What are you watching?
Notre Dame is on a redemption tour of sorts since the NIU game, and the Louisville Cardinals are up next. Louisville is one of only two ACC teams to have beat the Irish more than once since the 2014 season. There’s already a ton of bad blood between the two fanbases because of the men’s and women’s basketball teams, but it really feels like this game is turning into an under the radar rivalry game.
This time around it’s a top 20 battle between the two teams with a lot on the line. There are a lot of important matchups that will determine the game, but here are three that I’m keeping a close eye on this time around.
JEFF BROHM VS MARCUS FREEMAN
This is probably the lowest hanging of the low-hanging fruit, but these two guys get paid millions of dollars so it has to be important — right?
Jeff Brohm keeps proving himself to be one of the better coaches in America each year by the way he has his team prepared for the big games. Marcus Freeman has had a handful of clunkers at Notre Dame over the past two and a half seasons — but has done a pretty good job of having the Irish ready to play in the bigger games.
The Irish were on fumes last year when they went to Louisville and got their butts handed to them, and it felt like they didn’t look at the game against the Cardinals as one of those big-time battles.
I think the Irish are taking this game much more seriously this time around and will be ready to compete — but that might not be enough. This could be a very close game, and Brohm has a better history in these games than Freeman. The odd responses about game situations from Freeman during the offseason is a concern, and decisions like that could be the difference.
Which coach pushes the right buttons and has his team better prepared for victory? We might know that answer pretty early in the game.
RENE KONGA AND ASHTON GILLOTTE VS IRISH OFFENSIVE LINE
Notre Dame is still struggling in the passing game, and may not have the answer by game time on Saturday. They’re going to want to use their running game with Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, and Riley Leonard to move the ball upon and down the field.
The problem, however, is Rene Konga and Ashton Gillotte on the Cardinals defense. Gillotte was a problem last year for Notre Dame and made a massive impact. Notre Dame’s offensive line this year is still a work in progress with the youth movement and with the injuries over the last four weeks.
Can the Irish offensive line move the line of scrimmage for the running game? Can they give Leonard enough time to possibly even complete a few passes? Both of those things are going to be needed for an Irish victory, and Konga and Gillotte are big impediments.
JA’COREY BROOKS VS BEN MORRISON
Where does Louisville find these wide receivers every year? Ja’Corey Brooks is the number one target for quarterback Tyler Shough, as he’s pulled down 17 receptions for 297 yards and 2 touchdowns in three games.
Enter Ben Morrison.
Morrison was asked to cover the best wide receivers the Irish faced last season and as one of the best cornerbacks in the country — he shut them down. It’s going to be important that the Irish make Shough uncomfortable by “not having” his favorite target for most of the game. If Morrison can do the job, they’ll still have to deal with Chris Bell and Jadon Thompson, but a job well done could really hamper the Cards offense. If not… ouch. It might hurt.