From The Cheap Seats
*I want to wish a very speedy recovery to Tim Prister. My thoughts and prayers are with Tim and his family.
*It's Miami week! I am so excited, and I would be lying if I said that I really believe fully in the Hurricanes and that they are among the top six or seven teams in America, but their win versus Virginia Tech was everything that an Irish fan could have wished for last week. What excited me the most is that the crowd seemed fantastic so this week's atmosphere should be absolutely electric. The 'Canes and Irish will have me reminiscing all week.
*I have been the king of overreacting this season, but I can't work myself into a lather over the defensive performance against Wake Forest. It was severely lacking in dominance. It was weak. It was more than enough. That is my takeaway. It was bound to happen at some point. The Irish defense would shut down Wake Forest 7 out of 10 times. Not this past Saturday. If the game went another quarter, the Deacons would have scored three more times. ND could have scored five. Just one of those days, but let's not lose sight of the fact that the Irish spent most of the second half up my three scores or more.
*This Miami team is starting to believe in itself, so we will see how they handle that success in a similar situation to which Notre Dame found itself operating after the thrashing of USC and heading into the NC State game. I'm not sure that this group will handle its success as well as the more veteran-led Irish squad, but if the Irish have their way early on Saturday night, I believe that self-doubt will creep into the young 'Canes team.
*Chase Claypool had a very good game despite the drop on the wide open pass. It was nice to see him reap some rewards for the stellar blocking he has provided to this point in the season.
*I think that Kevin Stepherson will have a nice return to Florida on Saturday and will reach the end zone at some point, perhaps on the jet sweep. That has the look of a play that might eventually break for a TD for the former resident of the Brian Kelly dog house.
*I love this whole playoff feel. I am having so much fun going over three hundred scenarios that could play out but almost certainly won't. This is such a stunning ride to this point in the season, and the most difficult portion of the schedule might be behind the Irish. I sense a few more 20-point wins in the cards for this team over the month of November.
*Baker Mayfield drives me crazy. He is an excellent college football player, but I will be disappointed if he wins the Heisman. I'm a Horned Frog fan this weekend.
*Brandon Wimbush is developing at an accelerated pace now after a few weeks of one step up, one step back. He is a tremendous competitor who is strong and tough. That is such a great place from which to start when building a QB in modern college football. His athleticism might take him to Heisman level before he leaves Notre Dame.
*The turnaround that Michigan State has made this year really is remarkable. Mark D'Antonio believes in his system and his players believe in him. It is an interesting idea that his program nearly caved in on itself when it started to attract truly high-end players. This team is less talented than last year's and is considerably better on Saturday's.
*There is no reason to think that Notre Dame will be anywhere but 3 in the latest edition of the CFP Poll tonight, but I will still be glued to my TV tonight.
*Help needed. Is it better for Boston College or NC State to win the matchup this week in Chestnut Hill? Is it a wash? I guess if NC State is ranked in tonight's poll, I will root for the Wolfpack.
*It's Miami week!!!!!!!