Opponent: Iowa State (7-5)
When: December 28th
Where to Watch: Noon on ABC
Line: Notre Dame -3.5
Notre Dame has seen some changes since the end of the season. The big one is Chip Long is no longer there. Notre Dame announced that Tommy Rees will be calling plays. Rees has been serving as Notre Dame’s quarterbacks coach. On the surface this looks like Rees’ audition to replace Long. Bowl season is the best time to make the change. This give Rees a few weeks to work with the offense in a different capacity.
With another double-digit win season locked up, it will be interesting to see how the Irish handle this game. Is it a stamp on the 2019 season or the start of the 2020 season?
Iowa State comes in with a 7-5 record. The Cyclones five losses have been by a combined 21 points. They only loss one game by more than a one score. That was a 27-27 loss to Kansas State.
Quarterback Brock Purdy leads the Cyclones on offense. Purdy has combined for 35 touchdowns (27 passing, 8 rushing).
Notes:
- Irish will be going for their sixth win in a row.
- Quarterback Ian Book hasn’t thrown an interception in three games. In that stretch, Book has thrown 12 touchdown passes.
- Brian Kelly is 4-4 in bowl games at Notre Dame.
- Only three teams scored over 20 points against Notre Dame: Georgia, USC, and Michigan. The Irish were 1-2 in those games.
