Notre Dame faces a big league hurdle in North Carolina visit
Second-ranked Notre Dame is moving closer to playing for its first-ever conference championship and returning to the College Football Playoff. The next challenge is slowing No. 25 North Carolina’s high-scoring offense.
The Fighting Irish enter today’s game sitting alone atop the ACC standings after surrendering their long-cherished football independence for this season amid the coronavirus pandemic. And as it pursues a spot in the league championship game Dec. 19, Notre Dame (8-0, 7-0 ACC) sits at No. 2 in the first set of CFP rankings.
The visit to the Tar Heels represents its last scheduled game against a ranked opponent as the league enters final weeks filled with a growing number of rescheduled dates.
“Certainly, we want to take care of what’s in front of us, so what’s important for us is North Carolina,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said. “But we know what the schedule looks like.”
Notre Dame has its Nov. 7 win against No. 4 Clemson, which played without star quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The Fighting Irish host one-win Syracuse next weekend, then visit Wake Forest on Dec. 12 in a game postponed from September due to coronavirus issues within the Notre Dame program.
The Tar Heels (6-2, 6-2, No. 19 CFP) are trying to keep alive outside hopes of reaching the ACC title game with two losses. Their
strength is a prolific Sam Howellled offense ranking fourth in the Bowl Subdivision in total offense (563.4 yards) and 10th in scoring (43.1).
UNC coach Mack Brown said today is a chance to measure up with a national-title contender, saying: “In this game, the pressure’s really on Notre Dame.”
“It’s obvious we’ve made a lot of progress,” said Brown, in Year 2 of his second stint leading the Tar Heels. “Are we ready to beat the No. 2 team in the country? Who knows? But it’s a great a challenge for us.”
Some other things to know about today’s UNC-Notre Dame game:
Stout defense
Notre Dame’s defense ranks fourth against the run (85.1 yards), ninth in total defense (304.1) and 11th in scoring defense (16.6).
Only two opponents have cracked 100 yards rushing against Notre Dame. That will be a stat to watch considering the Tar Heels operate best when Javonte Williams (108.5) and Michael Carter (100.9) move the chains to complement Howell in the passing game.
Help coming?
North Carolina could get a boost if center Brian Anderson, receiver Beau Corrales and cornerback Storm Duck return from lowerbody injuries.
Anderson started the first seven games but missed the Nov. 14 win against Wake Forest. Corrales has missed four straight games while Duck has missed six in a row. All have practiced this week and are gametime decisions.
Comebacks
UNC is capable of digging out of big holes.
The Tar Heels rallied from 21 down in the third quarter in the Wake Forest win to match the biggest comeback in school history. All eight of UNC’s losses since the start of last year have come by seven or fewer points.
“They don’t go away,” Kelly said.