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

December 31, 2021
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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

135,277 Views | 1316 Replies | Last: 2 yr ago by hunt4g
irishfan32489
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Our secondary doesn't have an NFL player in it currently.
teamnd
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Lewis has really regressed
IRISH...today, tomorrow and always!
lake erie irish
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Need that culture to show up now.
TheGroove91
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You have to put someone in for 6. They are abusing him and he's slow.
Brucealeg
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The nobodies from ESPN knew this was a 7 point drive.
irishtank6900
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Time for Freeman to take over the D. What a mess.
TheGroove91
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Hart will go to the league.
bmhend54
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Elston is not someone I want calling defenses
irishfan32489
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I like cam hart…. Lewis Bracy Brown… woof
Brucealeg
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3 and out in 3….2….1….
Sgt Hulka
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Any adjustments made on defense at HT?
Blueclaw
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Need to change up linebacker blitzing. It's creating huge hole in defense.
SWANSEA
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Okie is coming after our offense now.
Joe1976
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just so ND answers with 7 of their own..
Joe
BigIrishEnergy69
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Ryan_ATL said:

Looks like ND will have to score 3 more TDs
Probably 4 TDs to be safe.
Bbbee332
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Been awhile since we've had a D make a QB look like an All American. We were due
Ethereum21
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Worst the defense has looked in many games.
Ryan_ATL
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AsianIrish901 said:

Ryan_ATL said:

Looks like ND will have to score 3 more TDs
Probably 4 TDs to be safe.


I like to live on the edge but you're probably right
bombbomb
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Really missing Hamilton and Williams now.
Joe1976
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Think maybe we need a different playcaller on D maybe?
Joe
ndsean44
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Beyond unacceptable.

BE-YOND.
theoriginalndmom
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Brucealeg said:

3 and out in 3….2….1….
Go away!
Sgt Hulka
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Ethereum21 said:

Worst the defense has looked in many games.
It's also the best team they've played since UC
tvanp63
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This should be a blowout and now we have a stress filled 2nd half. Offense has to stay aggressive and D has to get home on the blitz.
usma95
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Every single game we give up a long drive coming out of the half. Ridiculous.
irishfan32489
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28-7 and ND went to sleep on defense
ndsean44
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Got a bad feeling that the offense is going to sputter and we'll put OSU back on the field to tie it. Bleh.
ndsean44
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Getting there.

3rd and 5.
Joe1976
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oh my ****ing...... here we go....
Joe
Rwolf101
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There's Colzie
Brucealeg
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Called it, 3 and out.
irishtank6900
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Yikes
EnvEngIrish11
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only thing ND has done well in a quarter plus throw the ball. Now OSU is pressing the WRs.. ND in deep crap now
ndsean44
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Right on ******* cue.

Team is TRASH right now! GODDAMMIT!!!
usma95
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OSU made the adjustment to press coverage. Can we make them pay??? All the momentum with OSU. Horrible punt. Can someone on Defense make a play???
 
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