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Game Thread | Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma State

December 31, 2021
135,172

No. 5 Notre Dame (11-1) vs. No. 9 Oklahoma State (11-2)

State Farm Stadium | 1:00 p.m. ET | ESPN | Notre Dame -1.0 | O/U: 45.0

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FIESTA 

Notre Dame is back at the Fiesta Bowl and the Irish will look to get back on track in New Year’s Six games as Marcus Freeman makes his debut as head coach. 

The Irish will be without Kyren Williams and Kyle Hamilton as both are off to the NFL and starting right tackle Josh Lugg will miss the game to injury. All three are key losses, but it's something this team has fought through all season, so I wouldn’t expect Notre Dame to miss a beat. 

That said, Notre Dame will need to protect the quarterback and the Cowboys lead the country in sacks and the Irish will be starting two true freshmen at the tackle position. 

Physicality will be the name of the game in this one as both teams want to win in the trenches, which plays to Notre Dame as they've been one of the more physical teams in the country over the last five years. 


Five Players To Watch

Notre Dame OT Blake Fisher
He's suddenly thrust back into the spotlight after Josh Lugg's injury, which means Fisher will be back in the starting lineup going against several quality pass rushers. I'm sure he'll have some down moments in the game, but by the end of the Fiesta Bowl we may be talking about him a lot as a run blocker.

Oklahoma State RB Jaylen Warren
One of the toughest running backs in the country to tackle, OSU will need him to go off to not let the game rest too much on the shoulders of quarterback Spencer Sanders. If the Irish defense takes Warren away, points will be tough to come by for the Cowboys.

Notre Dame DT Kurt Hinish
In his last game in a Notre Dame uniform, expect the emotional leader of the defense to shine. OSU will be forced to play their backup center due to injury and Hinish should win the one on one matchup with their backup frequently.

Oklahoma State LB Malcolm Rodriguez
A missile as a blitzer, Rodriguez is the best player on a defense that thrives on bringing pressure. Expect to hear his name called a lot whenever the Irish are running the football.

Notre Dame RB Chris Tyree
Now with turf toe in the rearview mirror, a healthy Tyree is going to get more touches with Kyren Williams opting out. He shouldn't have a ton of room to gain yards against this defense, but if they can get him in the right matchup, he'll be someone who provides explosive plays for the Irish offense.


Quotes of the Week

Notre Dame QB Jack Coan:
“I certainly definitely want to go out with a win. You're at a place like Notre Dame, a lot of guys are used to being in the playoffs and things like that. So you might take a breath or a step back and saying you're not in the playoff; you're just in a bowl game. But for him to say that we're going to do this and this is a business trip, we're going to go out and win, it means a ton to me. It would mean everything to end my career with a win.”

Notre Dame C Jarrett Patterson:
“Really just the variety of looks they provide. It's three down, three-three, three-down joker, four-down. They do a lot. They can do all the looks. So the biggest thing is our preparation, this week especially, has to be on point. We have to be ready for all of these third-down looks and really just win those obvious situations -- third and short, third and long, red zone. All of those situations we have to win so we can help secure the Fiesta Bowl.”

Notre Dame WR Kevin Austin Jr.:
”​​​​​​​I feel like Tyler has a lot of opportunities to throw. When he does, he shows his throwing arm. I would say, obviously, I get that sometimes it seems like he's very run-heavy when he goes into the game. But at the end of the day, when he throws in the game, he has confidence and he can make throws. He makes throws in practice that I'm shocked about. So I know that he can do it in the game.”

Notre Dame DE Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa:
“I think the culture is what really puts Notre Dame on top. You come in here and you just have got to leave your own principles at the door. What you have got to understand is Notre Dame has tradition and culture that's built, that you have to take in and understand that's what makes Notre Dame successful, is there's a culture here built upon trust, upon love, and above all, about the brotherhood. You will hear us talk about the brotherhood day in and day out because that's truly what it's about. It's about playing the sport that we love for your brothers, and it's all about the team. That's really what it is.” 

Notre Dame DE Isaiah Foskey:
“​​​​​​​This is a game with just new beginnings, beginning the Coach [Marcus] Freeman era. As everyone knows, our new head coach is Coach Freeman. It just brings more of a hype to this game. This is one of Coach Freeman's first game, New Year's Six bowl game. It's just a great atmosphere. We're coming into this game to win the game.”

Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman:
“​​​​​​​My challenge to our group is we have to match the intensity and the physicality this group (Oklahoma State) plays with. And that's something I always prided myself on as a defensive coordinator. We're going to be tough, we're going to be physical, and we're going to play hard. Then you turn on the film and you watch this offense and their defense especially play extremely hard and extremely physical, and it's a challenge. The ability to match that intensity and physicality and how hard we play will be a huge challenge. But I think our group is up to it. And that's what we're going to have to do if we want to have success tomorrow.”


