GAME THREAD | Boston College at No. 18 Notre Dame

Boston College (3-7) at No. 18 Notre Dame (7-3)

Notre Dame Stadium | 2:30 p.m. ET | NBC | Notre Dame -20.5 | O/U: 42.5

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

SENIOR DAY

It’s Senior Day at Notre Dame and emotions will run high as the 25 players take the field for the final time. Notre Dame will need to lock in as Boston College would love nothing more than to ruin Senior Day and gain more momentum following last weekend’s upset at NC State. 

However, this game isn’t about Phil Jurkovec, George Takacs or John McNulty. Notre Dame will decide the outcome on Saturday as it starts with running the football. A week ago, the Irish offense failed to get its ground game going and it almost cost them late in the second half. Notre Dame will need to set the tone early as temperatures will be around 25 degrees at kickoff, which will make passing an adventure. 

On defense, Notre Dame doesn’t need to make it harder than it has to be. Redshirt freshman quarterback Emmett Morehead is a big quarterback at 6-foot-5, 228 pounds, but he’ll be making just his third start. Al Golden will have the chance to confuse him presnap and make life difficult, but the Irish pass rush also needs to get home. 

Notre Dame senior defensive end Isaiah Foskey is 0.5 sacks away from breaking Justin Tuck’s career sack record, so keep an eye out for that as that’s a Senior Day moment the California native won’t soon forget. 

Five Players To Watch

Notre Dame LB JD Bertrand
He was greatly missed against Navy and is playing the best ball of his career at the moment. Look out for Al Golden to unleash him on the blitz against a poor BC O-line and young quarterback.

Boston College WR Zay Flowers
One of the best wide receivers in the country, Notre Dame has to have a plan for him on every snap. He's one player who can have the type of game that gives Boston College a chance at an upset. The Irish have done really well defending against the other team's best receivers this season. 

Notre Dame DE Isaiah Foskey
There's a very good chance Foskey is going to break the Notre Dame sack record this week. BC is 116th in sack rate and has given up 10 sacks in the last two games. 

Boston College DE Donovan Ezeiruaku
One of the top edge defenders in the country according to PFF, he's BC's best pass rusher and is also very good versus the run. The battle between him and Joe Alt will be one to watch.

Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer
This is very likely Mayer's last game at Notre Dame Stadium and the most productive tight end in the history of the program deserves to be celebrated. Look for him to find the end zone at least one last time.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman:
”You embrace it. The first thing I told them Tuesday was we’re practicing outside and prepare your mind for it. We’re going outside. We practiced all day Tuesday outside. Yesterday was going to be too wet. I wanted to stay outside all week, but yesterday because of the snow, it was just too wet. I wanted to get good work, so on a third-down day and the things we had to work on yesterday, we decided to go inside. Today, we’ll be back outside.

“It’s just understanding we're going to practice outside and we’re going to play outside. Dress warm and go play. If you dress appropriately, it won’t be an issue. If you try to be a tough guy, there is no such thing as cold tough guys and you better be a warm tough guy. Make sure you dress appropriately, go practice and go play.” 

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden on BC WR Zay Flowers:
"I think he's an awesome player. I really do. I think he's excellent. He's in that league with (Josh) Downs and (Jaxon Smith-)Njigba. I mean, he's in that group, so I have a ton of respect for him. Kid makes plays all over the field, down the field and makes plays with the ball in his hands. Obviously, the targets for him were up recently. So yeah, he's a challenge. He's a challenge vertically. He's a challenge underneath, and he's got the hands to make you pay. So, we just got to make sure that we know where he is and we're aware of what he's doing."

Notre Dame OC Tommy Rees on his relationship with BC OC John McNulty:
"John and I are pretty close. We've talked probably three times this week already. We talk every week. We talked last night. As a young coach by myself in San Diego, he was great to me. He taught me how to work and the expectations and what really was expected of a young coach in that role. He was friendly when he didn't have to me. Learned a lot from him. Really built a strong friendship.

“When I had the opportunity to bring him here, he's obviously somebody I trust as much as anybody in this profession. Probably the guy I'm closest to in this profession that I met through coaching. I love John and want nothing but the best for him and his family. I'm excited to see him. I'm always excited to see him."

Notre Dame WR Braden Lenzy:
“Navigating is business and the world. At the end of the day, I think I’m in a position where I get a free education, NIL is lovely and I think I don’t have much to be frustrated at when I get to play for the most historic program in the country. There’s a lot of people who have it a lot worse. 

“I just try to keep my head high and just be happy. I love being here and I’m excited about it. I’m excited to play Boston College. It’s very easy to be positive because how could I not be positive when I’m representing Notre Dame at the highest level.” 

Notre Dame defensive lineman Jayson Ademilola:
“Honestly, for the guys in the locker room, for everything that we’ve put, everything we’ve really been through,” Jayson Ademilola stated. “I always tell myself this year is very different, and it’s different for many different reasons, but it’s also different for myself. As I finish up this last stretch here at Notre Dame, it’s a lot to play for but you have to always tell yourself, yeah, sometimes it’s OK to play for yourself. You deserve to pat yourself on the back.

Notre Dame defensive lineman Justin Ademilola: 
“Really winning in November just comes down to execution,” explained Justin Ademilola. “We take pride in that here. Coach Freeman’s always talking about November’s going to be the hardest part. We to execute. We have to do everything with urgency. So as long as we keep on doing things with urgency, executing and doing our job, we’ll be able to win in November.”

For Your Nerves 

Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7' Inflatable Santa