Someone’s perfect season is about to get tested in a big way in Week 7, when No. 2 Notre Dame goes on the road to face No. 8 BYU in a matchup that should tell us plenty about both teams.
This is the first real measuring-stick game on Notre Dame’s schedule, and it comes in the middle of a slate that also includes ranked matchups against No. 3 Miami on November 7 and No.
24 SMU on Nov. 24.
Whoever comes out on top here is the one that should be viewed as a true National Championship contender.
The headline name for the Irish is CJ Carr, who has worked his way into the Heisman Trophy conversation. He sits third on the odds board at +1200, behind Jeremiah Smith (-210) and Darian Mensah (+1000), and he’s been sharp all season.
Carr has completed 70.8% of his passes for 1,378 yards, 16 touchdowns, and only one interception. Saturday will be his first major test against a BYU defense with something to prove.
On the analytics side, Notre Dame has the profile of a powerhouse. The Fighting Irish lead the nation in net adjusted EPA per play, and BYU checks in 16th in that category.
The concern for the Cougars is on defense. They rank 29th in opponent success rate and have had real trouble slowing the run. That’s a dangerous place to be against a Notre Dame defense that sits ninth in rush success rate and 15th in EPA per rush.
BYU’s undefeated record, both straight up and against the spread, is expected to end Saturday night.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Just Got Fresh Bulletin Board Material Before BYU
With Notre Dame preparing for BYU, the Cougars have already started framing the matchup around the challenge of slowing down freshman quarterback CJ Carr. Linebacker Jake Clifton spoke ahead of the game and made it clear that BYU intends to bring heat, talking about a plan to make Carr uncomfortable and lean on a physical style that will put the Irish offensive line in focus.
Clifton also balanced that edge with respect for Notre Dames program and the players wearing the blue and gold, treating the game like another step on the schedule even as the rhetoric sharpened. For Notre Dame, though, comments like that are exactly the kind that can linger in a locker room and add a little extra energy to a game already carrying plenty of attention. [Read more 🡒]
CJ Carr Is Forcing BYU To Rethink How It Defends Notre Dame
Ahead of Notre Dames meeting with BYU, Cougars defensive coordinator Brady Poppinga laid out the challenge of trying to slow CJ Carr, and it starts long before the ball is snapped. Poppinga said the plan has to be about creating confusion for the Irish quarterback, because Carr has shown the kind of arm strength and field awareness that can punish a defense if it gives him a clean pre-snap picture.
Carrs rise has forced opponents to treat Notre Dames passing game with extra caution, especially when he can extend plays and find answers both from the pocket and outside of it. Through this season, he has completed 70% of his passes with 16 touchdowns and one interception, a line that helps explain why BYU is approaching him as more than just another young quarterback on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame's Rushing Surge Faces Its Biggest Test Yet
Notre Dames ground game has started to look like the kind of calling card that can travel, with the offensive line giving the Irish more push in recent weeks and right tackle Guerby Lambert emerging as a key part of that climb. The improvement has come from the kind of work coaches love to point to but fans only notice when it shows up on Saturdays - cleaner execution, better timing and a front that is beginning to work more as one unit.
BYU should provide a much sharper read on how real that progress is. The Cougars bring a defensive front that has been among the nations best at limiting rushing yards, which means the Irish line will have to carry its recent form into a far tougher setting. Lambert has stressed the need for practice, preparation and cohesion, and this matchup figures to reveal whether Notre Dames surge is a step forward or just a strong stretch against lesser resistance. [Read more 🡒]