This year marks the first time in the playoff era that Alabama has failed to qualify for the four team national championship derby. The Crimson Tide will play Michigan in the Citrus Bowl on January 1.

Iowa State is led by sophomore quarterback Brock Purdy, a 66% passer who took over the starting job in 2018 midway through his freshman season. His top receiver is Deshaunte Jones, with 72 receptions, while the leading ball carrier for the Cyclones is Breece Hall with 842 yards. Linebackers Marcel Spears and Vance O’Rien anchor the defense.

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Foskey’s block was recovered by the Irish at the Stanford one yard line. A subsequent Ian Book scoring pass to Tommy Tremble cut the deficit to 17-14 with three minutes remaining in the second quarter. Notre Dame’s offense and defense took control at that point, as Book added a touchdown pass to Chase Claypool to take the lead before halftime. Meanwhile, the defense regrouped to shut down the Cardinal until two minutes remained in the game and the outcome had long been decided.

Stanford quarterback Davis Mills came out firing for the inspired hosts, hitting Brycen Tremayne and Michael Wilson with scoring strikes sandwiched around a Ryan Sanborn field goal. Notre Dame scored on its opening drive to tie the game at 7-7 as Book connected with Tony Jones, but the Irish fell into a funk before Foskey woke them up.

With Notre Dame nursing a 21-17 advantage, the third quarter settled into a punt-fest. Later in the period, Book hit Braden Lenzy for 43 yards and scrambled for 26 more before finding Claypool for an eight yard touchdown and a 28-17 lead at the 3:10 mark. Stanford fumbled a punt moments later, and Jonathan Doerer tacked on a field goal as the game moved to the fourth period.

The Irish went back to the running game, which produced a long, time-consuming scoring march. Jafar Armstrong pitched in with a 28-yard run before C’Bo Flemister crashed into the end zone from a yard out. Notre Dame now led by 38-17 with five minutes left.

A Cameron Scarlett run finally broke Stanford’s scoring drought a few minutes later to make the margin appear more respectable, but the Irish added a defensive touchdown in the closing moments. Ade Ogundeji knocked the ball from Mills’ hand in the Stanford end zone, and senior Khalid Kareem pounced on it for his first career touchdown and the 45-24 final score.

Book finished 17 of 30 for 255 yards and four touchdowns, while Mills was 28 of 46 for 276 yards and two scores. Mills started the game by hitting his first seven passes and was 12 of 17 for 140 yards as the Cardinal built its ten point advantage. He cooled off considerably once the Irish pass rush kicked in and the coverage tightened up. Notre Dame also outrushed Stanford by 190-118.

Let’s review the answers to our pregame questions:

Can Stanford’s patchwork offensive line handle the depleted Irish defensive front? Not for long. The Irish dominated as the afternoon wore on.

Which team will generate the most productive running game? Outside of a few surprising scrambles by Mills, the Cardinal could not do much on the ground. Notre Dame shared the wealth among several productive runners.

Can Notre Dame cause Mills completion rate to drop well below his average? Mills started fast by completing passes at 70% clip, but hit only 55% after Foskey’s punt block.

Will Book be able to complete passes despite adverse weather conditions? He threw a few balls that were knocked down at the line and overthrew a couple of others, but four touchdowns is still a good day’s work.

Which special teams be able to tilt the outcome in their favor? The Irish special teams blocked a punt and recovered a fumble, leading directly to 10 points.

Will Irish freshmen defenders Foskey and Kyle Hamilton make their presence felt? We’ve talked about Foskey, and Hamilton was excellent in pass coverage all day.

Can Notre Dame move up in the polls with an impressive performance? Maybe a couple of spots, but these ten wins lacked any golden moments.

The team must now wait a week for the conference championship games to sort before the various non-playoff bowl games select from the also-rans. In the mean time, we can all hope for something that sounds more glamorous that the Camping World Bowl.

Tell John what you think in the comments below

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The Cardinal are in the midst of a three-game losing streak after a 4-4 start. Last week’s loss to Cal was the first time the Bears defeated arch-rival Stanford in nine outings under Shaw. Despite this year’s misfortunes, Shaw remains the winningest coach in program history. He also holds a 17-0 mark in non-conference home games, including four wins against Notre Dame.

Conversely, the Irish have been on a resurgence during November despite having to battle through a few injuries of their own. They have outscored their last three opponents by an average margin of 43-11. Quarterback Ian Book has been exceptional this month after an uneven start to the season. He has completed 63% of his passes for over 700 yards and 12 touchdowns, while also rushing for 236 yards. His favorite target, wide receiver Chase Claypool, has caught 19 passes for 274 yards and six touchdowns during this stretch.

Stanford has used 20 freshmen this year, 12 of whom have played in more than four games. Three of them have been called upon to replace injured veteran starters on the offensive line. In addition, quarterback K.J. Costello has missed six games this season and will not be available this week, while leading receiver and primary kickoff return man Connor Wedington is listed as doubtful after being carted off the field last week. Defensively, the Cardinal secondary will have to play without star cornerback Paulson Adebo and free safety Malik Antoine. The other starting corner, Obi Eboh, is banged up but will play.

Question marks remain for Notre Dame along the defensive front. Last week, tackles Myron Tagovailosa-Amoso and Jayson Ademilola came off the field and did not return to action. Khalid Kareem is obviously dealing with a sore shoulder and Jacob Lacey is banged up a bit. The extent of their availability remains unclear for Saturday’s season finale. Kurt Hinish and Ja’Mion Franklin, along with freshmen Howard Cross and Hunter Spears, may have to play extended minutes depending on who is available at game time.

NOTRE DAME’S OFFENSE vs. STANFORD’S DEFENSE

Stanford’s 3-4 defense has surrendered 28 points per game, although they performed well against Oregon (21) and Washington (13). Ends Thomas Booker and Jovan Swann are quality players, but the ranks are thin behind them. Thomas Schaeffer is the only experienced backup. At linebacker, seniors Andrew Pyrts and Curtis Robinson play inside and lead the team in tackles. The best defender for the Cardinal is Casey Toohill, who moves up to rush the quarterback in passing situations. He has been credited with eight sacks this season.

