For only the third time this season, Marcus Freeman and the now No. 12 Fighting Irish hit the road, heading to Atlanta, Georgia to face historical rival Georgia Tech for the 38th time. The series dates all the way back to 1922, but this year’s contest comes with a twist. This will be the first game in the series to be held at a neutral site, with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons, playing host. It marks the first of three matchups the 2024 Irish will play in professional stadiums this season, followed by Navy at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands, and Army at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. A road win would both extend Notre Dame’s current win streak to 5 in a row, while also pushing their series win streak over Tech to 4 straight. Once again, the Irish have a lot riding on a game that on paper should be an easy win, but as we all know too well, a single slip-up could change the whole trajectory of the season. The Irish have managed to work their way off the ropes and back into the fight once already this year, but can they continue their progress, or will the Yellow Jackets play spoiler to a CFP hopeful yet again?
Photo by The Irish Tribune
Notre Dame
2024 OFFENSE PASSING YPG | 2024 OFFENSE RUSHING YPG | 2024 DEFENSE YPG ALLOWED | 2024 DEFENSE PPG ALLOWED |
108th - 184.3 | 16th - 216.5 | 11th - 270.0 | 8th - 11.7 |
All hope seemed lost following Notre Dame’s Week 2 home loss to NIU, but over the last 4 games, the Irish have recovered some confidence and have slowly built a more balanced offensive identity. In those 4 games, the Irish outscored their opponents by a whopping 174-41 while maintaining one of the nation’s most elite defenses. Although confidence in this squad may not be quite as high as it was following the week 1 win over TAMU, the Irish have managed to steadily improve week-to-week and slowly mend their public image. Even with that improvement, the early loss to NIU put Notre Dame in a “win or die” position for every game left on their schedule, as a single loss would formally kill any hopes of scraping their way back into the 12-team CFP conversation.
Notre Dame is fresh off a much-needed display of dominance, pummeling Stanford 49-7 just last week. While the final score wasn’t as impressive as it was against Purdue, this win is the closest this team has been to their “final form” all season. Leonard had his best game so far, tossing 229 yards and 3 touchdowns with another on the ground, while Love and Price both scored out of the backfield. As impressive as the offense was, the defense put on yet another clinic. After allowing the Cardinal to score on their first drive of the game, Al Golden and the Irish defense held Stanford scoreless, racking up 4 sacks and a turnover while allowing only 200 total yards on the day. It was one of the defense’s best performances of the season, and the by far most balanced offensive performance we’ve seen from Denbrock and Leonard all year.
The good news brought by the Stanford win was quickly followed by more injury woes. Team Captain and CB Benjamin Morrison was formally ruled out for the season following a hip injury diagnosis and a season-ending surgery. This marks the 13th season-ending injury for the 2024 Irish and removes arguably the most talented player on an elite Irish defense already thin on reserves. In his first two seasons, Morrison recorded 9 interceptions and had not given up a single touchdown through 6 games in 2024. Due to Jaden Mickey’s redshirt and portal departure, Al Golden will be forced to fall back on true Freshman Leonard Moore and Karson Hobbs to fill in for Morrison, and that makes yet another defensive unit only a single injury away from desperation.
As for non-season-ending injuries, the Irish currently have 3 players that will likely be game-time decisions.
Injuries Heading Into Georgia Tech
Sophomore WR Jordan Faison Ankle - Available V. Georgia Tech Hurt V. TAMU - Reinjured V. Louisville Missed NIU, Purdue, & Stanford
Junior OL Billy Schrauth Right Ankle - Questionable V. Georgia Tech Hurt V. Purdue Missed Miami OH, Louisville, & Stanford
Grad Student K Mitch Jeter Right Hip - Questionable V. Georgia Tech Hurt V. Stanford
Of these three, kicker Mitch Jeter’s absence may hurt the most. If Jeter isn’t cleared to play on Saturday, backup Junior kicker Zac Yoakam will be asked to step up in his place. Yoakam is 7/7 on extra points this season, split between his late game appearances in the Stanford and Purdue blowouts, but has yet to kick a field goal. If he does get the nod over Jeter, the Irish won’t be able to rely as heavily on their kicker if needed, and we may see some misses due to inexperience. As for Jordan Faison, Marcus Freeman said he was dressed for the Stanford game, but ultimately didn’t make an appearance. We could see a very similar approach again from the coaching staff, who may feel the situation out and possibly keep him out again if the offense doesn't need a shot in the arm.
