Notre Dame faces one of its toughest challenges of the season today against a high-ranked Louisville team. Notre Dame will wear its controversial green jerseys for its annual "Irish Wear Green" game, controversial in the sense that there is a divide between fans on whether or not Notre Dame does better, worse, or the same in green uniforms. Our staff make their official predictions for the game.
Photo by Notre Dame Athletics
Clayton Stohler - First & Gold Podcast
Score Prediction: 27-13 Notre Dame
As is well documented, Notre Dame’s offense hasn’t fully clicked yet. Against Louisville, they’ll be granted yet another opportunity to do so. While talented among the front four, their secondary is vulnerable. They lack the length and size that typically works against this receiving corp. Riley Leonard will have to perform to his standard, the receivers will have to be all hands on deck. The offensive line must protect Leonard, and Notre Dame will have to be creative in the run game. Jeremiyah Love is a fundamental piece in all of this. He will carry the ball more in this game than he will in the games before, and that will follow. The threat of Leonard and Love on the ground will potentially exploit Louisville’s secondary, and its eye discipline.
He’d never say it publicly, but it’s difficult to imagine Al Golden hasn’t had this game circled since his unit’s disappointing performance last year. Notre Dame will throw Brohm’s run game off balance, forcing mistakes.
Mike Stacey - Writer
Score Prediction: 34-17 Notre Dame
Does anyone have a magic 8 ball? But seriously, I am not confident with this pick. I hope that Notre Dame will be up for this game and well prepared unlike how they were for NIU and to an extent last week. I think the crowd and implications of this game will bring the best out of the Irish, Again, I hope. If that happens, I expect Notre Dame's defense to be its normal dominant self and the Irish passing game to finally take a step forward. Even though Leonard has struggled greatly in that department, he did make some progress through the air last week. If he can build off that and make Louisville respect the passing game, it will open the offense right up and give our running game the chance to be truly dominant. Look for a few deep shots early to keep Ville honest followed by an offense that resembles what we were hoping it would be all off-season.
Noah Wehby - Writer
Score Prediction: 20-17 Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s offensive struggles continue again this week, but their defense gives Louisville just as many problems. It could be a windy day in South Bend, so don’t expect either passing offense to be particularly impressive. The trio of Leonard, Love, and Price get it done on the ground to keep the offense moving. Notre Dame is going to need a turnover to set up an easy-scoring drive. Louisville has been great at taking care of the football this season, but an Irish interception in Louisville territory will be just what the offense needs.
Liam Farrell - Senior Football Writer
Score Prediction: 27-17 Louisville
The Notre Dame offense simply hasn’t shown enough in the passing department to scare a legitimate Top 25 team. The injuries on the Fighting Irish offensive line will come to light in this game against a formidable front seven and a stacked box. Leonard will not build off his performance in the 2nd half against Miami OH, but rather have a turnover-riddled game similar to Sam Hartman’s performance last year.
Al Golden will do all he can, but the Notre Dame defense will tire out by the end of the game due to the offense’s poor performance. Louisville will win a couple of 50-50 balls and ultimately derail Notre Dame’s playoff hopes in back-to-back years.
Brenden Duffy - Senior Staff Writer
Score Prediction: 24-20 Notre Dame
This prediction is banking on Riley Leonard building off last week’s “promising” performance. Louisville’s biggest weakness, at least defensively, is their secondary. This will be an opportunity for Leonard to build confidence as a passer. Notre Dame probably won’t be able to run with as much ease as in recent weeks due to UL’s impressive front four. I completely trust the Notre Dame defense to limit UL’s offense to at least 28 points. The Irish offense will need to show up big time to give ND a fighting chance.
Bruce Straughan - Recruiting Writer
Score Prediction: 24-17 Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s Defense will continue to hold its own against Louisville who’s averaging 47 points a game. The Irish defense will hold them under 20 points for the game. The offense will continue to struggle in the passing game early but will catch fire as the game goes on. It will be a big day on the ground for the Irish.
Max Uretsky - Recruiting Analyst
Score Prediction: 19-17 Notre Dame
This will be Notre Dame's toughest test to date. Louisville has a very balanced offense and Tyler Shough is not afraid to let it fly. Thankfully Notre Dame sports one of the best secondaries in the country. My concern is there have been moments this season where the Irish defensive line has been pushed around in the run game and the Cardinals average six yards a carry. Most of that has come against weaker competition and their only Power Four opponent, Georgia Tech, held them to 71 yards on 24 carries. As it is almost every week, this game will ride on the back of the defense and I'll say they get just enough stops for ND to squeak by to secure a win heading into the bye.
Luciano Antonini - Founder & Lead Director
Score Prediction: 28-17 Notre Dame
I originally was going to pick Louisville to win 23-17, but I had a change of heart and belief. I still think there's a very realistic chance Notre Dame and Riley Leonard fumble the bag and drop a game to the Cardinals, but I think this will be more of a Clemson 2022 ESK game. I think this only happens if Marcus Freeman embraces the strong run-game roots of the team and makes that the point of emphasis, not trying to make Riley air it out. Notre Dame poses the risk of being stuffed at the line if Louisville continuously stacks the box, forcing Leonard to be a quarterback and throw, which will cause a lot of problems in my opinion. If Notre Dame can find a way to make a statement on the ground, the defense will do its job. Rain is also a possible factor.
As I write this, I'm starting to talk my way out of my prediction with the factors of green jerseys and Louisville running 8-man blitzes, but I think Notre Dame only wins this if Riley Leonard can truly air it out accurately or Notre Dame plays the way it did vs Clemson in 2022.
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