Carolina’s offense, not Notre Dame’s, will be the key.

The annals of college athletics are filled with stories about underdog teams pulling together for big victories after losing a key player. Notre Dame will try to add one of those to its tradition as well as win a football game.

Depending on what happens in their home game against 2-0 Cal Saturday, the 0-2 and suddenly unranked Fighting Irish need a big win to get them somewhat back on track for, at least, a postseason bowl bid. Cal wouldn’t be that win but could have an effect.

ND lost starting quarterback Tyler Buchner for the season late in the shocking loss to three-touchdown underdog Marshall from that suddenly famous Sun Belt Conference. Next man up for the Irish is junior Drew Pyne, who makes his first college start against Cal.

At least Gene Chizik and his staff will have a game film with Pyne under center. Neither Irish quarterback is in the same ballpark with Ian Book, who graduated after the 2021 season and is a back-up on the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, not great but far better than his college successors.

The 5-11 Pyne is smaller than the 6-1 Buchner and not as fast. Both are considered to be adequate college passers. So where does this mess leave Notre Dame, which dropped down the elevator shaft of the rankings from No. 5 to out of the polls completely?

One thing that Fighting Irish teams and their fans have is pride and, again depending what happens against the Bears, could come into Kenan Stadium as a decided underdog against the 3-0 Tar Heels. The one place Notre Dame can show its pride is on defense, which held Ohio State to 21 points before allowing 26 versus Marshall.

The Irish are unlikely to outscore Carolina in a shootout but will show Drake Maye and the offense a defense much better than any of the three they have faced so far in wins over FAMU, App State and Georgia State. Wounded ND will be aiming to throw a shutout at unbeaten UNC.

That is unlikely against Maye and his weaponry who have combined for 154 points in three games. But the Heels will be up against the biggest and most prideful defense they have seen. How Maye plays could be more critical than whoever the other QB1 is.

 

Featured image via Associated Press/Charles Rex Arbogast

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