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Notre Dame Football

Game Thread | No. 1 Clemson at No. 4 Notre Dame

November 7, 2020
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No. 1 Clemson (7-0, 6-0) at No. 4 Notre Dame (6-0, 5-0) 

Notre Dame Stadium | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBC

Game Week Articles | Roster| Depth Chart Schedule |Staff Predictions 


Can Notre Dame Do It?

First of all as a college football fan, I’m grateful we are here. Undefeated Notre Dame hosting undefeated Clemson is what we all wanted and despite COVID doing its best to ruin it, we’re here. 

Notre Dame will get the opportunity to knock off the No. 1 team in the country on Saturday night as Clemson comes to South Bend. There’s not much to put here other than it's a must-win for Notre Dame for many reasons. 

We’ll skip the need to win a big game and head straight to the Fighting Irish should be able to beat a true freshman quarterback and a depleted defense if it’s a true College Football Playoff contender. It’s not about being competitive against a Trevor Lawrence led team, but it’s about beating a team being led by a true freshman quarterback to put itself in full control of a trip to Charlotte in December. 

2018 showed Notre Dame was there physically, but needed depth and a few more playmakers. Have the Irish made up the ground in the last two years? The good news for Notre Dame is they won’t be facing the monster Dabo Swinney rolled out in the Cotton Bowl, but are the Irish ready to position themselves with Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State? 

Clemson was in this spot in 2015 and got a win over Notre Dame after failing in big games season after season. Swinney and company haven’t looked back since that rainy night. Brian Kelly and Ian Book have the chance to do the same on Saturday.  


Five Players To Watch

Notre Dame QB Ian Book
All eyes will be on Book in a legacy game. He'll always be remembered as a winner at Notre Dame. What he does in this game will determine if he's remembered as a guy who can win the big one for the Irish.

Clemson RB Travis Etienne
The best back in college football. The best player? Maybe. Notre Dame has to contain him running the football and can't let him be a game-wrecker as a receiver.

Notre Dame DE Daelin Hayes
Coming off the best game of his career, he will need to play inspired again. Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei was barely pressured against Boston College. The pass rush will be critical in this game for the Irish.

Clemson DT Bryan Bresee
A 5-star true freshman who has made an immediate difference. He's a disruptive pass rusher who leads their team in pressures.

Notre Dame RB Kyren Williams
Can Williams provide the explosive plays that Notre Dame will need to score? They'll need him to, whether it's running or receiving. They'll also need him to continue to be money on 3rd and short.


Quotes of the Week

Notre Dame RB Kyren Williams:
“This is what we come to Notre Dame for. We come to Notre Dame to play top games like this - to play Clemson and the best teams in the nation. 

"We knew that coming in and from the beginning of the season that we were going to see Clemson. We're going to keep going and doing what we're doing."

Notre Dame C Jarrett Patterson:
"As soon as Coach (Tommy) Rees got the job of offensive coordinator, our first meeting early in spring, that was something he really harped on, being 100% on third-and-short. Quite frankly, we weren't up to that standard last year at all. We weren't even close. So that's one thing we talk a lot of pride in, especially knowing that in a game, third-and-3, third-and-4, Louisville with that third-and-5, coaches have that trust in us. That really means a lot to us.”

Notre Dame LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah:
“We're talking about playing Clemson. You have nerves, slip up and have mistakes to a good team, they'll take advantage of those mistakes. We want to make sure they understand this a big game for them and their transition to becoming a good player. We want to take the nervousness out to be free and play.

"I think Coach (Clark) Lea has done a great job with that putting together a scheme that doesn't allow for young players or inexperience players to be thinking constantly on the field rather than opening their minds and be free to play." 

Clemson OL Matt Bockhorst:
“Playing in the box and the front six, you better have your chinstrap buckled tight. That's the way I love to play. I love games like that. Notre Dame's backers fill downhill really hard. The two defensive tackles are stout guys. 41 (Kurt Hinish) is a fire hydrant. 

"You better come with your big boy britches on and ready to hit. I love playing in games like this. I'm excited." 

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly:
“We want to be who we are. We've defined through the first six weeks. We want to play a physical brand of football. That's who we are. We want to take shots down the field. We've got to get some 1-on-1 matchups to allow our bigger-bodied receivers and tight ends to be part of this offense. 

