(Photo: WSBT)
Saturday Spotlight
(1) Miami Hurricanes at (11) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Miami (8-0):
I was so high on this team entering the year, even after they lost the National Championship to the Indiana Hoosiers. Last season, they got hot at the right time, winning their first-round College Football Playoff game against the Texas A&M Aggies before upsetting the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second round. As this season approached, I picked Darian Mensah to win the Heisman Trophy and selected this team to win the National Championship. If you ask me, this is such a well-coached football team under Mario Cristobal, and they have what it takes to go all the way. So, what exactly has gone right for the Miami Hurricanes this year? First, Mensah has transformed this offense. Last year, they were good with Carson Beck, but they’ve been leaps and bounds better with Darian. What’s been particularly encouraging is that they aren’t leaning on just one thing to be successful. This is a team that can beat you through the air or on the ground, so the balance is there. However, it’s also the firepower that stands out to me, as they’ve demonstrated the ability to score in bunches. They put up 77 against Florida A&M, 52 against Central Michigan, 52 against Pittsburgh, 45 against Stanford, and 43 against Florida State. Those numbers should show you that they have plenty of ways to overwhelm their opponents. All in all, I see a confident football team that feels it can get anything it wants and believes it can beat anyone in its path. This group is firmly in the National Championship conversation, and they’re playing meaningful football in the month of November. Tonight, the Hurricanes will renew a rivalry with another blue-blood program.
Notre Dame (7-1):
When a team comes off a bye week, it either looks rusty or ready. There’s no in-between. Prior to their week off, they lost a tough game in Provo against the BYU Cougars. Last weekend, they faced the Navy Midshipmen and were challenged until they made the necessary adjustments and simply ran away with the game. At one point, Navy held a six-point lead, but that didn’t last long. Give Marcus Freeman’s group all the credit in the world because they took control, showed discipline, and, most importantly, demonstrated resilience. What I took away from that contest was the second-half adjustments they made to get themselves back in the game. In the first half, they were gashed on the ground, but in the second half, I saw a group lock in and hold Navy to just 56 total yards. Most importantly, they focused on what was in front of them in that moment. I feel the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are legitimate contenders this season. They sit at 7-1 right now, and as I mentioned prior to the BYU game, this might be the most complete team I’ve seen under Marcus Freeman. I knew the defense would remain elite, and they have their share of talent on that side of the football without question. I think that has been their biggest strength of the year so far. However, it’s their explosive offense that has really grabbed my attention, and CJ Carr has been a major part of their success. He’s shown accuracy, poise, and the ability to make big throws. That leads me to believe there’s balance on both sides of the ball, and one side doesn’t have to rely on the other to bail it out. They return home tonight for a showdown with the number-one-ranked team in the country.
Miami X-Factor: Cooper Barkate
I always say football is all about personnel fits, and Cooper came to Miami with Darian Mensah from Duke. They were teammates a year ago, and I expect Darian to look his way a few times in this game tonight. Cooper already has that chemistry with Darian, and this is so important to watch. They understand the timing, routes, and connections that come with playing together. He’s a polished route runner who knows how to create separation without simply having to outrun defensive backs. Will the Canes feed him the ball early to establish confidence? Can he win his one-on-one matchups against this Notre Dame secondary? Those are two things I’ll be paying close attention to tonight.
Notre Dame X-Factor: Micah Gilbert
What’s my rule? You better have game if you have two first names! Micah could be the difference-maker tonight in this huge contest. He averages 17.9 yards per catch, which gives Carr and the Irish a legitimate downfield threat. That’s number one. Secondly, I see the Miami defense loading the box and committing additional defenders to limiting the running game. I can see Micah benefiting from that attention, and one or two deep completions could completely change the momentum of this game. Micah has that explosive-play potential, and he’s the type of under-the-radar weapon who can have a major impact on this matchup.
Final Thoughts:
When I saw this insanely stacked weekend of college football on the schedule back in May, I looked at the schedules and noticed this matchup was set for Week 10. I knew I’d get my hands on this one, and it’s finally here! I’ve counted down the days, I’ve waited, and I can’t wait for this game tonight. Two of the bluest of blue bloods! I often think about the legends who played for these schools and went on to become Pro Football Hall of Famers. These two met in Week 1 last year, with Miami escaping with a three-point victory. Over a year later, they meet again in South Bend in a very important game. The other day on Monday Evening Quarterback, I stated that this was a more important game for Notre Dame than it was for the Hurricanes. The Irish already have that one loss against BYU, and if Miami and BYU win out and reach their respective conference title games, that could hurt Notre Dame. The reason? The Irish are an independent program, meaning they don’t play in a conference. That means they don’t have the opportunity to compete in a conference championship game, which can be an important consideration for the College Football Playoff selection committee. Miami must come out and establish Mark Fletcher Jr. early and often. He needs at least 20 carries to make an impact tonight, if possible. Cooper Barkate must step up with Malachi Toney sidelined due to an ankle injury, and the final key is protecting Mensah. Prevent interior pressure, give Mensah time to operate, and keep the pocket clean on third down. As for Notre Dame, they must attack the Miami secondary, which means getting Gilbert involved early. Next, they cannot allow Mensah to operate comfortably in the pocket. Throw him off his spot, collapse the pocket, and force him to make throws under pressure. Finally, the Irish must remain balanced offensively. Get Nolan James his carries and force Miami’s linebackers to respect the running game.
