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Are you wondering why Notre Dame is ranked this week?
The Fighting Irish are 0-2 and still No. 24 in the AP poll and No. 21 in the coaches’ poll.
The most politically powerful college football program in the country lost its first two games of the season and somehow is still ranked. The Irish lost at Miami in their opener, 27-24, and lost at home to Texas A&M, 41-40.
Let’s quote Heather Dinch of ESPN:
“Here’s why Notre Dame is not in my top 25 this week,” she said. “They haven’t won a football game.
“I’m sorry, you may have wanted more than that!
“They are 135th in the country in tackles made.
“They are 134th in broken tackles.
“They are 117th in plays over 10 yards.
“They are 116th in rushing yards per game.
“They are 124th in first downs made.
“They are 126th in pass defense.
“They are 108th in the country with 413 yards allowed per game.
“That’s why Notre Dame is not in my Top 25 this week. And did I mention they haven’t won a game?”
As for stats and rankings, 2-1 Carolina’s game at 2-0 UCF Saturday will depend a lot on how the opposing quarterbacks play.
Gio Lopez has seemed to improve in his first three games but still doesn’t have his timing down in his jump from mid-major football at South Alabama to Power 4. Bill Belichick is sticking with Lopez and fifth-year senior Max Johnson didn’t get into the 41-6 blowout of Richmond last Saturday.
The Knights will be playing at home and in coach Scott Frost’s second tenure at the school has about as many new players as Carolina and some of them have played very well in their wins over North Carolina A&T and Jacksonville State.
Like Lopez, starting quarterback Cam Fancher was injured in the first game of the season and gave way to Tennessee and Indiana transfer Tayven Jackson who has played well enough to keep the job against the Tar Heels after an idle weekend. The 6-4 junior has completed 29 of 45 passes for two touchdowns and no picks and has also run for two more scores.
Neither team is close to getting ranked but their schedules ramp up this week, and a win in the 3:30 game in Orlando (on Fox) will improve the victor’s resume as both head into conference play after this one.
Belichick was asked at his weekly press conference how Lopez is coming along.
“A couple of the Gio’s throws came out real quick,” he said. “The ball got there just in time. There’s a difference between anticipating the receiver being open, then seeing him open and throwing the ball.
“If you wait until he gets open, a lot of times that window closes by the time you get him the ball and it’s too late.”
Featured image via Associated Press/Paul Beaty
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