The Irish have used a committee at running back since injuries began to take a toll on Tony Jones a few weeks ago. Jahmir Smith and C’Bo Flemister have made solid contributions when given the opportunity, although Jones is the clear choice of the coaching staff for blitz pickup in the passing game. Book has been the leading rusher this month, and fans can expect a few more designed runs for him this week.

As noted, the Cardinal secondary is down two starters at minimum. Adebo had four of Stanford’s eight interceptions, and will be missed. Freshman Kyu Blu Kelly will take his place. If Eboh is unable to go at the other corner spot, freshman Zahran Manley is next in line. Antoine’s absence at free safety means the defense must function without a senior leader. Junior Stuart Head will get the start.

All this means that the Cardinal will have a tough time coping with the likes of Chase Claypool, Chris Finke, Cole Kmet, Lawrence Keys and Braden Lenzy. Claypool in particular is a matchup nightmare for them and should enjoy a productive evening. In fact, the rain and wind may have a larger impact on Notre Dame’s passing attack than the Cardinal defense.

STANFORD’S OFFENSE vs. NOTRE DAME’S DEFENSE

Davis Mills has been impressive at quarterback since taking over for Costello. The 6’4” junior has completed 67% of his passes with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. With Wedington out, Davis’ primary targets will be Michael Wilson and tight end Colby Parkinson. Speedster Simi Fehoko and Osiris St. Brown are also in the mix.

Fifth year senior Cameron Scarlett is the primary tailback. He has rushed for 800 yards this year, while backup Austin Jones has added 200. The team rushing average is a disappointing 3.6 yards per carry, however, and they have scored only seven touchdowns on the ground. By comparison, the Cardinal had a whopping 31 rushing scores in 2017 and 16 last season.

A pair of juniors, center Drew Dalman and right tackle Foster Sarell join the three freshman starters up front. Highly regarded recruit Walter Rouse is now at left tackle, replacing injured veteran Walker Little. Stanford has given up 26 sacks to date, and Notre Dame’s talented pass rushers should be able to add to that total. Mills is not a great concern as a running threat.

One player to watch for the Irish is freshman defensive end Isaiah Foskey (#94), who attended Concord De La Salle high school in the Bay Area and is expected to see extended action in front of friends and family. The staff has raved about his development this season and has identified him as a future star.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Veteran kicker Jet Toner is yet another Stanford player that suffered a season-ending injury this season. The good news is freshman Ryan Sanborn has come on to do a credible job in his stead. He is six of eight in field goal attempts and has good range. Sanborn is also the team’s punter, where he averages 40 yards. The Cardinal cover teams are statistically average, while the return teams have been slightly better. Wilson is a capable punt returner, while Wedington was doing an excellent job on kickoffs before his injury. Wilson is likely to pull double duty this weekend.

The most notable accomplishment for Stanford in this phase of the game is they have four blocked kicks this year. The Irish need to pay attention each time they snap the ball in these situations because the Cardinal will be coming for them.

Irish kicker Jonathan Doerer has had an outstanding season in an area that was considered to be a large question mark in August. Punter Jay Bramblett has been steady although the freshman needs another offseason in the strength and conditioning program to add more height and distance.

If conditions are wet during the game, I expect there will be very few returned punts or kickoffs by Notre Dame. Finke has been on fire recently, though, and can be a difference maker on punt returns if his blockers give him room to make a move or two.

SUMMARY

Notre Dame’s primary concern is the health of its players along the defensive front, but the Cardinal appears to be ill-suited to take advantage. Mills is a capable passer, but the loss of Wedington will allow the Irish to focus on Wilson and Parkinson. The Irish defense is playing at a high level despite the injuries and should be able to handle anything Stanford can muster barring turnovers by the offense or special teams gaffes.

The elements may dictate a greater emphasis on the ground game for the Irish, but Jones is not healthy enough to carry it 20 times and the season has been a washout for opening day starter Jafar Armstrong. Coach Brian Kelly is therefore likely to remain dependent on the pass to score points. The matchups are favorable here on a dry day, but heavy rain and wind could substantially level the playing field.

Here are a few questions that will shed light on the outcome:

Can Stanford’s patchwork offensive line handle the depleted Irish defensive front?

Which team will generate the most productive running game?

Can Notre Dame cause Mills completion rate to drop well below his average?

Will Book be able to complete passes despite adverse weather conditions?

Which special teams be able to tilt the outcome in their favor?

Will Irish freshmen defenders Foskey and Kyle Hamilton make their presence felt?

Can Notre Dame move up in the polls with an impressive performance?

PREDICTION

Brian Kelly has never beaten Stanford in Palo Alto, but this year’s matchup seems to be a good bet for a breakthrough. However, I said the same thing about Kelly’s chances against Michigan in Ann Arbor last month when Notre Dame appeared to have the better team on paper. We know how that turned out. The weather forecast on Saturday calls for significant rainfall, which is eerily similar to the conditions encountered by Book in the Big House when he was eight of 25 for a mere 73 yards. Even if the elements cause the Irish offense to operate in a lower gear this week, the defense should have enough juice to put this game in the win column.

NOTRE DAME 31  STANFORD 13

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The Irish started slowly as penalties and dropped passes limited them to a pair of field goals in their first three possessions. Boston College got on the board for the first and only time midway through the second quarter when Dennis Grosel hit Kobay White on a long pass to set up a Grosel touchdown run.

Trailing 7-6, Book was able to overcome more self-inflicted wounds by Notre Dame on the ensuing series. After another penalty and a dropped third down pass, Book converted on fourth down in Eagle territory before hitting Chase Claypool for a score to retake the lead. Jonathan Doerer added another of his four field goals just before the half to extend the advantage to 16-7.

Doerer opened the second half scoring with his last field goal before the defense exerted itself over the out-manned Eagles. Khalid Kareem forced a fumble that linebacker Drew White recovered in Boston College territory, and Book cashed in with a scoring strike to Cole Kmet at the 3:44 mark of the third period.

