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

December 31, 2021
237,040

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

Game Week Articles | Roster| Depth Chart Schedule 


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

237,032 Views | 1316 Replies | Last: 2 yr ago by hunt4g
Sgt Hulka
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scUMsux said:

Joe1976 said:

I WANNA KNOW WHY BUCHNER DIDNT PLAY AT ALL IN THIS GAME.

HORRIBLE HORRIBLE DECISION.
Oh no!! You don't want to pi$$ off the " but Coan had 500 yards" club
He has to be hurt. Only other explanation.

He's played since Toledo. I have no clue why they'd cut him out of the plan now
cousin eddie
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mattfreeman said:

49,550 in the building.....


Maybe paid attendance, but I'll eat my hat if that many people are here
TripperHarrison
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Well, 1988 was fun.
DarthFader
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Don't think Kelly ever lost a game like this
Rwolf101
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The worst part of this is my pos father in law is taken off oxygen and moved to hospice care this evening. My wife is emotional and needs me and I have to walk away from what I already know is a L.

But let that be a lesson to Kyren and Kyle. That's called passion. You only walk away when it's life or death otherwise you were never in it to begin with.
DaytonDomer94
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Touchdown
irishinutah
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ndsean44 said:

Such a deflating loss.

I hate this. So. Effin. Much.


I pray this isn't a glimpse into the next few years…charmin soft… this has to change
mattfreeman
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Staff
Jack Coan finds Kevin Austin Jr. for a 25-yard touchdown.

Oklahoma State 37
Notre Dame 35

1:05 | 4Q

8 plays, 75 yards in 1:11
Ethereum21
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Still without a major bowl win since January of 1994.

28 years.
bklynirish
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Take a deep breath everyone. We blew this game bc we were outcoached in 2d half. Maybe that's an omen; maybe just growing pains.
Sgt Hulka
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DarthFader said:

Don't think Kelly ever lost a game like this
Nah, the game would just be over before began in a big game with Brian.

Not making excuses for Freeman, but don't but him up on some pedestal.
ndSlaw
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So the fate of the world rests on the foot of Doerer... Great!
mattfreeman
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Staff
Jack Coan: 38/68, 509 yards, 5 touchdowns and 1 INT
nc2022
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TripperHarrison said:

Well, 1988 was fun.
i remember it well...you wore black!
Kong
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And y'all were laughing and happy when Rees and Elston gave Kelly the middle finger
ND is not the place for a test run for someone without HC experience

Now it will be "well he doesnt have his recruits"
nc2022
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bklynirish said:

Take a deep breath everyone. We blew this game bc we were outcoached in 2d half. Maybe that's an omen; maybe just growing pains.
outplayed
Ethereum21
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King
mattfreeman
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Staff
Jack Coan has tied a Fiesta Bowl record with 5 touchdowns.
mattfreeman
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Staff
WELP. Appreciate you guys!
theoriginalndmom
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Kong said:

And y'all were laughing and happy when Rees and Elston gave Kelly the middle finger
ND is not the place for a test run for someone without HC experience

Now it will be "well he doesnt have his recruits"

I'm willing to give it time….Holts didn't win immediately.
DaytonDomer94
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****ty kick
Sgt Hulka
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Jesus Bo find the ball!
MattPaulND
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DaytonDomer94 said:

****ty kick
Like on sides like kick off.....short.
IA4irish
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Missed field goal by doerr really killed us
Cassin
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Missed FG and an onsides that didn't make it 10 yards.

Let's not forget Special Teams when we ***** about this loss.
BigIrishEnergy69
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See you guys next season!
NDFanT
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Why did 52 shrug when the gut tried to catch it???
Joe1976
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I WANT TO F'N KNOW WHY BUCHNER DIDNT PLAY.
Joe
DarthFader
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Haha…nothing has changed.
irishinutah
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Well, at least the players like Freeman, that counts for something
IanY77
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One last kick in the nuts from Doerer.
bmhend54
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JD terrible day. Bad kickoffs missed FG and whatever that onside was
nc2022
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really surprised by the poor defensive effort by the players....and the coaches did not have an answer either
phm195
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DarthFader said:

Haha…nothing has changed.


Most things don't in a month
hockey8390
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Do the players know they can hit someone before going 10 yards… isn't it normally you have a few guys to light them up and a few guys to go for the ball….
 
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