"At the end of the day, this is about four quarters of physical presence with our offense. That's kind of how we've played football this year. You don't start changing who you are at this time, so you can expect us to play physical. We have to make some plays on the perimeter with our receivers and tight ends, but this game is going to come down to our ability to win at the line of scrimmage." 


For Your Nerves 

TEAM STATS Notre Dame Clemson
Points Per Game 34.8 46.1
Points Allowed Per Game 10.3 15.6
Total Yards 437.2 508.0
Yards Passing 206.2 341.4
Yards Rushing 231.0 166.6
Yards Allowed 267.2 274.7
Pass Yards Allowed 173.5 174.9
Rush Yards Allowed  93.7 99.9

Game Thread | No. 1 Clemson at No. 4 Notre Dame

144,770 Views | 1068 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by Domer82
GulfCoastIrish
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This is where Tommy needs to pull out that special couple plays.

Shock the world, Tommy!
Rwolf101
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No matter what, I am now convinced ND is a top 5 team. I was wishy washy on that before but ND looks like it belongs in a NY6 conversation at the least.
irishduffy
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As much as I think we could be ahead by double digits, if you'd asked me at the beginning of the game if I'd take getting the ball in a tie game with 9 plus minutes left I'd have taken it in a heartbeat.
tvanp63
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irishbearcat09 said:

The program needs this win so bad. BK & Book gotta find a way

This!
tcirish
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Rwolf101 said:

No matter what, I am now convinced ND is a top 5 team. I was wishy washy on that before but ND looks like it belongs in a NY6 conversation at the least.


They belong, for sure
tcirish
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Tin Cup Rye Whiskey is a good buy btw.
Irish315
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Clemson has better talent. The players had false start at 2, drop at 3, fumble at 3. Poor tackling, but we are being out coached? Come on.
mattfreeman
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Staff
Trenton Simpson can hit.
jtthedomer
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ND has to find a way to win one of these games.Close don't matter.Irish have to find away.
ndSlaw
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No more drop backs... He can't do it. Get him on the move
TripperHarrison
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***, run the ****ing ball.
Firefighter8196
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Williams needs to be in not CBo
Rwolf101
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tcirish said:

Tin Cup Rye Whiskey is a good buy btw.

Woodford reserve double oaked for me
It's only helping my nerves a little
mattfreeman
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Staff
tcirish said:

Rwolf101 said:

No matter what, I am now convinced ND is a top 5 team. I was wishy washy on that before but ND looks like it belongs in a NY6 conversation at the least.


They belong, for sure
JUST THINK IF THEY WOULD PLAY JORDAN JOHNSON.

Firefighter8196
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What the hell are we doing! Run the damn ball! Just gonna give the ball right back to them again
Rwolf101
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CBo has no business in there as a blocker.
mattfreeman
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Staff
Snap infraction.....-5.
ndmatt01
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What is Rees doing?
ndSlaw
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Good grief
TripperHarrison
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Good play calling.
Firefighter8196
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What an awful aeries! Good lord
Rwolf101
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How does our offense have 2 false starts in a home stadium with 11000 people??
lake erie irish
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Rees offense not looking good here.
mattfreeman
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Staff
Whoa......may wanna look at that.
ndsean44
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I just....don't...with this offense sometimes...
mattfreeman
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Staff
mattfreeman said:

Whoa......may wanna look at that.
Think his butt was out of bounds.
ndSlaw
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Did not look like a top 25 team on that drive...
ejsjr
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Wasn't that pass interference again?!
mattfreeman
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Staff
Not sure how that's not PI though.
Rwolf101
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mattfreeman said:

mattfreeman said:

Whoa......may wanna look at that.
Think his butt was out of bounds.

Controlled it with his steamy thighs though lol
Firefighter8196
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Almost a catch. But the play calling there and personnel with Kyren on the sideline is just Pathetic! Just awful.
TripperHarrison
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Three straight passing plays. That was wise.
irishduffy
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Clemson's DB strategy of smacking the receiver in the face just before the ball gets there is proving effective.
TripperHarrison
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Frustrating sequence
Cassin
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That's pretty blatant PI
 
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