Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 5, 2022 37 GAME PREVIEW: CLEMSON Since the sluggish start, Notre Dame has im- proved that figure to 178.1 yards per contest by averaging 244.2 yards per outing in its next five contests. The Irish have eclipsed the 200-yard mark three times, including a 223-yard performance in the 44-21 win over UNLV Oct. 22. Sophomore tailback Audric Estime led the Irish with 79 carries for 435 yards and 6 touchdowns during their 4-3 start. However, after he posted career highs in attempts (28) yards (130) against UNLV, it is clear that sophomore Logan Diggs is fully recovered from offseason shoulder surgery. In six games, Diggs compiled 75 carries for 346 yards and had scored one touchdown as a pass catcher. This is an area where Clemson has shined. All four of its fine defensive linemen returned from 2021 — a group that entered this season with 72 combined starts — and all are anchoring a rush defense that ranked seventh nationally through Week 8, allowing only 87.9 yards per outing. Senior defensive end K.J. Henry leads that group with 28 tackles, including 6.5 for loss, which is third on the team. Junior defensive end Myles Murphy has contributed 26 tackles with a team-best 9 tackles for loss. The Clemson defensive linemen actually hold down the top four spots in tackles for loss. As a team, the Tigers ranked first in the ACC and eighth in the country with 8.2 tackles for loss per game. Junior linebacker Trenton Simpson leads a bal- anced Tigers defense with 46 tackles. Senior safety Jayln Phillips is second on the team with 42 stops. Advantage: Clemson NOTRE DAME PASSING GAME VS. CLEMSON PASS DEFENSE What appeared to be some growing self-con- fidence after consecutive wins over Cal, North Carolina and BYU for junior quarterback Drew Pyne, his improvement trend hit a wall the follow- ing two games. Pyne entered the Stanford game ranked No. 17 nationally in passing efficiency. The Irish junior then tumbled to 43rd after his Stanford and UNLV performances, creating a groundswell of support for freshman backup Steve Angeli to play increased reps. All-American junior tight end Michael Mayer continues to be Pyne's favorite target. He led the Irish in receptions (44), receiving yards (526) and touchdown catches (6) through the seven games, during his chase to break every Notre Dame tight end receiving record in program history. Meanwhile, the Irish wide receivers have contin- ued to underperform, despite the fact that three of them — sophomore Jayden Thomas (BYU), fresh- man Tobias Merriweather (Stanford) and graduate student Braden Lenzy (UNLV) — notched their first touchdown catch this season in consecutive games. This is an area where undefeated Clemson has actually underachieved, based on its own standards and expectations. The Tigers ranked 43rd in team passing efficiency defense and also rated only fourth Junior linebacker Trenton Simpson had recorded a team-best 46 tackles for a Clemson defense that is yielding 87.9 yards rushing per game. PHOTO BY MARK HOYLE/COURTESY CLEMSON ATHLETICS Staff Predictions Todd D. Burlage: Clemson 24, Notre Dame 17 The fact that a 10-3 record was considered a "down" year for Clemson in 2021 is a testament to what Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney has built in South Carolina. After missing the CFP in 2021 for the first time in six seasons, Clemson is poised to rejoin the party in 2022 with an 8-0 record and a No. 5 national ranking. But its undefeated start hasn't been a cakewalk. Three of its six conference games have been decided by six points, including a 51-45 double-overtime win over Wake Forest Sept. 24. Clemson enters this game well rested and off its bye week. Notre Dame enters after a physical road game at Syracuse. A deeper Clemson team gets the edge in this one. Steve Downey: Clemson 27, Notre Dame 9 The last time Clemson ventured in to Notre Dame Stadium in 2020, the Fighting Irish registered their first victory against a No. 1 team in 27 years with a thrilling 47-40 double overtime in front of an electric crowd. It will take a monumental effort for the Irish to create a similar scene this year. The Tigers feature the best defensive front Notre Dame will see this season, one that is good enough to negate what the Irish offense does best. Following its 0-2 start, Notre Dame averaged 208.2 yards rushing per game en route to winning four of their next five outings. However, the Tigers entered their Week 9 bye with the nation's seventh-best run defense (87.9 yards allowed per game). It is difficult to envision the Irish consistently moving the ball and scoring enough points to pull off the upset. Patrick Engel: Clemson 23, Notre Dame 10 Clemson's first sign of quarterback instability arose last time out when DJ Uiagalelei committed 3 turnovers and was pulled. But the Tigers have a more reliable ground game than they did a year ago and can lean on it if Uiagalelei struggles again. Notre Dame's offense is built on its running game, too, but this will be the toughest defensive front the Irish have faced since the opener. Clemson's secondary is susceptible to big plays, but the Irish aren't exactly built to exploit it. Tyler Horka: Clemson 28, Notre Dame 17 The Tigers are far from the dominant force they were with Trevor Lawrence at quarterback, but they're still a better team than this year's Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Drew Pyne can't make enough plays against the plethora of next-level talent Clemson boasts on its defense, and the Tigers — whether it be with incumbent starter DJ Uiagalelei or true freshman Cade Klubnik (or both) at quarterback — will make just enough in enemy territory to leave Notre Dame Stadium with a win, unlike last time. Mike Singer: Clemson 27, Notre Dame 24 Notre Dame has been so up and down this season, and it's very tough to gauge which Fighting Irish team will show up. It'll be tight, but the Tigers will win a close one.