Notre Dame’s defense has a chance to clean up the mess from last week and do it against an offense that has struggled to generate much of anything on the ground.
After opening the season looking as dominant as any unit in the country, Chris Ash’s group took a step back against North Carolina. The Tar Heels put up 26 points, ran for 77 yards, threw for 208 and converted half of their third-down chances.
For a defense that had been rolling through its first four games, that was a noticeable slip. Stanford offers a pretty clear path to a bounce-back.
The Cardinal offense has had a rough year, and the problems start with the run game. Stanford ranks 135th in rushing yards per game, 134th in rushing yards per attempt, 122nd in rushing touchdowns and 89th in runs of 20 yards or more. Notre Dame should be able to dictate that side of the matchup if it wants to get back on track.
A big reason for optimism is the play of Boubacar Traore. The senior defensive end has been flying out of the gate in 2025 after returning from the knee injury he suffered in 2024.
At 6-5 and 253 pounds, Traore leads the team with 19 total pressures. He also has eight hits plus sacks on the quarterback, according to Pro Football Focus, and ranks second on the team with 4.5 tackles for loss.
The Boston native has been one of the best stories on the defense so far, and Saturday sets up as a chance for another big outing.
The matchup could tilt his way quickly because Stanford’s offensive line has had a hard time in just about every phase. The Cardinal have struggled in pass protection, in the run game and even staying healthy.
Right tackle Kahlil House is one of the healthier pieces up front, but he has also been their biggest problem in pass protection. The 6-5, 300-pound tackle has allowed a team-high 12 pressures and five hits plus sacks on the quarterback.
Traore will have a real chance to pile up numbers if that trend continues.
Notre Dame may also be without Leonard Moore, which opens the door for Jayden Sanders to step into a bigger role on the outside. Moore could return from concussion protocol this week, but there’s no reason to rush him back with BYU, Miami and SMU coming up.
Sanders, a former Michigan transfer, has already shown he can hold up in the boundary. He’s still young, and this kind of spot gives him another chance to prove it.
If Moore sits, Sanders will likely draw plenty of attention.
Stanford wideout Jordan Onovughe is the likely target there. He has played the most snaps on the outside of any Stanford receiver and is one of the few Cardinal pass catchers who has not dropped a ball this season.
The 6-2, 210-pound receiver has been targeted 14 times, catching 10 passes for 98 yards. He hasn’t had a breakout game yet, but Stanford may try to test the replacement for Moore if the All-American is unavailable.
Another Notre Dame defender coming off a strong showing is Armel Mukam. The senior defensive tackle didn’t post flashy pass-rush numbers against North Carolina, finishing with zero pressures, but he was excellent against the run.
He had three tackles and three run stops, according to PFF, and looked far more consistent at the point of attack. His leverage and strength stood out on film, and it was easily his best run-defending performance since arriving in South Bend.
That matters here because Stanford’s issues in the run game are tied in part to the interior of its offensive line. Right guard Simione Pale has logged 70 run blocking snaps this season, according to PFF, and he grades as Stanford’s lowest-rated run blocker.
With the Cardinal sitting near the bottom of the country in rushing production, the lack of push inside has been a major problem. Mukam will have a chance to keep building on what he showed against the Tar Heels and help choke off Stanford’s ground attack.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Offense Faces A New Test With Stanford And Trophy Stakes
After practice this week, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and several Notre Dame players spent time putting a spotlight on the small details that have helped the Irish keep their offense moving. Jordan Faison talked about the way defenses are spreading their attention, Jonaz Walton pointed to the confidence he picked up from the previous game, and Armel Mukam discussed the give-and-take along the defensive line as the group kept turning its focus toward Stanford.
There is more at stake than just another conference-style tune-up at Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish are looking at the rivalry game as a chance to reclaim the Legend's Trophy, and Denbrocks emphasis on receiver depth suggests the offense is still searching for the kind of balance that can carry over when the pressure rises. Boubacar Traore was among those around the practice field as Notre Dame continued preparing for a matchup that feels bigger than the calendar would suggest. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame's Most Dangerous Offensive Trend Faces A Real Stanford Test
Notre Dames offense has settled into a stretch it can build around, with CJ Carr operating behind a line that has found a dependable anchor in Will Black and a passing game getting real production from Micah Gilbert. The development at left tackle has helped stabilize the left side, Gilberts breakout has given Carr another reliable target, and the running backs have added balance in recent weeks as the Irish prepare for Stanford.
The matchup should still provide a useful measuring stick. Stanford has had trouble in pass coverage and has not held up well against the run, but the Irish will face some individual tests along the way, including Black against edge rusher Omar Staples and Gilbert against cornerback Leroy Bryant. There is also the question of how much resistance linebacker Matt Rose can offer if he is on the field, which could shape whether Notre Dames most dangerous offensive trend keeps rolling or gets dragged into a more ordinary afternoon. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Angeli Reunion With Notre Dame Suddenly Looks Far From Certain
Steve Angelis path has taken another turn since he left Notre Dame for Syracuse, where he was expected to step in as the Oranges quarterback but instead ran into an early injury and then a rough stretch of play. After two shaky starts, Syracuse coach Fran Brown turned to Amari Odom, and the move paid off in a recent win that gave the Orange a different look at the position.
Brown still has not committed to keeping Odom in place, which leaves the door open for Angeli to work his way back into the job. If that happens, the quarterback reunion everyone assumed would wait until Syracuses 2026 meeting with Notre Dame could suddenly feel a lot less certain, and a lot more complicated for both sides. [Read more 🡒]