Story Poster
Notre Dame Football

Game Thread | No. 7 Cincinnati at No. 9 Notre Dame

October 2, 2021
147,735

No. 7 Cincinnati (3-0) at No. 9 Notre Dame (4-0)

Notre Dame Stadium | 2:30 p.m. ET | NBC | Cincinnati -2.0 | O/U: 50

Game Week Articles | Roster| Depth Chart Schedule | Visit List


Top Ten Clash

Notre Dame is once again hosting a top ten matchup in South Bend, but this time around, Brian Kelly’s Fighting Irish are the underdog to a group of five program. Yes, Notre Dame is an underdog at home against the group of five program that has produced Kelly, Marcus Freeman and Mike Mickens. 

And don’t let Cincinnati being group of five fool you as the Bearcats are loaded with NFL talent, including future top 10 pick Sauce Gardner at cornerback. It should be a fun matchup to see Gardner and Kevin Austin Jr. go at it in the boundary on Saturday. Gardner hasn't seen too many guys like Austin, but it will also be a major step up in competition for Austin. 

The key to this game will be Notre Dame’s run game that has been non-existent for large stretches this year. Can Kyren Williams and Chris Tyree find a few creases and get loose? Will Tyler Buchner be able to provide a spark? 


Five Players To Watch

Notre Dame QB Drew Pyne
Will he or won't he play? Brian Kelly has been pretty vague about Jack Coan's health status so I guess we'll find out soon enough. If he is the starter, congratulations to him! He gets to face one of the top passing defenses in the country as a reward.

Cincinnati CB Ahmad Gardner
"Sauce" Gardner may be the best nickname in college football. He's developed into one of the top cover corners in the country. Will Notre Dame avoid targeting him and move Kevin Austin around the field to avoid that matchup? That's going to be an important question as we wait to see how Tommy Rees attacks their secondary.

Notre Dame OT Michael Carmody
The plan right now is for him to play and that could be huge in this game if he can prove to be an upgrade at left tackle. He'll be tested by a very good Cincinnati pass rush.

Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder
He's a top-25 quarterback statistically, but has struggled against top-40 defenses. Notre Dame is ranked in the top-15 in F+ and should provide the toughest challenge Ridder has faced this season. The Irish need to contain him as a runner.

Notre Dame DT Jayson Ademilola
He's having a great start to the season and has been a disruptive presence in opponents' backfields. Look for him to have another productive day against an average Cincinnati offensive line. 


Quotes of the Week

Notre Dame WR Braden Lenzy:
“I give a lot of credit to Coach Rees and his willingness to build plays around personnel, rather than personnel around plays. I know at least for me, it made my job a lot easier and for the other receivers because at the end of the day, even though I think we are playing at a high level, and we are older, there's a lack of actual game experience.

Notre Dame DL Jayson Ademilola:
“When I’m on the field, I want to make every play. When my brother is on the field, he wants to make every play. That’s the way the defense is. We have guys who are going to play their butts off, whether that’s six seconds, 10 seconds…We’re going to go out there and attack because we’re all hungry.”

Notre Dame CB Clarence Lewis: 
"I feel like every game we're going to keep getting better and better," stated Lewis. "We're getting more experience under our belt and as the year goes on, we're going to play better and faster.

"I feel each week we're growing and it's getting better each week. We're showing that we're dawgs and can get to the ball." 

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly:
"They understand what protecting the home field is. They've done it 26 times in a row. This is much more about two top ten teams. 

"You gotta go out and attack your opponent. You can't sit around and wait. This is a heavyweight fight. If you're going to dance around and wait, you're going to get knocked out. This is a really good football team. You have to come out swinging and be aggressive. You have to take it to your opponent when you have two top ten teams playing, you better come out ready to go, or you're going to get knocked out." 


