What a week it has been for Notre Dame.
From Lubbock, Texas, to the offices of the ACC, the Fighting Irish’s independence status is being attacked as we get closer to the College Football Playoffs.
Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi even downplayed Saturday’s home game against the Fighting Irish because it doesn’t impact the crowded race for the ACC title game.
Marcus Freeman has spent the week being asked questions, but comments made by other coaches while preparing for, perhaps, the toughest game Notre Dame has left on its schedule.
Most of the time, the word “distractions” is born from something internal, but in this case, not only is the noise coming from the outside, but it is coming from a team that Notre Dame doesn’t have on the schedule.
Can a Fighting Irish team that has been undisciplined at times not be its own worst enemy in an effort to “prove something”?
After back-to-back losses at West Virginia and home to Louisville, Narduzzi made the move to freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel.
Since the change at quarterback, the Panthers have gone 5-0, scored 30+ in all five games, and Heintschel has thrown 12 touchdown passes.
The change has also opened up Pitt’s running game.
On the other side of the ball, the Panthers’ stout rushing defense means they will double down on making CJ Carr beat them.
Carr has had his ups and downs, but the “downs” haven’t been crippling. No matter what the talk by the coaches was before the season, Carr’s ability to make plays has exceeded their already lofty expectations.
I don’t know if Carr’s season has been properly appreciated, but he will need help from the running game on Saturday.
Notre Dame knows what Jeremiyah Love is going to give them, but this is a game where Jadarian Price needs to be a big-play player. Price hasn’t been impactful since with win over USC.
The challenge for Love and Price will be an offensive line looking for a bounce-back performance.
Notre Dame will need to score in the neighborhood of 30+ points to beat Pitt. The Fighting Irish need “style” points to fight off challengers to the few precious College Football Playoff spots available, but this is a game where the focus needs to be winning whether that’s 3-2 or 53-52.
