Notre Dame (4-2) concludes a three-game homestand on Saturday evening against the USC Trojans (5-1). The Fighting Irish have exploded on offense over the past few games while their shaky defense has solidified. This team has no margin for error to remain in playoff contention after losing its first two games. NC State has a potent offense but has struggled to keep a healthy defense on the field. This week’s game will be live streamed on the Peacock Network starting at 3:30 PM Eastern time.

Irish Head Coach Marcus Freeman will attempt to keep the team focused on the present day. Every game is critical and each future opponent could spring an upset if the Irish play poorly. The Wolfpack boasts a balanced attack and has a considerable number of explosive plays to their credit. Although NC State has faced a weak schedule to date, Coach Dave Doeren welcomed the challenge at Notre Dame.

“I love playing against physical, aggressive teams like this, and a great place to play with the tradition and history of South Bend and playing at Notre Dame. It’s been a while since we played them. So excited to have that opportunity, and our guys are excited,” he said earlier this week.

The Irish will again play without nickel back DeVonta Smith and slot receiver Jaden Greathouse. Freeman reported good news regarding other players. Tight end Cooper Flanagan may see his first action of the season on Saturday. Kicker Noah Burnette will be ready after sitting out last week.

Several members of the Wolfpack secondary will not be available. Isaiah Crowell, Rente Hinton and Jaren Sensabaugh have all been declared out for the season. Nickel back has been the most severe problem area. Jackson Vick, who was the fourth option at this position, is doubtful. Middle linebacker and team captain Sean Brown missed last week’s game and his status for Saturday is uncertain. These injuries have caused several players to shift positions or see extended action for the first time.

Notre Dame’s Offense vs. North Carolina State’s Defense

CJ Carr was not as sharp last week as he had been in previous outings. The Irish will turn him loose against the patchwork Wolfpack secondary. NC State’s 3-3-5 alignment blitzes quite a bit but has not generated many sacks. Notre Dame’s offensive line is by far the best unit they will have seen to date. NC State will counter with veterans Sabastian Harsh and Brandon Cleveland up front. Linebacker Caden Fordham is the team’s best overall defender and Cian Sloane is an effective pass rusher.

The only element that could preclude another 40+ point performance by the Irish is their own mistakes. Carr missed open receivers in the deep zones last week but the larger problem has been penalties. Notre Dame had by far its worst game of the season in this category last week. Freeman undoubtedly is using this as a point of emphasis as the team prepares for the Wolfpack.

It is obvious that tailbacks Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price pose a colossal headache for opposing coaches. They will force NC State to commit extra resources to the run This will leave an injury-riddled secondary in single coverage against the Irish receivers. Look for Will Pauling to have a strong game as he takes over for the injured Greathouse.

Three of the five members of the Wolfpack secondary are experienced players. Jamel Johnson, Devon Marshall and JJ Johnson are under six feet tall and are surrounded by incredibly young players. They are likely to wear down as the game progresses.

North Carolina State’s Offense vs. Notre Dame’s Defense

NC State has its own CJ at quarterback, and he is quite good. CJ Bailey is a 75% passer who averages 277  yards per game. He has utilized a number of targets, including five capable wideouts led by Terrell Jackson. Bailey’s favorite receiver has been tight end Justin Joly, who leads the team with 28 catches. Notre Dame must account for Joly, especially on third down and in the red zone.

Left tackle Jacarrius Peak leads the Wolfpack offensive line. The others are no more than average, and the Irish defensive front should have an advantage. With an accurate passer like the 6’6” Bailey in the pocket, Notre Dame must disrupt him with pressure from all sides. This could be difficult if the Irish cannot stop the run to force long third down situations.

Speaking of the running game, NC State has an excellent tailback in Hollywood Smothers. He has averaged nearly seven yards per carry and 115 yards per game. Freeman acknowledged Smothers this week when discussing the Wolfpack offense with the media.

“Their offense is very efficient,” Freeman said. “Many weapons. Their running back, Smothers, No. 3, is as good as anyone we’ll see all year. He is a really talented football player. And you better tackle him, because if he gets an open space, he can take it all the way. The quarterback, No. 11, Bailey, he’s a really good player. Another tall, athletic quarterback. He really distributes the ball to many people. I know the tight end [Joly], No. 7, has gotten the most passes. He’s a problem, too. So we have to have a good defensive plan for what they’re going to present. But it’ll be another great challenge.”

Special Teams

Burnette will return to perform his place-kicking duties, although his field goal range remains undetermined. Punter James Rendell has been effective when called upon. The deeper and healthier Irish have a distinct edge on paper with their coverage and return units. We will see if that translates into a tangible advantage during the game.

NC State has struggled a bit in the field goal department.  Kicker Kanoah Vinesett has converted two of just three attempts all season. His longest is only 38 yards and he has also had one blocked. Punter Caden Noonkester averages 46 yards, although the team has allowed several returns. The Wolfpack has surrendered significantly more return yards on average than they have been able to gain.

Summary

Notre Dame can prevent this contest from becoming another offensive shootout by dominating in the trenches. They must pressure Bailey while protecting Carr, and they have the personnel to do just that. Of course, the Irish must play well and enjoy productive offensive possessions. Self-inflicted wounds and penalties will keep NC State in this game longer than they should be.

In Bailey and Smothers, North Carolina State has the means to gash any defense. This one-two punch will be a useful gauge to determine how much the Irish have truly improved. Last week, Chris Ash’s unit performed well at all three levels. They generated more pressure up front, the linebackers created havoc, and the young secondary held its own. Of course, the return of cornerback Leonard Moore to the lineup helped immeasurably. NC State’s multiple options at receiver and tight end will stretch the Irish, though. They cannot focus on one or two targets. This means freshmen Mark Zachary and Dallas Golden must perform well in coverage.

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

• Will the Irish clean up the miscues that hampered the offense last week?
• Can Carr exploit the Wolfpack secondary with on-target passing?
• Will Love and Price continue to terrorize opposing defenses?
• Can Notre Dame’s special teams make a significant contribution?
• Which team will win the turnover battle?
• Can Notre Dame win the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball?
• Will the Irish pressure Bailey enough to lower his 75% completion rate?
• Can Hollywood Smothers steal the spotlight from Love and Price?

Prediction

Carr and the Irish offense will be in the spotlight after taking a backward step last week. They should be able to rebound from that error-prone mess against the weak Wolfpack defense.

Notre Dame’s defense will have a more challenging task than they did against Boise State. Bailey and Smothers are excellent players who can hurt the Irish if they have room to maneuver. Chris Ash has managed to improve the pass rush schemes and results in the past few weeks. Still, this unit must reach yet another level if they hope to contain USC or any legitimate playoff contender. Victory on Saturday seems almost certain but the Irish must be efficient on both sides of the ball. They must not only win games at this point – they must dominate.

NOTRE DAME 42  NORTH CAROLINA STATE 17

This is a reprint of John’s original preview article lost in a site technical issue