Notre Dame Football

Game Thread | No. 12 Syracuse vs. No. 3 Notre Dame

By Matt Freeman

November 17, 2018

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No. 12 Syracuse (8-2) vs. No. 3 Notre Dame (10-0)

Yankee Stadium |2:30 p.m. ET | NBC

Showdown In The Bronx

Notre Dame’s traveling road show will travel an estimated 8,522 miles in the air by the end of next week but this weekend, the Irish are at Yankee Stadium for huge game against No. 12 Syracuse.

The Irish lead the all-time series with Syracuse 5-3. Notre Dame has won three of the
past four meetings with the Orange dating back to 2005, including the last meeting in 2016.

When it comes to the Shamrock Series, 2018 marks the 27th time that the Irish have played at Yankee Stadium. Notre Dame is *16-6-3 all-time at Yankee Stadium, including a 1-0 mark in
the new stadium

As far as baseball stadiums, Saturday will be the 78th time that Notre Dame has played in a
stadium primarily used for baseball. The Irish are *56-13-7 (.783) in stadiums that
functioned as a regular baseball facility at the time of the Notre Dame matchup.

(* indicates forfeit)

Five Players To Watch

Syracuse QB Eric Dungey
If Dungey plays well, then Syracuse will have a shot to pull off the upset. He's a good deep ball thrower when he is on and the best running quarterback the Irish will have faced in 2018. Stopping him as a runner in short yardage is going to be important.

Syracuse DE Alton Robinson
Robinson has had a monster season (9 sacks, 15 tackles for loss), but most of his pass rush production has come against bad teams. The Irish have given up zero sacks in the last three games.

Notre Dame DB Nick Coleman
After what was possibly the best game of his career, Coleman took control of the nickel job against Florida State. There was far more he did well in the game outside of that interception. He is going to play a lot in this game based on Syracuse's personnel packages. Notre Dame needs him to step up again.

Notre Dame DE Julian Okwara
It's been a long time since Okwara wasn't a factor as a pass rusher and this game should be no different. Syracuse has given up 24 sacks, and pressure from Okwara seems like a guarantee in this one.

Notre Dame RB Dexter Williams
Pitt and Clemson took over with the running game in the second half of Syracuse's only two losses. Notre Dame could very well do the same just like they did against FSU. Williams has a chance at another big game against a defense that has given up a number of long runs.

Quotes of the Week

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly on QB Ian Book:
“He’s had a good week. He can run. We have run game in for him. He’s going to get hit. We wouldn’t play him if we had to put him in bubble wrap.”

Notre Dame DL Kurt Hinish:
“I’m foaming at the mouth when they put me in. I’m ready to go. I’m shaking and ready to go. I love it.”

Notre Dame WR Chris Finke on QB Brandon Wimbush:
"He’s a tremendous guy. Most people put in his situation wouldn’t have nearly as good of an attitude as he did. I didn’t hear him complain once, even when we were home just talking. He just understands how to be a good guy.

“He’s just a really good guy. He’s team first and not selfish.”

Countdown to Kickoff

10 - Notre Dame opened 10-0 for the third time since 1990 following the 42-13 win over Florida State. The Irish previously enjoyed 10-0 starts in 1993 and 2012.*

9 - Notre Dame has opened a season 10-0 for the ninth time in program history. The Irish won national championships in 1924, 1930, 1949, 1973 and 1988 in prior 10-0 starts.

8 - Notre Dame is one of four teams nationally with eight or more wins against FBS opponents through 11 weeks of the 2018 season.

7 - Notre Dame has averaged 39.3 points per game over its last seven victories, dating back to Sept. 22.

6 - In just six games this season, Dexter Williams leads all Notre Dame players in rushing yards (770) and touchdowns (10).

5 - Ian Book completed his first five passes against Navy on Oct. 27 to run his total passes completed streak to 15 straight dating back to the end of the Pittsburgh game on Oct. 13, the second-longest streak by an Irish quarterback.

4 - Justin Yoon sits just four field goals shy of breaking the Notre Dame career field goals record held by Kyle Brindza. Yoon has connected on 54 career field goals entering Saturday’s game.

3 - Brandon Wimbush threw three touchdowns in a first half for the second time in his career during the opening 30 minutes against Florida State.

2 - Notre Dame and Alabama are the only remaining undefeated teams that have exclusively played FBS competition through 11 weeks of the 2018 season.

1 - Notre Dame did not lose a single yard from scrimmage during the win against Florida State. It was believed to be the first time since at least 1964 that the Irish did not lose any offensive yardage.

Yoon Watch

Justin Yoon (54) sits just four career field goals shy of breaking the program record of 57 set by Kyle Brindza in 2014 after passing Notre Dame great and longtime NFL standout John Carney (1984-86) for second on the career made field goals list during the game at Northwestern. Yoon has also connected on 184 of 189 career extra-point attempts.

Yoon also sits No. 1 on the all-time scoring list at Notre Dame as he enters Saturday’s game with 346 points.