Notre Dame quickly got the ball back, and Braden Lenzy scored just two minutes later to make it 33-7. In what has become his signature play, Lenzy took off on a reverse around left end and dodged tacklers down the sideline for a 61-yard touchdown.

Freshman Kyle Hamilton set up the only points of the final stanza when he intercepted a Grosel pass and returned it to the BC 12-yard line. Book then added his third scoring pass of the day, finding Chris Finke in the back of the end zone for the 40-7 margin of victory.

Boston College started the game by playing aggressively and keeping Notre Dame off balance until the Irish adjusted to their blitzing style. Book began to find his receivers and also added 66 rushing yards to lead the team. The Eagles visibly tired in the third quarter on both sides of the ball, and did not cross midfield in the second half.

Book finished with 26 completions in 40 attempts for 260 yards, while the team ran for 252 more. Grosel was held to a nine of 20 passing performance for a mere 63 yards, 39 of which came on the deep pass to White. The Irish also held BC’s vaunted rushing duo of A.J. Dillon and David Bailey to a combined 82 yards. Grosel managed to scramble for 45 more while being chased by Kareem and Ade Ogundeji.

The only area of concern on this Senior Day celebration was the injuries that have taken a toll on the defensive line. Tackle Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (leg) and Kareem (shoulder) had to be helped off the field, while Jayson Amendiola, Julian Okwara and Daelin Hayes are already out of action.

Let’s take a look at the answers to our pregame questions:

Will Boston College be able to run for their season average of 282 yards per game? Not even close. The Eagles were held to 128 yards on the ground and just 191 overall.

Can the Irish offense achieve balance and keep the Eagles guessing? Yes. Notre Dame earned over 500 yards, which were almost evenly split between rushing and passing.

Which defense will best be able to get a stop on third down? The Irish settled in after BC’s lone scoring drive to stuff the Eagles at every turn.

Can Notre Dame win the turnover battle against the stingy Eagles? The hosts didn’t commit a turnover and forced two costly second half giveaways by the Eagles.

Which special teams will have a positive impact on the outcome? Doerer was the star of the game for nearly three quarters by drilling four of four field goal attempts, including no-doubters from 45 and 47 yards. Chris Finke also impressed in his role as the punt return man.

Can the Irish match the emotional intensity that Addazio expects BC to bring? BC’s physical play caused some early anxiety among Irish fans, but Notre Dame took control by halftime and were not threatened thereafter.

Will cable subscribers who don’t get NBCSN have to use the mute button on Flutie? Who doesn’t love to see Flutie describe his 1984 Hail Mary pass another five or six times?

The Irish hope to assemble enough able bodied defensive linemen to defeat Stanford next Saturday and finish the season at 10-2. Looking back, the game at Georgia was winnable and no one is sure just what the hell happened in Ann Arbor, but the team can finish on a high note and hopefully win a bowl game against a quality opponent.

Tell John what you think in the comments below

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Head coach Steve Addazio, who spent three years as an assistant at Notre Dame under Bob Davie, is now in his seventh season at the helm for Boston College. He holds a 43-43 record, and had recorded winning seasons in five out of six previous campaigns. The teams last played in September 2017 on the BC campus, where the Irish pounded the Eagles by 49-20.

Having coached on both sides of this rivalry, Addazio understands that the games were much more intense in the 1990’s than in recent years. He is attempting to motivate his squad this week by tapping into those feelings.  “In today’s world, the history of these things isn’t like the same as it used to be, you know what I mean?”, Addazio said this week. “So you’ve got to bring it back to life. We’ve been bringing it back to life and talking about it,” he added. “I’m going to do some other things as the week goes on to make sure they understand the intensity of this game.”

Meanwhile, Notre Dame has been on a roll the past two weeks behind strong performances by Ian Book and the emergence of young players on offense. The defense has been more aggressive, which has created increased turnovers and negative plays. The team has not been visibly slowed despite injuries along the offensive line and defensive front seven.

The Eagles have experienced fewer injuries to starters, but they lost quarterback Anthony Brown earlier to a season ending knee injury. This forced sophomore Dennis Grosel to make his first career start four weeks ago. Free safety Mike Palmer and tailback David Bailey were injured in the Eagles’ last game against Florida State, but last week’s open date provided sufficient time to recover. Both are expected to play, along with linebacker Isaiah McDuffie, who missed the first two months of the season after suffering a leg injury in spring practice.

NOTRE DAME’S OFFENSE vs. BOSTON COLLEGE’S DEFENSE

Boston College has surrendered an alarming 32 points per game this season. Teams have averaged over 300 yards passing and nearly 200 on the ground against them, and Notre Dame is poised to add to their misery. The Eagles employ a 4-3 defensive alignment anchored by T.J. Rayam and Tanner Karafa at the tackle positions. Veteran weak side linebacker Max Richardson is the best athlete in the group and the team’s leading tackler by a wide margin. Freshman Joe Sparacio was thrust into the middle linebacker position when McDuffie went down, and he will continue to start while McDuffie provides situational relief.

This defense has recorded just 11 sacks this season, with Richardson accounting for three and a half. Rush end Brandon Barlow is the only other player with more than one. The poor pass rush has put pressure on young cornerbacks Jason Maitre and Brendan Sebastian, and the Eagles have paid the price. Safeties Palmer and Medhi El Attrach are more experienced, but don’t match up favorably with Notre Dame’s receivers and tight ends.

We’ve seen more recently what Book can do given sufficient time in the pocket, so the Irish should score plenty of points unless they stop themselves with self-inflicted wounds. The ground game should also become more productive after a mediocre outing versus Navy. The Midshipmen loaded up against the run last week and tried to blitz Book into mistakes, but the senior made them pay a heavy price with his best career performance. Boston College will have to respect Book’s throwing ability which should open things up a bit for the ground game to do its share.

