Notre Dame Football

Game Thread | No. 6 Ohio State at No. 9 Notre Dame

By Matt Freeman

September 23, 2023

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No. 6 Ohio State (3-0) at No. 9 Notre Dame (4-0)

Notre Dame Stadium | 7:30 PM ET | NBC | Line: Ohio State -3.0 | O/U: 55.5

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Five Players To Watch

Notre Dame OT Blake Fisher
Fisher had a much better week against Central Michigan than he did against NC State, but the competition gets a lot tougher this week against Ohio State and their talent at defensive end. Notre Dame needs him to have a great game, especially when run blocking. Fisher needs to have a great game if he wants to establish himself as a top NFL prospect.

Ohio State QB Kyle McCord
This is the first real test for Ohio State's new starting quarterback. He's had some ups and downs to start the season and there isn't much margin for error against Notre Dame's defense. Expect Al Golden to put pressure on McCord with both the blitz and coverages he hasn't quite seen yet.

Notre Dame WR Chris Tyree
Ohio State's defense is one of the best in the country and driving the football on them to score points isn't a winning formula. Notre Dame needs to mix in some explosive plays and Tyree has provided those for the Irish offense early in the season. The match up with him and Ohio State's nickel will be one to monitor.

Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
The best receiver in the country, Harrison Jr. checks every box as an elite playmaker. He can flip the game in one play and all Notre Dame can do is try to contain him. It's a money game for Benjamin Morrison and Cam Hart with them having to cover all of Ohio State's receivers and no one will test them like Harrison Jr. will.

Notre Dame LB Marist Liufau
Liufau has played well to start the season, but this game will be a little different because they won't use him as a spy on 3rd down. He'll be lined up off the edge often and he'll need to make an impact rushing the passer and as a blitzer. The Irish defense only had a 5.8% Havoc rate against the Buckeyes last season and that won't be good enough to beat them this season. They need Liufau and the rest of the defense to create some havoc.

Quotes of the Week

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman:
“The biggest thing is control the noise. Turn it down. Focus on the moment. Focus on today's practice and what we're doing now because this is what will give us the best opportunity to perform at a high level on Saturday.

“It's really been do what we do but do it better, right? That's what I told those guys on Monday when I met with them. Do what we do. What we've done is good enough, but do it better. That's a reminder, stay in the moment, turn down the noise and focus on us.”

Notre Dame offensive coordinator Gerad Parker on Sam Hartman:
“It does everything to our team because, like it or not, there is a big focal point. It’s not the only focal point but there’s star power to that position. There always has been. Always will be. Especially when it’s a guy that has that. So, he has whatever it is. He’s humbled by it and doesn’t do it too much and the guys gravitate towards that because of his energy and his feel and because of how he leads and having that certainly permeates everywhere.”

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden:
“First of all, we're really confident in our guys. We can't have anybody being selfish. You're [not] jumping back door. You know, jumping out of a gap, front side. We can't do that. We’ve got to play collectively. We’ve got to tackle well. They're big, strong backs. The O-line is really big. They have gap schemes. They have pin and pull and they're really great at zone. So, those are all challenges for us on game day.”

Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman:
“It’s a classic. Two football greats that growing up, you think about and think of those games, Ohio State and all the other big ones, where you’re like, it would be a cool game to play in. It’s exciting. It is a big game. I think to shy away from that is foolish, but I think it’s going to be like every week, it’s about us executing at the highest level and like Coach Freeman already probably said, reaching our full potential.”

Notre Dame offensive lineman Joe Alt:
“They’re a physical team. We have to focus on us and getting ourselves ready for this game, how we’re going to prepare for that, how we’re going to get a little better this week and get ready for the game.”