Louisville is 3-0 and ranked one slot ahead of Notre Dame in the AP Top 25 at 15th. They have defeated Austin Peay 62-0, Jacksonville State 49-14 and last week ND opponent Georgia Tech went down 31-19. Each of the three games was played in the comfort of their home field. 2nd year head coach Jeff Brohm reloaded last year’s 10-4 team that upset the Irish in week six with 31 transfers.
One of those transfers is seventh year quarterback Tyler Shough, who has played at Oregon and Texas Tech. Shough will celebrate his 25th birthday in Notre Dame Stadium Saturday and has played well so far in 2024. He is 52-76 for 850 yards and 8 TDs with no interceptions. Over the years he has been known to tuck it and run a bit, but so far this season he has just 7 carries for 15 yards.
His running back situation has been a committee so far. Five different runners have anywhere from 13-19 carries each, and they all have scored touchdowns. Junior Maurice Turner, expected to be the lead back has a high ankle sprain and missed the Georgia Tech game. His status is uncertain. Against Georgia Tech, the Cardinals ground game struggled significantly in a 27 carry 54 yard performance (2.0 ypc.).
Shough definitely has shown he has a favorite receiver thus far in 6-3 Senior Ja’Corey Brooks. Brooks is a former top 50 recruit and Alabama transfer. Through three games, he has 17 catches thus far good for 297 yards and 2 TDs.
On the other side of the ball, the Irish once again will have to contend with defensive end Ashton Gillottee. In last year’s game he hurried and sacked Sam Hartman into a three-interception day. He finished 2023 with a total of 11 sacks. Season leading tackler linebacker TJ Quinn also had a big day against the Irish a year ago with a 10 tackle effort. The Cardinal secondary is solid and senior cornerback Quincey Riley, with 14 career interceptions is outstanding. Riley however has an ankle injury and is a game time decision.
The Cardinals early schedule may not have been the toughest but their national statistical ranks are impressive. 18th in passing offense (308.0 ypg.) and 14th in total offense. (502.3 ypg.). Defensively they have allowed a 13th best, 11.0 ppg.
The vast majority of Notre Dame’s two-deep players were present the night last season when Louisville ended ND’s playoff hopes. Motivation should not be a problem for the Irish this week. Louisville may be better this year than last but they have not been tested by defense like ND can bring. If Riley Leonard can take another step forward in the passing department as he did beginning in the second quarter last week, the Irish should be able to grind this one out.
But don’t expect to be anywhere other than the edge of your seat until this one is over.
The Irish are 6.5-point favorites and the over/under is 45.5.
The Fighting Irish Preview Pick: Notre Dame 24 Louisville 20