BOSTON COLLEGE’S OFFENSE vs. NOTRE DAME’S DEFENSE

Despite its leaky defense, Boston College is a .500 team because they score a lot of points behind a prolific rushing attack. The tailback tandem of 250-pound A.J. Dillon and the 240-pound Bailey account for more than 220 yards per game. The pair runs behind a capable offensive line led by center Alec Lindstrom, right guard John Phillips and right tackle Ben Petrula. All are three-year starters. Wideout Zay Flowers is also used frequently on jet sweeps.

The Eagles primarily line up in a double tight end formation to further enable their running game. Korab Idrizi, Hunter Long and Jake Burt are plus sized blockers who rotate in these two slots. Long is the best receiver in the group and usually comes in on passing downs.

Grosel is only a 50% passer to date despite having the luxury of a credible running threat. Most of his throws are short tosses aimed at the tight ends. The starting wide receivers are Kobay White and Ben Glines, with Flowers replacing a tight end in three-receiver sets. White and Flowers have some speed but the Irish have lined up against better competition this season.

Key matchups for Notre Dame are its rotation of defensive linemen against the BC offensive front, and the Irish linebackers against the plus-sized Eagles’ tight ends and backs. Even though the Boston College offense is methodical rather than explosive, it’s unrealistic to believe that the hosts can keep them from scoring. Therefore, the Irish offense will have to play with a high level of efficiency as they have shown so far this month.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Veteran Eagle kicker Aaron Broumerhi has struggled this season on field goals from medium to long range. Everything over 30 yards out has been a 50/50 proposition at best. Punter Grant Carlson averages over 42 yards and does not usually allow much room for returns. Reserve wideout Travis Levy is the kickoff return man. More than most other teams, the Eagles prefer to attempt a kickoff return rather than settle for a fair catch. This strategy has not yielded a statistical advantage to date. Levy also returns punts with modest success.

The Irish return men have showed signs of life recently, where a couple of returns have come close to going the distance. Chris Finke (punts) and Lawrence Keys (kickoffs) have caused a few moments of excitement in recent games, but always seem to be one good block away from glory. Kicker Jonathan Doerer continues to be solid while punter Jay Bramblett has had a few freshman moments in an otherwise fair first season. Both the Notre Dame and Boston College cover teams have been very good this season, allowing no significant returns.

SUMMARY

It’s not difficult to imagine the offensive game plan Addazio will develop for this contest. After watching the film of Notre Dame’s loss to Michigan, the Eagles will believe they can bludgeon the Irish into submission with twin battering rams Dillon and Bailey. Conversely, Notre Dame must man up and force Grosel into low percentage third down situations.

BC’s conservative approach usually keeps them competitive in games because they rarely turn the ball over, give up sacks or commit costly penalties. They will need a similar high level of efficiency to have a chance on Saturday, since the Irish offense appears to be too versatile and athletic for the Eagle defense to handle.

Both teams can put points on the board, but Notre Dame can score more quickly and easily.

Here’s a few questions that will shed light on the outcome:

Will Boston College be able to run for their season average of 282 yards per game?

Can the Irish offense achieve balance and keep the Eagles guessing?

Which defense will best be able to get a stop on third down?

Can Notre Dame win the turnover battle against the stingy Eagles?

Which special teams will have a positive impact on the outcome?

Can the Irish match the emotional intensity that Addazio expects BC to bring?

Will cable subscribers who don’t get NBCSN have to use the mute button on Flutie?

PREDICTION

Once again, Boston College will come into Notre Dame Stadium with a chip on their shoulder and nothing to lose. To neutralize this raw emotion, the Irish need to be aggressive from the start and achieve a semblance of control by halftime. The Eagles’ offensive scheme is not difficult to defend if the hosts can match their physicality, while Grosel is not capable of leading BC to victory by himself. Besides, Notre Dame is riding a 17-game home winning streak and wants to give its outgoing seniors another clean slate to remember. I expect to see plenty of points scored in this contest, but the Irish are the better team and should not feel threatened in the fourth quarter.

NOTRE DAME 45  BOSTON COLLEGE 24

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The Fighting Irish raced to a 38-3 halftime advantage by scoring on every possession and stopping Navy’s rushing attack in its tracks. The first of two forced fumbles by Kareem stopped the Middies’ first drive after Notre Dame had taken a quick 7-0 lead, and his second big play fueled a critical sequence in which the Irish scored 28 points on just eight offensive snaps. Yet another fumble late in the second period set up Jones’ touchdown.

Navy could not mount a drive to open the third quarter, and Book quickly picked up where he left off. After scrambling to find Lawrence Keys for 27 yards and then hitting Chris Finke for 28, Book found Claypool for his fourth and final touchdown catch. The 20-yarder stretched the lead to 45-3 with ten minutes still remaining in the period. Coach Brian Kelly elected to clear his bench and Navy Coach Ken Niumatalolo followed suit.

Backup quarterback Perry Olsen ran for one touchdown and threw for another against the Irish reserves to make the final score somewhat more respectable. Those plays sandwiched the final points for Notre Dame by Moala, who snagged a pitch by Olsen in the Navy backfield and waltzed in for a 27-yard score on the second play of the fourth quarter to make it 52-10.

Book finished with 284 passing yards on 14 completions in 20 attempts. He had a clean pocket on most occasions and stepped into his passes. One of his best throws of the game, however, occurred when he was forced to scramble to his left but was able to deliver a bullet to Keys near the sideline on a third and long play. The deep post to Lenzy was other worldly, though. Book stood in the pocket and fired a perfect strike that hit the sophomore speedster in stride. The pass traveled over 50 yards in the air.

The complete domination by Notre Dame follows a strong game against Duke, and should give the team confidence that it has turned the corner after an embarrassing outing against Michigan and a shaky one point home victory over Virginia Tech. The 8-2 Irish will host Boston College on Senior Day next week before finishing ghe regular season at Stanford.

Let’s review the answers to our pregame questions:

Can the Irish defense hold containment on the edges to stop the pitch play? The first team defense did a fine job of containment before Navy finally made a few plays on the edge in the fourth quarter.

Will Tony Jones and Notre Dame’s patchwork offensive line ignite the running game? Navy called several run blitzes and tried to single cover the Irish receivers, so most of Notre Dame’s big plays were through the air. The Irish ran for only 105 yards, but it hardly mattered. Jones was outstanding in blitz pickup, which allowed Book sufficient time to find open targets.