Georgia Tech
2024 RECORD | 2024 PORTAL RANK | LAST GAME | SERIES SCORE |
5-2 | 65th | ND - 55-0 (2021) | ND - 30-6-1 |
2023 RECORD | 2023 SOS | 2024 GAME +/- | 2024 SOS |
7-6 | 37th | 4.5 | 4th |
2023 OFFENSE YPG | 2023 OFFENSE PPG | 2023 DEFENSE YPG ALLOWED | 2023 DEFENSE PPG ALLOWED |
34th - 424.6 | 43rd - 29.7 | 120st - 437.1 | 100th - 30.8 |
2024 OFFENSE PASSING YPG | 2024 OFFENSE RUSHING YPG | 2024 DEFENSE YPG ALLOWED | 2024 DEFENSE PPG ALLOWED |
59th - 240.1 | 27th - 204.4 | 35th - 327.4 | 48th - 21.4 |
GAME SPREAD | GAME SCORE +/- |
ND -14.0 - ESPN Bet | 49.5 - ESPN Bet |
Former Georgia Tech offensive lineman Brent Key got the head coaching job at his Alma Mater in 2022 where his Yellow Jackets went 4-4, eventually improving to 7-6 in 2023. Coach Key fields a prolific triple-option offense led by former Texas A&M QB Haynes King - who ran for 10 TDs and tossed another 27. King’s partner in crime is RB Jamal Haynes - who collected 1,059 yards on the ground in 2023, along with 7 scores. The Yellow Jackets also return their two best targets on the outside, WR Eric Singleton Jr. and Malik Rutheford, who combined for over 1,200 and 10 TDs in 2023, making Tech a threat through the air as well as on the ground.
So far, 2024 has been solid for Key and the Yellow Jackets. Before week 0 weekend shocked the nation, The Irish Tribune had Georgia Tech pegged as one of Notre Dame’s two trap games this season, and boy were we right. The Yellow Jackets came out and stunned FSU in Ireland on the season’s opening weekend, and showed everyone on their schedule just how much of a problem they were going to be this year. Tech won the physical battle at the line on both sides of the ball, manhandling FSU’s supposedly dominant defensive unit for 190 yards on the ground while holding the Seminoles offense to 98 rushing yards and only two touchdowns all game.
Tech went on to beat Georgia State 35-12 before losing to Syracuse on the road 28-31. They then rebounded with a 59-7 skunking of VMI before losing their second game at Louisville 19-31. Key’s squad responded once again, beating Duke 24-14 before a big 41-34 road win at UNC. Thus far, Jamal Haynes and Haynes King have been the same dynamic 1-2 punch from last year. Jamal Haynes’ 96 carries have gone for 536 yards and 7 touchdowns, while Haynes King has 62 rushes for 353 and 6 touchdowns. Rutherford and Singleton have also continued their performances from 2023. Rutherford leads with 40 catches for 509 yards and 2 scores, while Singleton Jr. follows closely with 30 catches for 399 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Like Notre Dame’s win over Stanford and the loss of Benjamin Morrison, Georgia Tech’s win over UNC cost them dearly. Yellow Jackets QB Haynes King exited the game against the Tarheels late in the 4th quarter with some sort of injury to his throwing arm but left his team with a 10-point lead. Tellingly, Georgia Tech quickly squandered their advantage but managed to pull out the win behind RB Jamal Haynes’ game-winning 68-yard rushing touchdown. The injury was a massive blow to Tech’s season, but King was listed as questionable until about 5:00 PM on Friday, October 18th, when it was confirmed he would not be cleared for play against the Irish.
