No. 16 Notre Dame is set to host No. 15 Louisville on Saturday in a crucial game for the Fighting Irish’s College Football Playoff aspirations. After suffering a loss to Northern Illinois in Week 2 and facing a relatively weak schedule, Notre Dame finds itself with limited room for mistakes, making this matchup even more significant.
Louisville is the last ranked opponent on Notre Dame’s schedule before they face USC in their season finale on November 30. The Cardinals proved to be a challenging adversary last season, handing Notre Dame, then ranked No. 10, a 33-20 defeat and improving their record to 6-0. They achieved this victory by effectively neutralizing the Fighting Irish’s run game and dominating the turnover battle.
For Louisville to prevail again, stopping the run will be essential, especially considering Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard has not thrown for over 200 yards in a game this season. Conversely, Louisville’s seventh-year senior Tyler Shough comes in with impressive credentials, ranking sixth nationally in passing efficiency, having thrown eight touchdowns without an interception.
Despite a favorable start to the season, which included a bye week in Week 3, Louisville faces its most significant challenge yet against a tougher opponent.
The game details are as follows:
Date: Saturday, September 28 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana
Live stream: Peacock
Key points to consider:
Limiting big plays: In their recent matchup against Georgia Tech, Louisville’s success was marked by explosive plays, with Shough connecting on several long throws. However, Notre Dame has a strong defense ranked fifth nationally and will need to minimize big plays, as they have previously allowed several long completions.
Maintaining balance: Notre Dame will need to establish a passing game to keep Louisville’s defense on its toes. Leonard has primarily focused on short passes this season, and the team will need to diversify its offense to effectively challenge the Cardinals, who had success containing their former running back last year.
Statement game: The pressure is mounting for Notre Dame to avoid a second home loss in September. For Louisville, this is a chance to make a statement and align themselves with top teams like Miami and Clemson in the ACC. A win would significantly enhance their credentials for a potential at-large bid for the College Football Playoff.
Prediction: Notre Dame appears to have regrouped after their loss to Northern Illinois, showcasing their potential with a commanding victory over Purdue. This matchup marks a tough test for Louisville’s offense against a formidable defense, likely hindering their ability to recreate last week’s explosive plays. Expect Notre Dame’s defense to assert itself, with Leonard’s dual-threat capabilities playing a pivotal role. The pick is Notre Dame -6.5.