For Your Nerves 

TEAM STATS Oklahoma State Notre Dame
Points Per Game 30.6 35.3
Points Allowed Per Game 16.8 18.3
Total Yards 402.9 415.8
Yards Passing 221.2 263.6
Yards Rushing 181.8 152.3
Yards Allowed 273.6 339.8
Pass Yards Allowed 184.4 212.0
Rush Yards Allowed  89.2 127.8

Game Thread | Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma State

135,165 Views | 1316 Replies | Last: 2 yr ago by hunt4g
rmirish
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jmsheridan said:

Been watching the Irish longer than most here. This ranks with the worst melt downs ever.
Didn't they say ND is 28-0 with a 3 TD lead? Pathetic
nc2022
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ndsean44 said:

I can't remember going from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in a long time.

Couldn't be more disappointed in the effort by these lads. They outta be ashamed of this 2nd half piss poor effort.
watching really bad tackling can suck the life outta ya
mattfreeman
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Staff
Refs bailing out poor defensive play by Notre Dame.
TheIrishLegion
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This defensive play calling is terrible.
Rwolf101
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That's huge. Likely BS but huge.
irishinutah
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This defense is soft, cannot tackle
lake erie irish
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Another New Years embarasment.
mattfreeman
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Staff
Wonder if letting the team go home for a few days was a bad move.
DarthFader
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mattfreeman said:

Okie State showing what a mobile QB can do for an offense.
Too bad ND doesn't have one…o wait.
NDTom88
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Do you bring in Buchner?
joirish
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I already miss Brian Kelly
ndtim2005
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AsianIrish901 said:

Rwolf101 said:

Good call.

Thanks Kyren. Hope the 4th round selection is worth it.
Still will make more money than you
So do drug traffickers you shallow twat.
irishinutah
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Freeman cannot game day coach, hopefully he can recruit, talent can mask things
ndSlaw
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Field had more tackles than some of our players
jmsheridan
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Out. Wait for clean slate.
hunt4g
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Did I miss something. It is still a one score game with 9 minutes to go?
MAS
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irishinutah said:

Freeman cannot game day coach, hopefully he can recruit, talent can mask things


Yeah 3 quarters prove that. Brilliant
TheIrishLegion
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joirish said:

I already miss Brian Kelly


In 79 previous games this has never happened.
What do I know?
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joirish said:

I already miss Brian Kelly
Well with Brian Kelly, the game would have been over by the end of the first half.
LADomer
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ndSlaw said:

Field had more tackles than some of our players
If "Field" enters the portal...we should by buyers!!
krayzirishfan
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Pathetic. Like we forgot how to coach and play football at half time
Krayz
Senator#99
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Too late
For Buchner
irish0821
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mattfreeman said:

Refs bailing out poor defensive play by Notre Dame.


Are they not supposed to call penalties?
irishtank6900
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What a horrible half…
ndmojo
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Reese - time to earn your paycheck
jcox2201
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Here's the ball game. Gotta get a TD here
irishinutah
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We can't even tackle a guy that is falling down
covingtonjs
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mattfreeman said:

Refs bailing out poor defensive play by Notre Dame.


Redeems them from one of the worst missed holds I've seen on MTA on the Sanders scramble on the last TD drive of the first half.
CelticIrish
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Band there and ND is up 14
Sgt Hulka
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irishinutah said:

Freeman cannot game day coach, hopefully he can recruit, talent can mask things
It's his first game as a HC. Did you expect him to come out and throw a gem in his first game?

I'm as angry as all you, but it's not even one game.
nc2022
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irishinutah said:

Freeman cannot game day coach, hopefully he can recruit, talent can mask things
say what
Joe1976
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scUMsux said:

Rwolf101 said:

I am absolutely baffled that this many posters are calling for our running qb this late in the game. Osu defense is having success largely because ND stopped the quick passing game and have no rushing attack. Too late for the latter, but Buchner probably won't help much with the former. Props to OSU and their game plan adjustments. This has been an embarrassing collapse.
I think we're all just sick of seeing the same BS with Coan is all. No knock on him either...he's just limited athletically
I want a guy in there that can pick up positive yards when there is nothing there instead of chucking it into the stands... kinda like OSU'S qb?
Joe
mattfreeman
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Staff
Tanner Brown 41-yard FG good.

Oklahoma State 34
Notre Dame 28

9:07 | 4Q

Irish offense needs to string together a couple first downs to score, but also to give the defense time to rest. Rough drive chart this half for Notre Dame.

Brucealeg
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Bring Bucher in for a drive to run and eat clock.
TripperHarrison
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I have a good feeling. 420
 
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