Can the Irish get off to a fast start and play the game with the lead? Ummm, yeah.

Will Navy surprise the Irish with successful trick plays? Not at all. Navy tried to play it straight, and it didn’t work out well for them.

Can Notre Dame’s special teams have a positive impact? Chris Finke excited the crowd with a meandering 62-yard punt return for a touchdown, but it was called back for an illegal block that would not have mattered on the play. Jonathan Doerer drilled his only field goal attempt, a 32-yard effort.

Will the Irish defenders keep Navy well below its 358-yard rushing average? The Midshipmen finished with 281 yards on the ground, but nearly half of them came against the Irish reserves, walk-ons, team managers and cheerleaders.

Which team will best take care of the ball and avoid costly penalties? Notre Dame was turnover free and had only 15 yards in penalties, while Navy’s four turnovers resulted in 28 Irish points.

This was a complete team victory for Notre Dame. Although Claypool was the clear offensive MVP, it was refreshing to see solid contributions from Keys, Lenzy and Finke. Book has also elevated his performance considerably since engineering the game winning drive against Virginia Tech. Although the level of competition is not daunting, the Irish can write a better ending to the story of this season by continuing to play this well three more times.

Tell John what you think in the comments section below

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Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo is in his 12^th season at the helm in Annapolis. His record is 94-59, and this may be his most impressive team considering it has achieved a significant bounce back from a rare losing campaign (3-10) in 2018. His teams always play well against the Irish, which is a measure of how much Niumatalolo respects the rivalry and the importance of this matchup to his program.

“We feel very fortunate as a program to be able to play Notre Dame. Just a great program with great tradition,” Niumatalolo said. “If you went through the history of college football and named the storied programs, Notre Dame would probably be No. 1. Playing a marquee school like that brings a lot to your own program in terms of recruiting and notoriety. There are a lot of teams that would like to play Notre Dame,” he said earlier this week.

The Midshipmen enter the contest as the healthier squad. All starters are ready to play and have missed very few games among them all season. Meanwhile, Notre Dame has lost the right side of its offensive line, standout defensive end Julian Okwara, and third down linebacker Jack Lamb to season-ending injuries. Also, wide receiver Michael Young is in the process of transferring to another school.

NOTRE DAME’S OFFENSE vs. NAVY’S DEFENSE

Navy lines up in a 3-4 set, with the ability to shift highly disruptive linebackers Jacob Springer and Nizaire Cromartie and into pass rushers and run blitzers. Springer leads the team in tackles for loss and sacks while Cromartie is right behind him. The down linemen include senior nose tackle Jackson Pittman and end Jackson Perkins, the latter of whom is returning to the lineup after missing the last three games. The unit is aggressive and willing to take risks to cause negative plays. To date, this strategy has worked well. The Midshipmen have surrendered only 310 yards per game, which ranks 17^th in the nation and ahead of Notre Dame at 26^th.

Joining Springer and Cromartie at linebacker are Diego Fagot, the team’s leading tackler, and senior Paul Carothers, another team captain. The secondary is young but scrappy. Safeties Kevin Brennan and Evan Fochtman are sure tacklers, and sophomore cornerback Michael McMorris leads the group in pass break-ups with eight despite being listed at 5’9” and 166 pounds.

The Irish ground game will be a difficult force for Navy to stop. Tailback Tony Jones is back to full strength and quarterback Ian Book has added another dimension to the attack now that the coaches have turned him loose to call his own number. Jafar Armstrong has failed to bounce back from an early season injury, but this may be the week for a breakthrough performance. Reserves Jahmir Smith and C’Bo Flemister have proven to be capable runners even though they are less productive in the passing game.

Book will face a number of blitzes when he drops back to pass, but that should open up the screen game if the Irish can finally get the timing down on those play despite the new starters up front. Navy will also focus on favorite targets Chase Claypool and Cole Kmet, which might open up a few opportunities for Lawrence Keys, Javon McKinley and Braden Lenzy. Chris Finke is the most likely beneficiary of single coverage, however, as the senior is no longer being slowed by nagging injuries.

NAVY’S OFFENSE vs. NOTRE DAME’S DEFENSE

Navy’s starting offensive line has been injury free thus far. Center Ford Higgins is a team captain and only returning starter from last season, but the rest are seniors and juniors who have worked their way through the system. Tackle Kendel Wright and guard Dave Forney have good size and ability on the left side of the line. The team averages 358 rush yards per game.

Quarterback Malcolm Perry leads the way with over 1,000 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns in eight games. The fullback tandem of Nelson Smith and Jamale Carothers has combined for 860 yards and 15 scores. A trio of diminutive but fast players are threats to take pitches from Perry and get outside the defense for big gains. C.J. Williams, Tazh Maloy and Myles Fells stand less than six feet tall and don’t reach the 180-pound mark on a scale, but they are dangerous.

When Perry does throw the ball, he completes 55% of his passes for an average gain of 24 yards. Wide receivers Mychal Cooper and Ryan Mitchell are tall and athletic, while Williams is the most productive target among the slot backs.

The extra week of preparation time will give Niumatalolo an opportunity to spring a couple of trick plays on the Irish. Navy knows the odds are against them in a straight up brawl, but stealing seven extra points by using the element of surprise would help balance the scales.

Notre Dame has defended Navy quite well since Defensive Coordinator Clark Lea has been on campus. There are risks, however, especially along the defensive line. The Irish tackles have not seen much of this offense and are not dominant players along the lines of a Jerry Tillery. At end, only Khalid Kareem has played extensively against the option. With Okwara and Daelin Hayes out, players like Jamir Jones and Ade Ogundeji must control the edge and stay in their lanes. This is much more difficult to do than it sounds, especially against an elusive runner like Perry.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Bennett Moehring is Navy’s capable place kicker, having converted all field goal attempts under 50 yards and all extra points. Punter Owen White sports a 41-yard average, but more than half of his punts are returned for plus yardage. Chance Warren (kickoffs) and Garrett Winn (punts) are the main return men. Both fair-catch the ball on most occasions, especially on kickoffs. The coverage teams are effective with one exception – a kickoff was returned by Memphis for a 99-yard touchdown earlier this season.

