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

December 31, 2021
135,235

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

135,228 Views | 1316 Replies | Last: 2 yr ago by hunt4g
Joe1976
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game.
Joe
scUMsux
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Lewis lookin like Gary Gray 2.0
usma95
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Without a TO, this is over now. Freaking Lewis cannot make a play to save his life.
dunwoodyfan
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Hard to believe Lewis is best we have.
Sgt Hulka
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I hate to ever bang on a kid, but Jesus is Lewis bad. I mean awful
MAS
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nc2022 said:

Lewis and Bertrand are just having nightmare games



Bc they aren't good.
Parks90
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Cassin said:

Where are all the bombs that should be thrown at Rees?

The offense has completely killed the defense.
Offense gave the D a 28-7 lead. This is totally on the D.

For some reason even though we have failed to sack this guy since the first quarter we stupidly keep blitzing wildly. At some point you need to accept reality and adjust your plan.
irishcop
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The future is bright lolololol
jptscott
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Clarence Lewis is not good
Joe1976
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missed fg looms large...
Joe
irishinutah
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Epic collapse…harbinger?
Rwolf101
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These young corners and linebackers better be miracle studs. Or else you can kiss a NY6 win next season goodbye. Woof at the lack of talent and depth.
mattfreeman
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Staff
Big review coming up here.
ndSlaw
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Omg that's a fumble
TripperHarrison
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Early whistle.
Rwolf101
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I'm sorry but that female ref has been below average all game. Don't mean to target all female refs, just don't know how else to describe her.
Cassin
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Out
ndSlaw
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Fumble and clear recovery
mavscoach
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How many 3rd & long are they going to convert
leofitz
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ndSlaw said:

Fumble and clear recovery
our ball
nc2022
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MAS said:

nc2022 said:

Lewis and Bertrand are just having nightmare games



Bc they aren't good.
they are average players (for this level) having bad games
Cassin
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All of y'all saying the players have quit are so out of line
usma95
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That is a fumble. No way they can say he was down
Sgt Hulka
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Rwolf101 said:

I'm sorry but that female ref has been below average all game. Don't mean to target all female refs, just don't know how else to describe her.
Just a ref that's a female and having a bad game. You didn't target her
BigIrishEnergy69
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Freeman better keep his word and recruit his a** off!!
What do I know?
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If this play doesnt get overturned, it will be interesting to see how the narrative changes... ND would have been robbed.
MAS
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nc2022 said:

MAS said:

nc2022 said:

Lewis and Bertrand are just having nightmare games



Bc they aren't good.
they are average players (for this level) having bad games


Fair. Better competition showing their limitations
tvanp63
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That's a fumble, but don't know if they'll give it to us.
nc2022
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Rwolf101 said:

I'm sorry but that female ref has been below average all game. Don't mean to target all female refs, just don't know how else to describe her.
rwolf ejected for targeting
BigIrishEnergy69
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What do I know? said:

If this play doesnt get overturned, it will be interesting to see how the narrative changes... ND would have been robbed.
Nah, we will be hearing ND is overrated.
mavscoach
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Sgt Hulka said:

Rwolf101 said:

I'm sorry but that female ref has been below average all game. Don't mean to target all female refs, just don't know how else to describe her.
Just a ref that's a female and having a bad game. You didn't target her
She isnt the only one this game All of the officials are
mattfreeman
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Staff
After review…Notre Dame ball. Huge play by Isaiah Foskey and Drew White.

3:07 left. Irish will start on its own 11.
Rwolf101
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Sgt Hulka said:

Rwolf101 said:

I'm sorry but that female ref has been below average all game. Don't mean to target all female refs, just don't know how else to describe her.
Just a ref that's a female and having a bad game. You didn't target her

Yeah I didn't intend to either. I think it's great to see female coaches and officials and applaud the diversity. She's just not doing an A+ job today.
Sgt Hulka
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Ok Jack.....go get your name in the paper. Let's ride
nc2022
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35-34 maybe
 
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