(Photo: The New York Times)
Saturday Spotlight
(2) Notre Dame Fighting Irish at (8) BYU Cougars
Notre Dame (6-0):
The last time I saw this group, it was Week 1, on a Sunday night at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, against the Wisconsin Badgers. Around this time a year ago, I remember Notre Dame being in the middle of running the table after suffering two heartbreaking losses: one to the Miami Hurricanes in Week 1 and another to the Texas A&M Aggies in Week 2. I still remember when Marcus Freeman took this job after Brian Kelly departed South Bend for Baton Rouge. I was so happy that Notre Dame decided to stay in-house rather than look outside the program for a candidate. So far, this is the best team Marcus has had since becoming head coach. To answer the question, this Notre Dame team is the real deal. Of course, people will say they haven’t really played anyone, but at the end of the day, you play who’s on your schedule, and this Irish team has done just that: won. They’ve done it with offensive consistency, and C.J. Carr looks much more comfortable at quarterback than he did at any point last season. I’ve even called him a dark-horse Heisman candidate. The passing attack has remained consistent, but most importantly, Carr has limited his mistakes, throwing 16 touchdown passes against just one interception. The running game has also come alive, and I think that was the biggest question mark entering the season after losing both Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. On top of that, the offensive line has been outstanding, allowing just two sacks. Defensively, they’ve been the best unit in the country in my eyes. They’ve been stout up front, stopped the run, rushed the passer, and consistently played sound coverage. This team could be special for the program. Tonight, the Fighting Irish head to Provo for a primetime showdown.
BYU (5-0):
This is a very good football team, and not many people outside of Provo know it. I remember recording a phone call for Monday Evening Quarterback when I was asked which team deserved more love around the country. I immediately said this team in Provo, Utah. I knew that last year, Kalani Sitake would garner some consideration for coaching openings around the game, but ultimately, he decided to stay and finish what he started with this program. What I respect most about him is that he’s built a winning culture and has this team believing it can compete for a Big 12 Conference title rather than being content with simply having a good season. The BYU Cougars are a tough football team. Even when the offense isn’t generating much production, they can still be a tough out for anyone they face. Bear Bachmeier is the engine that makes this Cougars offense go. He’s the closest thing I’ve seen to Tim Tebow, although I think he’s a more consistent passer than Tebow was. He’s a dual-threat quarterback who doesn’t mind lowering his shoulder to pick up yards, move the chains, and keep the offense on schedule. Against the Iowa State Cyclones, Bachmeier threw for 329 yards and added another 109 yards on the ground. That dual-threat ability makes this offense much harder to defend because you have to account for everything. Even when the running backs aren’t getting much going, Bear can take matters into his own hands. This defense has been remarkable this year, playing with the confidence that it can punch any opponent in the mouth, regardless of who it is. Tonight, the Cougars welcome the nation’s second-ranked team to town for a top-10 showdown in Provo.
Notre Dame X-Factor: Jonaz Walton
As I mentioned earlier, the running game was a question mark entering the season. Replacing the two-headed monster of Love and Price was never going to be easy. But when running the football is a key part of your offensive scheme, you need someone to step up, and that’s exactly what’s happened with Jonaz Walton. If Notre Dame can feed him the ball early, it’ll not only help the Irish stay on schedule offensively but also provide balance, control the tempo, and take pressure off C.J. Carr. Walton’s impact goes beyond his rushing numbers. If he can consistently produce on the ground, it’ll open up the entire Fighting Irish offense against this BYU defense.
BYU X-Factor: Legend Glasker
When you play this BYU team, you have to account for everything Bear Bachmeier can do, both as a passer and as a runner. In other words, he stresses defenses in every way imaginable. With that being said, I expect Notre Dame to focus heavily on containing Bear. That’s where Legend Glasker comes into the picture! He’s a 6-foot-1 receiver with the speed to make plays underneath and stretch the field vertically. Glasker can turn one play into a huge gain, and he forces defenses to respect his downfield ability. He’ll command attention from the Irish secondary, which could open things up for BYU’s other playmakers. He’s someone Notre Dame absolutely cannot afford to overlook tonight.
Final Thoughts:
This is a huge game for both teams. Notre Dame will finally face its toughest test of the season, and this marks the beginning of a difficult three-game stretch. The Irish will face Navy in Foxborough at Gillette Stadium before taking on the Miami Hurricanes at home in South Bend. (I may know a guy who’ll be previewing that one!) For BYU, a win over the nation’s second-ranked team would do wonders for its résumé. For Notre Dame, it all starts with containing Bear Bachmeier and keeping him in the pocket. The Irish must prevent him from breaking outside and extending plays with his legs. Offensively, Notre Dame needs to sustain its early-down success. The Irish have dominated on the ground, which has allowed the rest of the offense to open up. Staying on schedule and preventing BYU’s defense from teeing off in obvious passing situations will be critical. Notre Dame must also win the battle in the trenches and control the tempo. BYU, meanwhile, needs to stretch the Notre Dame defense. That’s why Legend Glasker is my X-factor. If he can win on short and intermediate routes while also threatening the defense deep, he’ll force the Irish secondary to stay honest and create opportunities for the rest of the offense. The Cougars must also win the line of scrimmage on third downs, get Notre Dame into obvious passing situations, get off the field, and, lastly, rattle C.J. Carr. Pressure him, disrupt his rhythm, and force him into uncomfortable throws. What an atmosphere this should be tonight!