The Irish special teams have been embarrassed by mental breakdowns in the past few weeks, and one has to wonder when the next shoe will drop. Chris Finke has helped the cause with a couple of productive punt returns, but on other occasions the Irish have let the ball roll for excess yards or signaled for a fair catch when there was plenty of room to run. Cover teams remain strong with Claypool and Bo Bauer leading the charge, while specialists Jonathan Doerer and Jay Bramblett have had their ups and downs.

SUMMARY

Navy is undefeated in the first half of games this season, averaging 24 points before intermission. Defensively, they have surrendered only five of the 16 touchdowns by their Division 1 opponents in the first half. Perry will try to win on first down by alternating between his fullbacks and his own running prowess to pick up five yards or more. If successful, the Midshipmen could put the Irish defense on roller skates before hitting them with an unexpected pass or reverse.

The Irish defense therefore must force manageable third downs and get off the field frequently enough to allow the offense to keep pace in the early going. Notre Dame can take control in the second half with its superior depth and size, but that is not a given if they are facing a large deficit. Offensively, Book must engineer productive drives that give the defense time to rest. A balanced attack that defeats the blitz more often than not is their prescription for success.

Here are a few questions that will shed light on the outcome:

Can the Irish defense hold containment on the edges to stop the pitch play?

Will Tony Jones and Notre Dame’s patchwork offensive line ignite the running game?

Can the Irish get off to a fast start and play the game with the lead?

Will Navy surprise the Irish with successful trick plays?

Can Notre Dame’s special teams have a positive impact?

Will the Irish defenders keep Navy well below its 358-yard rushing average?

Which team will best take care of the ball and avoid costly penalties?

PREDICTION

Navy’s ability to control the clock and get out to an early lead is worrisome in that the Irish offense must keep pace while the defense finds its footing. Book and his mates have suffered long, inexplicable stretches of drought in games this season. Memphis was the only opponent good enough to make adjustments and come back to beat the Midshipmen, so the Irish would be well advised to study that game film and be ready to play from the first series. Still, don’t be surprised if Navy moves quickly down the field and scores on its opening drive. How quickly Notre Dame recovers and responds will determine whether this game goes down to the wire or lands comfortably in the win column. Another special teams gaffe by the Irish could also become a deciding factor. Navy has not played a strong schedule to date and Notre Dame would win nine of ten times against them based on the comparative rosters, but as we’ve seen in the recent past that tenth outcome can occur if the hosts turn in a lackluster performance.

NOTRE DAME 35  NAVY 24

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Book was told by the coaches to “Let it rip” before the game, and he responded with a confident and decisive first half performance. He threw the ball with conviction and velocity, completing 18 of 32 passes on the night and running the ball for substantial gains when the defense dropped into coverage. Chase Claypool was once again the receiving star for the Irish with several acrobatic catches. Chris Finke also had a season-best performance. The senior recorded two touchdown receptions and returned a punt 46 yards to set up Book’s final touchdown pass to reserve tight end George Takacs.

The Irish ran for 272 yards on 41 carries with Book accounting for 139 of them. This included a 45-yard romp to set up Notre Dame’s third touchdown of the night, and a 53-yarder to set up a fourth quarter field goal by Jonathan Doerer. Both long runs by Book came on designed quarterback draws.

The Devils made an effort to get back into the contest before halftime with a score at the 2:55 mark, and followed it with an interception by Shaka Heyward near midfield. As time ran down, poor clock management forced the hosts to settle for a 44-yard field goal attempt, but J.R. Reed recorded his first miss of the season to end the half.

Duke had another chance to tighten things up early in the third period while trailing by 21-7, but Troy Pride picked off a Quentin Harris pass to end the threat. Book immediately hit Claypool on two long tosses before Finke caught a six-yard pass for what was essentially the game-clinching score. Harris, who was pressured all evening, finished with 16 completions in 28 attempts for a mere 102 yards before being relieved in the fourth period.

Let’s review the answers to our pregame questions:

Can Notre Dame run the ball effectively without a fully healthy Tony Jones? Yes. Although Book outrushed the Irish tailbacks, Jahmir Smith contributed a 40 yard run and C’Bo Flemister scored a touchdown.

Will the Irish defense be able to apply consistent pressure on Harris? Yes, they dominated the porous Duke offensive line.

Which special teams and kicker will influence the outcome? The Irish finally showed some spark in the second half after Brian Kelly was caught on camera screaming at ST Coach Brian Polian after Duke ran a successful fake punt. Finke’s long return and Doerer’s field goal came after that tirade. Jay Bramblett shanked a punt in the first half that led to Duke’s only touchdown.

Can Notre Dame score on its opening drive? It was another three and out, but the next two possessions hit paydirt.

Will either offense execute big plays over 40+ yards? Yes, and all three such plays from scrimmage came on running plays. Finke’s punt return made it four, and his 78-yard reception that was called back on a phantom holding call would have been the fifth.

Can the Irish reverse their history of poor road performances at night? They seemed mentally sharper and more determined tonight, and they also seemed to be having fun for a change. The soft opponent didn’t hurt, either.

Which team will commit crucial turnovers? Although Book had a couple of second half interceptions, they were not damaging. Duke also suffered two turnovers, and the interception by Pride took all the wind out of their sails.

Will fans who don’t have the ACC Network find something better to do on Saturday night? Geez, I hope so. The Duke fans in the stands were smart enough to disappear early.

The Irish fan base can now look forward with anticipation and optimism rather than dread to the final three games of the regular season. If the team can match its level of play tonight with consistent efforts against Navy, Boston College and Stanford, a 10-2 finish should not be problem.

