We certainly didn’t expect to be here two weeks into the season but here we are. Notre Dame is 0-2, is fresh off getting pushed around by Marshall, and is an 11 point favorite against a 2-0 Cal team despite averaging just 15.5 points per game to date.
Oh, and Notre Dame is now playing with their backup quarterback who is a junior but has completed 20 of 39 career pass attempts and thrown all of three touchdowns in his time.
“The pilot has turned on the fasten seatbelts sign. Please return to your seats as we’ll be experiencing (more) turbulence.”
So what happens against Cal? Does Notre Dame change the narrative of the 2022 season and get in the win column? Or does Cal come to Notre Dame Stadium and shove the Irish around on both lines of scrimmage like Marshall did last Saturday?
Here is what the Fighting Irish Wire staff sees happening Saturday:
Jeff Feyerer (1-1):
Blink twice and everything we thought this season was going to be has changed. This was never going to be easy. This was never going to be a title team. I just didn’t expect we’d be at 0-2 without a starting quarterback. Granted, my concern from the start was Tyler Buchner’s ability to stay healthy. Drew Pyne has proven in moments he can rally the troops and this Irish team is far more talented than the Cal Bears. At home, I expect Freeman to help his squad bounce back from a demoralizing loss to Marshall. I expect the run game to explode and the defense to lead the way. I’m choosing to remain optimistic, but realize, I may be asking too much. This is not an 0-3 team. And I don’t anticipate that will be the case on Saturday.