Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM SEPT. 16, 2023 37 GAME PREVIEW: CENTRAL MICHIGAN when they've already taken care of Cen‑ tral Michigan. Upset specials haven't exactly been CMU's thing since McElwain took the job in 2019. He has an overall record of 25‑22, and last year's 4‑8 record included wins over Bucknell, Akron, Northern Illinois and Buffalo. There is not exactly a Notre Dame equivalent in that quartet. Central Michigan has played two teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 at the time of the matchup dur‑ ing McElwain's tenure. The Chippewas lost 61‑0 to No. 17 Wisconsin in 2019 and 33‑14 to No. 14 Penn State last year. Michigan State, as spelled out before, is not on par with where Wisconsin was four years ago and where Penn State was last year. But it is a Power Five program in what is probably the second‑best conference in the country. So, when McElwain was asked about how play‑ ing the Spartans prepares his squad for future tough tests, there was only going to be one team he'd mention. A much tougher test indeed. "Well, we get to go to Notre Dame. So, that will be fun," he said somewhat sarcastically. Fun for the Fighting Irish, most likely. ✦ 2023 NOTRE DAME SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Aug. 26 vs. Navy* W, 42-3 Sept. 2 Tennessee State W, 56-3 Sept. 9 at NC State W, 45-24 Sept. 16 Central Michigan (Peacock) 2:30 p.m. Sept. 23 Ohio State (NBC) 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30 at Duke TBA Oct. 7 at Louisville TBA Oct. 14 USC (NBC) 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 Pittsburgh (NBC) 3:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at Clemson (ABC) TBA Nov. 18 Wake Forest (NBC) 3:30 p.m. Nov. 25 at Stanford TBA * at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland Redshirt sophomore tight end Mitchell Collier was the Chippewas leading receiver in their season-opening loss at Michigan State, hauling in 3 receptions for 30 yards. PHOTO BY JACK REEBER/COURTESY CENTRAL MICHIGAN 2023 CENTRAL MICHIGAN SCHEDULE Date Opponent Result/Time (ET) Sept. 1 at Michigan State L, 31-7 Sept. 9 New Hampshire W, 45-42 Sept. 16 at Notre Dame 2:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at South Alabama 4 p.m. Sept. 30 Eastern Michigan TBA Oct. 7 at Buffalo TBA Oct. 14 Akron 3:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at Ball State 3:30 p.m. Oct. 31 N. Illinois (ESPN2/U) 7 p.m. Nov. 7 at W. Michigan (ESPN2/U) 7 p.m. Nov. 15 at Ohio (ESPN2/U) 7 p.m. Nov. 24 Toledo (ESPNU/CBSSN) 12 p.m.