King’s replacement will be redshirt sophomore backup Zach Pyron, who has thrown only 5/7 passes this season for 64 yards and a touchdown along with 17 rushes for 60 yards and 4 touchdowns. He isn’t known for his passing prowess and is primarily utilized as a run-focused copy of Haynes King, so there’s concern he may not have enough skill through the air to exploit Notre Dame’s rapidly thinning secondary. Thankfully, the Yellowjackets can lean on arguably their greatest offensive group during their QB re-acclimation, the offensive line. Tech’s front 5 have been ridiculous this season, only giving up 1 sack in 7 games, good for the fewest in the nation. For context, Notre Dame is tied for 50th in sacks allowed, giving up a surprising 9 through only 6 games. If the Yellow Jackets look to stand a chance in this game, their offensive line will need to buy Pyron enough time in the pocket to make the right decisions.
Georgia Tech will challenge the Irish in a similar fashion to Stanford; a prolific dual-threat running attack with little coming through the air, and a solid rush defense with a secondary primed for exploitation. The Yellow Jackets front 7 have held opponents to a meager 103.7 yards per game on the ground, but their secondary has allowed 223.7 yards per game through the air. Despite stopping the run, Tech’s pass rush has only recorded 9 sacks in 7 games, the 114th worst mark in the country, making it clearer why they struggle so much through the air. If Notre Dame’s line and Leonard’s legs can buy them enough time, this may be just the kind of game the Irish need to further develop their passing game against a team not fully capable of stopping it. The bottom line is - the Yellow Jackets must pressure Leonard if they have a shot at stifling an aerial attack on the upswing.
Prediction
This is yet another “should win, could lose” game for the Irish. They’ll be the best team Georgia Tech has faced so far, particularly on defense, but the game will boil down to 3 things.
Can the Irish replicate their passing performance against Stanford?
Will the injury bug prevent Notre Dame’s defense from maintaining its dominance?
Can the Irish front 7 exploit the absence of Haynes King and make Tech’s offense completely one-dimensional?
With all due respect, this game is far more about Notre Dame than it is about Georgia Tech. The Irish hold their fate in their own hands, and it ultimately comes down to continuing their progression. If Leonard can establish at least a consistent passing attack, it would likely overwhelm a Georgia Tech defense already contending with Leonard’s running threat and Notre Dame’s prolific rushing attack.
If either Notre Dame’s offense or defense takes a step back or just decides not to show up, Tech is talented enough to steal this game. But without Hayes King at the helm, the Yellow Jackets would essentially need to stay perfect while forcing the Irish into mistakes if they have a realistic chance to win. Both teams will look to grind the ball on the ground, but the QB with a better day through the air should leave with the W.
On first look, a “neutral site” matchup should essentially nullify any home-field advantage for either team, but the decision to play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is curious. It's only 1.8 miles away from the Yellow Jackets homefield “Bobby Dodd Stadium” making it just as easy for their fans to attend and boosting the capacity from 55,000 to 71,000. Essentially, this is an elevated Georgia Tech home game in a significantly more intense atmosphere.
This is a trap game because of the location, stage, and talent on Georgia Tech, not because the Irish are again overlooking the team in front of them. This one will be competitive all game long, but the final score may not necessarily make it look like a close one. Look for the Irish to leave with a solid, well-earned win against one of the hardest teams they’ll face all year.
Look for:
Notre Dame’s defense to force a turnover
Notre Dame’s defense to record 2+ sacks
Jeremiyah Love to rush for at least 1 touchdown
Riley Leonard to throw for at least 1 touchdown and rush for at least 1 touchdown
Beaux Collins to catch his 2nd touchdown of the season
Win: (6-1)
ND: 33 - 16 :GT
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