Notre Dame hosts the Virginia Cavaliers for the final home game of the season, where the Irish will celebrate their seniors. Our staff make their official predictions below.
Photo by The Irish Tribune
Peter Mulroy - FIrst & Gold Podcast Co-Host
Score Prediction: 38-10 Notre Dame
It’s easy to fall into another mental trap after UVA upended then-No. 18 Pitt a week ago but erase those negative thoughts. The Irish know what’s at stake the rest of the month, and given their recent seven-game win streak, expect a passionate performance; especially on a day when Notre Dame will celebrate 29 seniors. The run game, led by RL, continues to feast, while the Irish D stays right on point. When it’s all said & done, ND will be 9-1 as they prepare for a trip to Da Bronx!
Jhett Garrett - Writer
Score Prediction: 34-13 Notre Dame
I think this game will have the same tendencies as the Stanford game where Virginia will take an early lead on the Irish but run out of gas in the first quarter. Notre Dame has done a very good job of that throughout the season, showing they have the endurance to play four full quarters of football. The defense continues to dominate every week proving to be one of the best in the nation. Despite Virginia exceeding expectations in 2024, Riley Leonard and the Notre Dame rushing attack will be too much for the Cavaliers. 9-1 and ranked in the top seven heading to New York sounds pretty good after week two.
Max Uretsky - Recruiting Analyst
Score Prediction: 37-17 Notre Dame
For the rest of the regular season, it will be Notre Dame vs Notre Dame. If they play with focus and intensity they should not drop another game. Freeman and company know what's on the line and I think he will continue to have the team ready to go. I mentioned last week FSU had given up 30 sacks and Notre Dame came out and feasted racking up 8 sacks on the day. Virginia has not fared much better protecting the QB as they have given up 16 sacks in the last two games and 31 on the year. Even with Howard Cross III ruled out this week I expect the front 7 to dominate again. I sound like a broken record saying the offense will lean on the run game a somewhat ascending Riley Leonard will be able to play game manager but if ain't broke don't fix it. It will not be a successful homecoming for Chris Tyree as the Irish run away with this one by the third quarter.
Connor Regan - Long-Form Writer
Score Prediction: 45-13 Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s elite defense continues its domination on the line but is tested through the air by Colandrea and the Cavs. Despite that, the Irish ultimately get the better of them by forcing them to throw and making them one-dimensional. Look for serval turnovers from a hungry Irish defense. The offense shouldn’t have much trouble moving the ball on a mediocre Cavs defense, leading the way with the rushing attack early. Because of their success on the ground, look for things to open up through the air and Leonard to put up at least 200 yards for the 4th time in 5 games. Irish cover the spread and win by double digits while the final score goes over the total points due to garbage time points.
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Brady Burden - Social Media Intern
Score Prediction: 45-7 Notre Dame
With Virginia only losing to Louisville by 4, I thought all week that this game would be close. But after I kept watching their highlights I think this game will be a one-sided affair. Notre Dame comes out on senior day and dominates in all aspects of the game. The rushing game is established in the first half and the passing game keeps improving just like it has been over the past few weeks. The Irish take care of business and prepare for the big matchup against Army.
Clayton Stohler - First & Gold Podcast Co-Host
Score Prediction: 38-3 Notre Dame
The stretch of dominance continues for ND. UVA is a scrappy team, that plays with a consistent brand of physicality, of that there is no doubt. ND has tended to be the same throughout the year, with this year continuing that trend.
However, there’s a side of this Notre Dame offense that we haven’t quite seen. Until today. Notre Dame will exploit a UVA secondary that frankly isn’t as talented as FSU’s. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price will be on the field at the same time, and this will enable plays to be made through the air in ways we haven’t seen yet this season. This will be Leonard’s best game of the year through the air all season.
UVA’s Tackles will also prove to be no match for the pass rush ND will be providing. Bryce Young is poised to have a breakout game as ND forces UVA’s offense to press, and make mistakes.
The Cavaliers are a tough, physical team. But they are no match against the Irish. And what was already becoming well known, will continue to be solidified- Notre Dame is better than just about every team across the country.
Brenden Duffy - Associate Editor & Senior Staff Writer
Score Prediction: 38-17 Notre Dame
This is the day Riley Leonard finally surpasses 250 yards passing…hopefully. UVA’s passing defense has struggled all season and things did not get better this week after Safety Antonio Clary was ruled out for the remainder of the season.
It would not surprise me if the Irish have a slow start running the ball. UVA has been pretty solid in this aspect. I do think ND’s dominance up front will tire the Cavaliers defense, opening up big plays for the run game in the second half.
UVA’s offense will go as far as QB Anthony Colandrea takes them. Don’t be surprised if he connects on a couple of big plays to set up UVA scores. The Cavs inability to run the ball will be their biggest downfall this week.
Irish roll to an eighth consecutive win.
Bruce Straughan - Recruiting Writer
Score Prediction: 45-10 Notre Dame
This Notre Dame team is battle-tested and hasn’t been talked about enough about how they’ve responded after that NIU game. They’ve gone on to dominate their competition both on offense and defense.
The ND defense is only giving up on average 11pts a game for the season while UVA has been giving up 26pts a game on average.
Notre Dame continues to dominate on both sides of the ball and this game won’t be close. UVA will be sent back to Hooville with a massive L.
Liam Farrell - Associate Editor & Senior Football Writer
Score Prediction: 38-17 Irish
The closest game in the past few weeks will start with the Fighting Irish being caught in the nostalgia of senior day.
The Notre Dame defense has shown signs of struggling with a dual-threat quarterback, which will be presented to them on Saturday.
The Notre Dame corners will give up an explosive touchdown, but the Fighting Irish offense will be the ones keeping the team in the game.
A bold prediction is Leonard will have 3 touchdown passes, one of which being for more than 40 yards.
After the slow start, the Irish will dominate the 2nd half and end senior day on a high note.
Noah Wehby - Writer
Score Prediction: 45-10 Notre Dame
Notre Dame shows again why they are a changed team from the NIU loss by putting together another dominant game. On the defensive side, the secondary will be critical, but this talented Irish secondary will be more than up to the task. On offense, the run game will continue to lead the way. The trio of Love, Price, and Leonard will be too much for Virginia to handle, with at least one of them breaking a long run loose.
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