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Notre Dame Football

Game Thread | No. 2 Notre Dame vs. No. 3 Clemson

December 19, 2020
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No. 2 Notre Dame vs. No. 3 Clemson | ACC Championship Game

Bank of America Stadium | 4:00 p.m. ET | ABC

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


Part II

Most folks had Notre Dame-Clemson meeting on November 7th circled on their calendar for a year (if not more) and it delivered with a double-overtime thriller. It’d be hard to top part two, but it’s clear both teams have chips on their shoulders entering Saturday’s ACC Championship Game in Charlotte. 

Clemson is out for revenge as they would love nothing more than to make up for the loss in South Bend as they’ll have several key pieces back this time around. Notre Dame enters the game as a double-digit underdog and has yet to get the national respect despite winning the game in November. 

Folks can talk about Trevor Lawrence all they want and while his presence can’t be understated, the return of Clemson defensive tackle Tyler Davis is much more significant. Davis is a special talent and he’ll be facing the weakest link on the Notre Dame offense as the Irish are missing starting center Jarrett Patterson. Josh Lugg looks to get the nod and while experienced, he lacks experience at center. If Davis can cause havoc up the middle, Notre Dame’s offense could struggle as those running lanes Ian Book loves to take will be less frequent and the run game will also be challenged. 

Notre Dame can play physical and if they bring it as they did the first time around, the Irish will compete. Clemson’s offensive line can be taken advantage of and Notre Dame knows it. 

It’s also worth noting, Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea has accepted the Vanderbilt head coaching job, while Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott will interview for the Auburn head coaching gig on Sunday. 


Players To Watch

Notre Dame RB Kyren Williams
He's been a difference-maker all season and that especially stood out with his performance against Clemson running and in blitz pickup. Notre Dame will need him to be just as good today to get the win.

Clemson WR Cornell Powell
He's been a beast over the last four games. He's averaging close to 20 yards per reception and 133 yards per game. In the previous matchup, he had two receptions over 50 yards. Notre Dame can't let him go off like he did last time. The Irish need Clarence Lewis to play his best game of the season.

Notre Dame DE Ade Ogundeji
The pass rush wasn't good enough until the very end of the last game. They'll need a better performance to make an impact against Trevor Lawrence and it starts with Ogundeji. Lawrence is only a 37% passer when pressured this season.

Clemson LB James Skalski
Skalski is a player to watch not just because he's the quarterback of their defense or because he missed the previous game. It's also because he hasn't looked right since coming back from injury and he had to leave the game against Virginia Tech early. His backup is out and if Skalski isn't close to his best, it could go from a plus to a minus.


Quotes of the Week

Notre Dame RB Kyren Williams:
“We know as an offense that no matter what it is, we have to establish the run by any means. We're going to get that done, so we can open up more plays down the field."

"We have to be consistent. Play the band of football we know how to play and execute to a high level and make no mistakes. We know what we have to do and we're going to do what we got to do." 

Notre Dame DE Daelin Hayes:
"At the end of the day, you have to go play ball. Your ball is going to speak for itself. Playing ball the right way, the brand of football we like to play - that's going to put us where we need to be. 

"As long as we stay focused on that - we go out and play hard and the standard of the brotherhood, then the narrative, the stories, this and that will all take care of itself." 

Notre Dame S Kyle Hamilton:
"I even just got reminded he was the head coach at Vanderbilt today. I had kind of forgot. It's obvious he's still focused on Notre Dame and winning a championship here."  

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly: 
"Our mission is to graduate and win championships. So this is part of what we build this for. This is the culmination of this long season, and we're not there yet. WE have not fulfilled the goal that we all got when we were afforded this very unique opportunity. We're extremely grateful that the ACC has given us this opportunity. It's like anything else, you want to finish the deal. Our guys want to finish it off with an ACC Championship.”


For Your Nerves 

TEAM STATS Notre Dame Clemson
Points Per Game 37.7 46.0
Points Allowed Per Game 17.1 18.3
Total Yards 474.4 504.3
Yards Passing 239.4 346.0
Yards Rushing 235.0 158.3
Yards Allowed 314.5 302.0
Pass Yards Allowed 214.8 196.6
Rush Yards Allowed  99.7 105.4

Game Thread | No. 2 Notre Dame vs. No. 3 Clemson

88,206 Views | 902 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by Wyrick11
toliver0917
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brutal. we need it
ohiondfan
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jmsheridan said:

Hate him


We signed a good kicker. Maybe BK won't have Jon D back.
lake erie irish
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Questionable play calling.
theoriginalndmom
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Nerves...I guess for Doerer....I felt that miss coming.....defense has to stay tough.
Donnymo
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1st&10 from the 5 yard line.....settle for a FG and blow it.

Shades of the first game....except ND made FG's then.
bmhend54
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Horrendous series for Tommy first and goal. Liked zero of those calls.
pbrad28
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Yep... great O until they need to score
mavscoach
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jmsheridan said:

Hate him

Classy
6926bp
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RELAX
SWANSEA
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On top of this, we have to see the 5 minutre commercials.
Sgt Hulka
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Mother effor.

You gotta get six there and to miss a bunny. Awful
scUMsux
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Doerer appears to have alot of Cody Parkey in him lately
toliver0917
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Is Sarah fuller in the transfer portal?
tvanp63
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Would have loved to have seen a ball to McKinley on 2nd down. Have to be efficient in red zone!
pbrad28
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No commercials allowed when you miss a Fg come on
mattfreeman
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Staff
Book throwing on the sidelines after both drives. Not sure if that's a normal thing but never noticed it before.
Rwolf101
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It was a tight angle. I'm more angry at the first quarter red zone offense. AGAIN.
6926bp
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Agree throw the ball
Sgt Hulka
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So did the BB team win?
TripperHarrison
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Hope the game doesn't come down to an Irish FG.
mattfreeman
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Staff
Clemson definitely picking on Clarence Lewis in the run (his side) and pass game
mbmirish
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Did no one see the unsportsman out of bounds on 23
theoriginalndmom
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Too easy!
Firefighter8196
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Well and just like that...geez
Rwolf101
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Yikes. Shaun probably isn't the guy I'd match with Rodgers.
pbrad28
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Oh well
mattfreeman
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Staff
Trevor Lawrence to Amari Rodgers for a 67-yard score.

Clemson 7
Notre Dame 3

3 plays, 80 yards in 1:01
toliver0917
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Love him to death but Crawford has been a liability all year in tackling and coverage
mattfreeman
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Staff
Notre Dame should consider fair catching those high hangers.
Sgt Hulka
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Ok. Right back in. We're ok
Rwolf101
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I understand Tyree is fast but it's about time he starts calling fair catch on these returns.
theoriginalndmom
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mattfreeman said:

Notre Dame should consider fair catching those high hangers.
Ummm yeah
SWANSEA
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That's going to happen, but we need take the red zone from now on.
tayirish14
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Should be 10-0...well let's go, Offense...we need an answer!
mattfreeman
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Staff
Avery Davis jet sweep. +18
 
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