A lot of teams around the nation seem pretty focused on Notre Dame for some reason — just not the team it’s playing on Saturday.
When Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi was asked if his team’s upcoming game against the Irish was a must win, he vehemently denied it.
“Absolutely not,” Narduzzi said. “It is not an ACC game. I’d gladly get beat 103 or 110 to 10. They could put 100 up on us as long as we win the next two after that.”
The Irish are also the talk of the town down in Lubbock, Texas on the campus of Texas Tech.
During his Monday media availability, Raiders head coach Joey McGuire took the opportunity to take a shot at Notre Dame and its independence.
“I have so much respect for BYU,” McGuire said. “I was really excited when they joined the BIG 12 because I think they carry a lot of weight and a lot of respect. I have a lot of respect for them entering a conference and not playing an independent schedule, like other people. You already know who that is.
“So I have a lot of respect for that. They’re earning their right just like everybody but a couple people in the nation who are earning their right through conference play and playing in some really tough places.”
Unfortunately for McGuire, Notre Dame currently has a higher strength of schedule than Texas Tech, according to ESPN. So whether or not this factors into how the Raiders are earning their way by playing in a conference despite playing a weaker schedule remains to be seen.
As for Marcus Freeman and the Irish, they’re just focused on who they’re playing on Saturday. There doesn’t seem to be any concern about who everyone else is playing or the number besides their name, they’re just focused on Saturday.
“I'm focused on Pitt,” Freeman said. “I know I'm focused on Pitt. That's where my focus is. I don't have anything else to say about that.”
And while some may view Saturday as a trap game for the Irish, Freeman understands the challenge that the No. 24 Panthers will be.
“I was reminded yesterday, somebody texted me. It's a trap game," Freeman said. “I said, this is not a trap game. This is a challenge. This is a real challenge. A great challenge. We have to understand the challenge that we have ahead of us on Saturday. And use that as a reminder to prepare the right way. To take care of what we have. That's what's right in front of us. We gotta get to work and we've been getting to work. We gotta continue to do it.”
Pitt has rattled off five straight wins to position themselves in last week’s CFP rankings, and will be fresh off a bye on Saturday. A main reason for that success has been freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel, who has proven to be effective since winning the job in early October.
“I think they're on a 5-game win streak and playing with a lot of confidence, momentum, and rightfully so,” Freeman said. “They've earned it. On offense, they're explosive. Fast, shift motions, tempo. I think they're top 10 in scoring offense right now. I mean, it's a quarterback. They obviously made the change of quarterback. He is confident in himself. But you see the confidence in the people around him. He is really doing some great things for this offense and they've got weapons across the board.”
Freeman also knows his high-powered offense will be put under a test when going up against Narduzzi’s defense.
“Their defense is aggressive, tough, physical," Freeman said. “Everything you would think of a defense that plays under Pat Narduzzi.I've studied him for years and the things they do. They're creating a lot of havoc. They're gonna do everything in their power to stop the run. We gotta be prepared and we gotta have answers. And their special teams. That's where I've seen probably a big difference from maybe when the last time we played them. They are creative, challenging on all phases of special teams that we have to be prepared for.”
As the calendar flips to mid-November and the race for CFP spots heats up, Freeman seems content to let everyone else squabble for positioning, he’ll just focus on Pitt and let the chips fall where they may.
