Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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in a victory against North Carolina. 2015 PERSONNEL OVERVIEW: This will be one of the more veteran teams in the nation with eight starters returning on offense and all 11 on defense, plus the punter and kicker. Everyone returning on defense is notable because Temple finished fourth nationally in scoring defense (17.5 points allowed per game), led by linebacker Tyler Matakevich. Temple also forced 30 turnovers to rank 11th in that category. SUMMARY: Head coach Matt Rhule, a Tom Coughlin disciple, has as- sembled a stellar defense, but Temple finished 97th in scoring offense (23.1 points per game) and 115th in rush- ing offense (107.8 yards per game). In addition, its 27 turnovers (11 fumbles and 16 interceptions) tied for 109th nationally, just past Notre Dame's 26. Notre Dame will have its lone bye week (Oct. 24) the week prior to facing Temple, which should help. 11. WAKE FOREST (3-9) REVIEWING 2014: First-year head coach Dave Clawson's highlight occurred in the second to last game, a scoreless tie against Virginia Tech in regulation time before prevailing 6-3 in double overtime. Wake Forest was dead last among 125 FBS teams in total offense with an anemic 216.3 yards per game, and 124th in both scoring offense (14.8) and rushing offense (39.9 yards per contest). 2015 PERSONNEL OVERVIEW: Nine start- ers return on offense and seven on defense, plus the punter and kicker. Last year its top quarterback (John Wolford), running back (Dezmond Wortham) and pass catcher (tight end Cam Serigne) were either true or red- shirt freshmen. Defensively, it's a more veteran cast led by strong safety Ryan Janvion and linebacker Brandon Chubb, the top two tacklers. SUMMARY: Nobody can win averaging 14.8 points per game like Wake For- est did. Climbing out of the ACC cellar will remain a challenge, although the Demon Deacons also will have an extra week of preparation for the Irish. 12. MASSACHUSETTS (3-9) REVIEWING 2014: Notre Dame joins USC and UCLA as the only three FBS schools that have not played a team from the Football Championship Series (formerly Division I-AA). This is about as close as it comes, though, with the Minute- men only in their fourth year after a 5-31 start. Mark Whipple is in his second season as head coach. 2015 PERSONNEL OVERVIEW: Nine start- ers apiece return on both offense and defense plus the kicker, but All-Mid- American Conference tight end Jean Sifrin turned pro after his junior year. The pass-oriented attack returns all five starting offensive linemen. Head- lining the defense is linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox, who paced the unit in several categories — including tackles (143). SUMMARY: It might be the proverbial trap game because it comes between Orange Bowl winner Georgia Tech at home Sept. 19 and the trip to Death Valley in Clemson Oct. 3. Yet even on a flat day this is a contest the Irish should win handily, similar to the 48- 17 opener versus Rice last season. ✦