GAME THREAD | UNLV at Notre Dame

UNLV (4-3) at Notre Dame (3-3)  

Notre Dame Stadium | 2:30 p.m. ET | Peacock | Notre Dame -26.0 | O/U: 47.0

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THE STANDARD

Notre Dame has yet to play up to its standard in 2022 as the Irish sit 3-3 with six games to play. The Ohio State game was a glimpse into what this team can be, but also a view of what Marcus Freeman’s has been for most of the year. 

The Marshall and Stanford games shouldn’t have happened and Saturday will be a reflection of how much this team wants it. This game isn’t about UNLV, who might be missing its two best offensive players, but rather, it’s about Notre Dame starting fast, playing consistent and finishing the game. 

Notre Dame has yet to blow a team out, which in turn has hurt some of the development of the roster. It’s crucial to get some of the young guys reps to allow for development, but also to keep them happy and to give them a chance to impress. Now, Notre Dame has bigger concerns than getting inexperienced players game reps, but if the Irish play to its standard, then you’ll see some faces you haven’t seen in 2022. 

Five Players To Watch

Notre Dame RB Logan Diggs
Diggs has received the least amount of attention of Notre Dame's three backs, but he's quietly put together a strong stretch of games and has earned all of the chances he has received. Expect a big game from him and the Irish running game as a whole.

UNLV LB Austin Ajiake
The best player on UNLV's defense, he's a playmaker who leads their team in tackles, tackles for loss, and has two interceptions.

Notre Dame WR Tobias Merriweather
He's number one on the list of players Notre Dame fans want to see more of this week after a spectacular first catch of his career. The Irish are in desperate need of more explosive plays on offense and Merriweather can provide some of that.

UNLV QB Doug Brumfield 
He's a player to remember for UNLV because if he plays, their offense runs at a different level. He's recovering from a concussion and his status isn't known yet. PFF has him graded as the 5th best quarterback in the FBS this season so it will be a huge deal if he's not available.

Notre Dame DE Rylie Mills
Mills is coming off of one of the best games of his career. Normally known for being a stronger pass rusher, he was a force against the run. He has game-wrecker potential if he can continue to build on what he did in the first half of the season. 

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman:
"As far as the team, we took a blow as an entire program Saturday and Sunday. What we had to do is, as the leader, you got to get up there and say, it's ok, we got to turn this negative situation into a positive one. This has to, somehow, some way, help our program move forward. Then part of it is me getting in front of the room and saying this had to happen. This had to happen for us to get better. The only way we're going to get better is to learn from it. The only way we're going to get better is to fix the issues that you see happening.

“That whole adage of just trust the process and it's going to get better, that's not the way we're going to do things. We're going to evaluate and fix the process. We're going to fix things and you know what, I believe it was a great two days of practice. Today is hopefully going to be another good day of practice. Let's build on the corrections and the good things we've done in the past in hopes that Saturday we go out and we execute and we do a better job and we play better.” 

Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees:
“This is about the players. What we do, our program, what we're about is trying to put those guys in the right spot. That's what I owe them, and that's why we work the way we work. If all the blame is going to go towards me, that's a good thing. Because it means it's not falling on our guys. We'd rather have it that way and continue to push forward and allow them to have success Saturday this week."

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden:
"We've got to take another step, for sure. We were doing good with the explosives early in the season and then we hit a bad streak where we gave up too many explosives. So, we've got to get that back under control. And we've just got to start getting some of these balls. I think three balls on the ground the other night — we didn't get any. I know some don't bounce your way, but you've got to make your opportunities. 

"So, we've got to deflect some balls, bat some balls, get some interceptions, and we've got to help our team out. It's not good enough to just stop them. We've got to create some field position, help special teams, help the offense, or make an explosive play ourselves, which we got to add that element to our defense." 

Notre Dame receiver Tobias Merriweather:
"That's my biggest problem. I think a lot of times, I try to think too much because I understand so much needs to go through my head fast. So I just think too much and then I get my own head. Then I do sometimes mess up plays and stuff like that. Since then, it's just slow down, like between that Cal game, week three and week, six now, the game has gotten tremendously slower for me." 

For Your Nerves 

Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7' Inflatable Santa