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Coach David Cutcliffe is in his 12^th campaign at Duke, where he took over a rock-bottom program that had won just ten total games in the previous eight seasons. He has a record of 71-76 at the school, although his mark since 2012 following five difficult rebuilding years is a respectable 50-36. The Blue Devils are coming off a bye week during which they had extra time to stew over a devastating 20-17 loss to arch rival North Carolina. Cutcliffe elected to run a trick play from the Tar Heel three-yard line with seconds left instead of kicking a field goal to tie the score. An errant halfback pass was intercepted and Duke fell to 4-4 on the season.

The Irish may be the last team Duke wants to entertain while attempting to get back on the winning track after a miserable October. When asked how his team could prevail this week, he replied, “First of all, you have to find some way to generate some pass rush. You got to make the quarterback uncomfortable about holding the ball. Secondly, we’ve got to mix coverages. We’ve got to put ourselves in good positions to avoid giving up explosive plays. One of the best ways to do it is for our offense to stay on the field and make a few explosives of their own.”

After the Michigan loss knocked Notre Dame out of the playoff conversation, Kelly decided to go all out in pursuit of a ten-win regular season. Cornerback Donte Vaughn, who was a potential redshirt candidate this year, will continue to start and use up his final year of eligibility. Quarterback Ian Book will also remain at the helm, which is bad news for sophomore backup Phil Jurkovec. The latter had hoped to gain some valuable game experience this season to be in better position to compete for the starting job in 2020.

Josh Lugg and Trevor Ruhland continue to man the right side of the offensive line now that Tommy Kraemer and Robert Hainsey are injured. Tailback Tony Jones sat out last week but is expected to be available this week on a limited basis. Linebacker Jack Lamb is the only notable defensive player who will miss this week’s contest. The Devils have been fortunate this year in the injury department and their starting lineup remains intact.

NOTRE DAME’S OFFENSE vs. DUKE’S DEFENSE

Senior defensive end Victor Dimukeje is the leader of a very respectable and experienced Duke front four. He is flanked by end Tre Hornbuckle, and reserve Chris Rumph is a third down pass rush specialist. Trevor McSwain and Edgar Cerenord have the size and ability to anchor the interior rotation.

Duke plays a 4-2-5 alignment with two linebackers and three safeties. Middle linebacker Koby Quansah is the team’s leading tackler. He is joined on the second line of the defense by Brandon Hill, who is also a productive player. Freshman Shaka Heyward is a future star who has worked his way into the rotation. He wowed his coaches with a 15-tackle performance against North Carolina.

The secondary is comparatively small. Senior safety Dylan Singleton is the leader of the group and is the team’s second leading tackler. A pair of sophomore cornerbacks, Leonard Johnson and Josh Blackwell, will challenge the Irish outside receivers. Johnson is a solid player and will try to slow down Chase Claypool.

The return of starting tailback Jafar Armstrong to the lineup last month has yet to provide the Irish running game with a much-needed spark. Jahmir Smith and C’Bo Flemister have had few and fewer opportunities between them. Jones may help to gain some tough yards this week, but the explosive plays continue to be elusive. The important thing is one or more of these tailbacks needs to take pressure off Ian Book to make plays and carry the team over the finish line.

DUKE’S OFFENSE vs. NOTRE DAME’S DEFENSE

The Blue Devils have topped 40 points on four occasions this season, but failed to reach 20 in each of the last two games. Senior quarterback Quentin Harris is a 61% passer and a capable running threat with 13 touchdowns through the air and six more on the ground. Deon Jackson and Mataeo Durant are a solid one-two punch at tailback, with the 215-pound Jackson getting the majority of the carries.

Left guard Zach Baker is the only senior on an offensive line that features two freshman tackles, Casey Holman and Jacob Monk. They’ve done a credible job in pass protection, having surrendered only 12 sacks in eight games. The running game statistics are mediocre but for the contribution of Harris to the equation. He is the second leading rusher, averaging 51 yards per game to Jackson’s 61.

Another freshman, wideout Jalon Calhoun, has 37 receptions to lead Duke. He is joined by Scott Bracey and Aaron Young. Tight end Noah Gray is a frequent target with 32 catches, primarily in the short zones. This is not a passing offense that stretches the field, but Cutcliffe knows how to move the chains and the running dimension provided by Harris is a well-utilized asset.

The ideal strategy for Notre Dame is to pressure Harris with a strong pass rush and tighten up the coverage to defend the short and intermediate throws. The Irish did this effectively against Virginia’s Bryce Perkins, forcing him into multiple mistakes. A similar script could unfold if the visitors play with renewed energy and passion. Duke is near the bottom of Division I in passing yards per catch, so the deep threat to Notre Dame’s secondary is almost nonexistent.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Duke kicker A.J. Reed is perfect on field goal attempts this season, including a 50-yarder. Punter Austin Parker has a 44-yard average. The punt return game is a bright spot when Blackwell has room to maneuver, while kickoff returns by Michael Carter have yielded just average results.

Notre Dame has taken a step backward in this phase of the game since its bye week. Jonathan Doerer missed his only field goal attempt last week, and mental lapses have cost the return teams valuable yardage and field position. Coverage units, led by the versatile Claypool, remain excellent.

SUMMARY

The Blue Devils are a decent team with no major weaknesses, and are well-coached. On the downside, they are not explosive and cannot match Notre Dame’s talent level. Their offensive line is a bit below average while the defensive front is a strength. Duke’s defense appeared to be wearing down prior to the bye week, but may be somewhat recovered after the extra rest. Still, the Devils could be vulnerable to a more powerful opponent like Notre Dame if the Irish attacked them on the ground with conviction. Second string linemen Lugg and Ruhland did a credible job last week in relief of Notre Dame’s injured starters, and those opportunities will be theirs to lose for the balance of the regular season.

Here are a few questions that will help determine the outcome:

Can Notre Dame run the ball effectively without a fully healthy Tony Jones?

Will the Irish defense be able to apply consistent pressure on Harris?

Which special teams and kicker will influence the outcome?

Can Notre Dame score on its opening drive?

Will either offense execute big plays over 40+ yards?

Can the Irish reverse their history of poor road performances at night?

Which team will commit crucial turnovers?

Will fans who don’t have the ACC Network find something better to do on Saturday night?

