Game Thread | Vanderbilt at No. 8 Notre Dame

Vanderbilt at No. 8 Notre Dame 

Notre Dame Stadium |2:30 p.m. ET | NBC

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Will The Real Notre Dame Stand Up?

Week three will be crucial for the path the Notre Dame football program will take in 2018. The Irish got the season with a significant win over Michigan in week one but then struggled with Ball State in week two.

The good news is the Irish are 2-0 heading into Saturday's game as Vanderbilt travels from SEC country to South Bend. 

Notre Dame's offense will need to answer questions when it comes to consistency, production and playcalling. Will offensive coordinator Chip Long turn quarterback Brandon Wimbush loose this week to make plays with his arm and his legs? 

The other aspect of the game will be if Notre Dame's offensive line can take a step forward this week. There were problems all over the line in week two against Ball State and Vanderbilt will bring a more talented front seven to town. 

Defensively, Notre Dame has performed well in the first two games but will be tested by Vanderbilt quarterback Kyle Shurmur, who is a four-year starter. 

When push comes to shove, Notre Dame is a 13-point favorite for a reason and the Irish will need to show 

Five Players To Watch

Notre Dame OT Robert Hainsey
Vanderbilt has three pass rushers that are legitimate threats off the edge. Hainsey has had a difficult time in pass protection in the first two games of the year. Notre Dame needs him to bounce back going against some good players this week.

Notre Dame LB Te'von Coney
Coney has carried over his strong play from the end of last season to now at Mike linebacker. With Vanderbilt's offense playing a lot of two tight ends and two back personnel, expect to hear Coney's name called a lot as Vandy tries to establish the run.

Notre Dame DE Julian Okwara
Okwara didn't finish with a sack against Ball State but constantly brought pressure. He finished with four hits on the quarterback. The Irish need him to make a similar impact to get in the face of Vandy quarterback Kyle Shurmur to disrupt their passing game.

Vanderbilt TE Jared Pinkney
Pinkney has been a go-to receiver for Shurmur on 3rd down, and he has done some damage when they've used play-action as well. Look for him to be targeted often and for Notre Dame safety Alohi Gilman to be matched up against him.

Vanderbilt OLB Josh Smith
Smith is a former four-star recruit, and Vandy doesn't sign too many of those. He had not made a significant impact on the field before this season, but it appears things are clicking for him now. He's tied for the team lead in tackles and tackles for loss and is coming off a monster game against Nevada (10 tackles, 3 TFLs, one pass deflection).

Quotes of the Week

Brian Kelly on this week's preparation:
“We got what we needed this week. I didn’t do a very good job last week. We got the kind of practice and preparation that I feel comfortable with going into this game.

“I didn’t give them great direction last week. They do what I ask them to do, and they are prepared to play Vanderbilt. They’ll play hard.” 

CB Julian Love on lessons learned:
 “We want to be the best. Our mindset as a whole program wasn’t in the right frame. Let’s be honest, we overlooked Ball State and what they could do." 

Countdown to Kickoff

10 - Through two games this season, Notre Dame has connected on 10 different explosion completions of 20 or more yards. The Irish made three such plays against Michigan and seven against Ball State.

9 - Notre Dame ranks ninth nationally in total penalty yardage assessed in the latest release of NCAA FBS statistics. The Irish have been penalized for only 60 total yards after two full games.

8 - The Notre Dame defense has forced opponents into eight different three-and-out drives over the first 27 opposing offensive drives of 2018.

7 - Notre Dame defensive players combined to log an even seven tackles for loss in the win against Ball State.

6 - Notre Dame held six different Ball State rushers to a combined 180 yards on 47 rushing attempts (3.6 yards per carry) during the win over the Cardinals.

5 - Notre Dame and Ball State combined to attempt conversions on five different chances on fourth down in Saturday’s game. The offensive team was successful on four of the five conversion attempts.

4 - Notre Dame is one of four teams ranked in the current national top 10 to have faced and defeated a fellow top-25 foe thus far in 2018.

3 - Miles Boykin hauled in three receptions of 20 or more yards in the win over Ball State. Boykin covered 20, 23 and 26 yards as part of a career-high six catches for 119 yards. 

2 - Jalen Elliott notched the first two INT of his career on Saturday against Ball State. Elliott was the first Notre Dame safety with multiple picks in a game since Harrison Smith (3) at the 2010 Sun Bowl.

1 - In the only prior meeting between Notre Dame and Vanderbilt at Notre Dame Stadium (1995), the Irish blanked the Commodores 41-0 behind two touchdowns from Marc Edwards.

0 - Notre Dame has not had an empty seat for a home game since 1973. The 264-game sellout streak is the second-longest in NCAA history.

Yoon Watch 

Justin Yoon (44 FGs) sits just 14 career field goals shy of breaking the program record of 57 set by his predecessor Kyle Brindza in 2014.

Yoon, who has also connected on 155 of 159 career extra-point attempts, is just 34 points shy (287) of breaking Allen Pinkett’s Notre Dame career record of 320 points set in 1985.

For Your Nerves