For Your Nerves 

TEAM STATS Cincinnati Notre Dame
Points Per Game 43.0 35.3
Points Allowed Per Game 15.0 23.3
Total Yards 420.3 367.8
Yards Passing 255.3 286.3
Yards Rushing 165.0 81.5
Yards Allowed 298.7 365.3
Pass Yards Allowed 160.7 234.5
Rush Yards Allowed  138.0 130.8

Game Thread | No. 7 Cincinnati at No. 9 Notre Dame

147,722 Views | 1635 Replies | Last: 2 yr ago by Kong
irishinutah
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Kyle Hamilton is having a bad game
PhillyNDFan
How long do you want to ignore this user?
INTERCEPT THE DAMN BALL
mattfreeman
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Staff
Cincinnati 30-yard FG no good.

Cincinnati 17
Notre Dame 0

11:58 | 3Q



Rwolf101
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Huge miss!
TheGroove91
How long do you want to ignore this user?
DJ Brown? Is that 2?
Hrothgar
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Game over
cdr2529
How long do you want to ignore this user?
No one is paying Kelly attention
Hrothgar
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Here come the Irish.
IA4irish
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Darn it Matt you're thirty seconds ahead of me
BlueGraySky
How long do you want to ignore this user?
cdr2529 said:

No one is paying Kelly attention


*** are you going on about?
Hrothgar
How long do you want to ignore this user?
cdr2529 said:

No one is paying Kelly attention
just go away
TripperHarrison
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I got mind control over Deebo.
Spes Unica
How long do you want to ignore this user?
UC defenders under orders to not harm Coan?
cdr2529
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Kelly is not even fored up about the missed field goal
SWANSEA
How long do you want to ignore this user?
BlueGraySky said:

No way this offense can overcome a 20 point deficit
How about 17?
Jaxdulac
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Question: will we even score 17 points this half? Said another way, will Cincinnati need to score at all in second half to win this game?
scUMsux
How long do you want to ignore this user?
BlueGraySky said:

cdr2529 said:

No one is paying Kelly attention


*** are you going on about?
Yeah it's almost like he's a troll or something
Hrothgar
How long do you want to ignore this user?
SWANSEA said:

BlueGraySky said:

No way this offense can overcome a 20 point deficit
How about 17?
How about 18?
Cassin
How long do you want to ignore this user?
cdr2529 said:

Kelly is not even fored up about the missed field goal


Did you declare the game over? Why are you even watching?
Joe1976
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Spes Unica said:

UC defenders under orders to not harm Coan?
best stratgey cincinnati can use
Joe
pbrad28
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Spes Unica said:

UC defenders under orders to not harm Coan?
Ha! Yep their best friend
MattPaulND
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Spes Unica said:

UC defenders under orders to not harm Coan?
You mean keep him healthy and participating with the OL, wise strategy.
irishinutah
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Rwolf101 said:

Huge miss!

Yes..but won't Matter because we won't score today
mattfreeman
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Staff
Drew Pyne in at QB.
scUMsux
How long do you want to ignore this user?
cdr2529 said:

Kelly is not even fored up about the missed field goal
Were you born this way or did you *****your way up to it?
Spes Unica
How long do you want to ignore this user?
never have I been happier Kelly lied to a reporter
mattfreeman
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Staff
Freshman LT Joe Alt into the game as well.
cdr2529
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Okay, if the Irish win this game I will not post the best three-game
Hrothgar
How long do you want to ignore this user?
let's go boys.
irishinutah
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Bad spot for pyne
mattfreeman
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Staff
Kyren Williams. +8
Hrothgar
How long do you want to ignore this user?
ndSlaw
How long do you want to ignore this user?
All Kyren on that run. 62 does nothing
andrew32
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Hrothgar said:

let's go boys.


Hell yeah.

ND - 21

UC - 20

From my fingertips to reality. Hopefully.
BlueGraySky
How long do you want to ignore this user?
andrew32 said:

Hrothgar said:

let's go boys.


Hell yeah.

ND - 21

UC - 20

From my fingertips to reality. Hopefully.


Your fingers to Gods eyes and maybe Jesus and his mother
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.