PREDICTION

An objective analysis would lead one to believe that Notre Dame is the better team and should win, but the Irish have not played anywhere near the level of their potential lately. One has to wonder if they can refocus on the road against a rested, inspired opponent. To win comfortably, the Irish must have a strong performance by Armstrong and receivers not named Claypool and Kmet must contribute. Otherwise, the outcome may not be certain until the game’s final possession. Special teams and field goals will play an important factor, so Doerer must return to form since Duke’s Reed is almost automatic. I don’t like the way the Irish offense and special teams have played lately, but they should have enough to get past the Devils. The margin just may be a lot less than people originally had in mind.

NOTRE DAME 24  DUKE 20

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First half turnovers kept the hosts from taking control of the game early. Book threw an interception at the Virginia Tech nine yard line on the team’s second possession, ending a long march. The Irish finally got on the board on their next series when Book hit a wide open Cole Kmet on a short pass for a 7-0 lead. The Hokies, who were obviously motivated from the outset, answered when third string quarterback Quincy Patterson hit Damon Hazelton for a touchdown later in the first quarter.

The Irish came right back in the second stanza when Book threw a short scoring pass to Tommy Tremble. The touchdown play was preceded by a well-executed screen pass (finally!) to Jafar Armstrong that covered 26 yards.

Both offenses struggled for a while until Virginia Tech put the ball on the ground near midfield. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah recovered for Notre Dame at the Tech 42 yard line, but could not scoop the ball up cleanly with nothing but turf in front of him. Leading 14-7, the Irish still had plenty of time to take a more commanding advantage before halftime.

With fewer than 30 seconds remaining and the ball at the Hokie two yard line, Armstrong was hit hard for no gain. The ball popped into the air, and Virginia Tech safety Divine Deablo snagged it on his way to a 98-yard sprint for the tying score with nine seconds left on the clock.

The second half brought more misery for the Irish. The Hokies took the kickoff and tacked on a field goal to take the lead at 17-14. Moments later, Deablo made a leaping interception of an underthrown pass by Book at the Tech two yard line. Notre Dame’s offense has fallen flat several times after intermission this season, and today was no different.

On the final play of the third period, Tre Turner made a circus catch of a Patterson pass for a 52-yard gain to set up another Brian Johnson field goal. The Hokies now led by 20-14 with 13:25 remaining in the game. To make matters worse, Lawrence Keys caught the ensuing kickoff at the Irish one yard line and stepped into the end zone to down the ball. By rule, the ball was placed at the one and Notre Dame was forced to start from there.

As boos began to emerge from the crowd, two critical if not fortunate major penalties gave life to an Irish comeback drive. Mercifully, a roughing the passer call nullified a third interception by Book. Given a reprieve, the senior quarterback mixed in passes to Chase Claypool and Braden Lenzy to bring Notre Dame inside the Tech ten. After a defensive holding call moved the ball to the four, Armstrong was flagged for an illegal block below the waist, and the drive stalled. Jonathan Doerer came on to attempt a 35-yard field goal, but it was wide right with seven minutes left.

Virginia Tech took over and managed a couple of time-consuming first downs against the tiring Notre Dame defense, but a high-effort sack by Khalid Kareem forced a punt. Once again, Book was forced to start from deep in his own territory with just 3:22 on the clock. The team needed a touchdown and was 87 yards away from its objective.

The final drive almost ended in its infancy, but Book found Armstrong with a short fourth down pass to keep things moving forward. He added a few runs with tosses to Claypool and Avery Davis to move across midfield, before three straight incompletions stalled things at the Tech 33.

Facing a fourth and ten, Book threw perhaps his best pass of the season, hitting Claypool in stride on a deep slant at the Hokie seven-yard line. Two plays later, with 29 seconds on the clock and no Irish timeouts remaining, Book called his own number and navigated around right end for the winning score. In the final seconds, Kyle Hamilton picked off a desperate Patterson heave to end it.

The dramatic victory overshadowed another uneven performance by the Irish, who were sluggish on offense, half asleep on special teams and good but not especially dominant on defense. The win also proved to be costly as right tackle Robert Hainsey went down in the first quarter with a fractured ankle. Linebacker Jack Lamb went down later on a special teams play. I have not heard a report yet on his condition.

Let’s review the answers to our pregame questions:

Can Notre Dame dominate the line of scrimmage? No. The Irish running game was non-existent. Book accounted for 50 of the team’s 106 yards rushing, and he was asked to throw 53 passes against a decided underdog. The defensive line was slightly better, but were fortunate that Patterson’s passing accuracy was poor.

Will the Irish defense continue to arm-tackle or will they play more crisply? Tackling and effort were improved. The group bent in the second half but refused to break.

Which team’s running game will help relieve pressure on its quarterback? Neither. Both quarterbacks carried the rushing load but did not get much help. Tony Jones sat out the game for Notre Dame due to nagging injuries.

Can the Irish limit successful scrambles by Hooker? Patterson had to fill in as Hooker was unable to start, but the Irish did a good job in limiting his excursions out of the pocket. He finished with 77 yards on 19 carries with just one escape for 20 yards.

Will Kelly give Jurkovec any meaningful snaps? No, he only snapped at him once – for falling asleep during the third quarter. Most of the fans did as well, however, until they woke up and began to chant for Urban Meyer.

Will Bud Foster be able to devise a plan that confounds the Irish offense? Of course. It has become child’s play to make Chip Long look like an amateur. Foster might have completed the task if he had not lost both starting cornerbacks in the second half.

Can Smith and Armstrong contribute more substantially to the rushing attack? I’m going to have to stop calling it a rushing “attack”. It’s more like a sorority pillow fight.

Which team will commit crucial turnovers? Notre Dame’s three giveaways and a drive-killing penalty in the red zone turned a comfortable win against a mediocre team into a cardiac event.

A trip south to play Duke is on tap for next week. Normally, this would not cause Irish fans to break into a sweat, but the Devils beat Virginia Tech by 45-10 this season and are well-coached. The Irish suddenly appear to be vulnerable, and the loss of the right side of the offensive line is never a good thing.

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