No. 16 Notre Dame Beats Stanford: 5 Quick Thoughts

The 2019 regular season comes to an end and 10-2 ends up the final record and along with it come some different feelings than we’d probably have expected had most of us been told 10 wins was happening back in August

It wasn’t the prettiest of starts but Notre Dame settled down impressively well, specifically after a blocked punt late in the first half that set up a touchdown to draw the Irish within a 17-14 deficit.

Shortly after Chase Claypool and Ian Book did what they’ve done so well together this year and gave the Irish their first lead of the game, 21-17 just before halftime.

From there the ball just rolled for the Irish who walked out with their tenth win of the season and first win at Stanford since all the way back in 2007.

The 2019 regular season has come to an end and in all likelihood a date in the Camping World Bowl awaits.  Here are your five instant thoughts from Notre Dame’s 45-24 victory at Stanford.

First up – More praise for Clark Lea

No. 16 Notre Dame/Stanford: First Half Thoughts

Mercy, what a start and not in a good way. Don’t know if it was too much wine with the turkey or what but the first roughly 25 minutes or so were about as flat as a team trying to give any reason to get elevated in the CFP rankings could look. A …

Mercy, what a start and not in a good way. Don’t know if it was too much wine with the turkey or what but the first roughly 25 minutes or so were about as flat as a team trying to give any reason to get elevated in the CFP rankings could look.

A blocked punt while trailing 17-7, capped by a quick touchdown from Ian Book to Tommy Tremble bailed out an offensive line who was unable to help punch it in from the one before false starting.

The touchdown pass to Tremble was an incredible throw by Book, one he made while moving away.

The then 41 yard touchdown pass from Book to Chase Claypool put the Irish ahead for the first time today. Claypool took a while to find his feet at Notre Dame but is an absolute beast of a playmaker who is going to be missed next season.

5 First Half Thoughts:

Stanford might be young and bad at 4-7 but this game clearly means something to them. They came out guns a blazing while the Irish needed 25 minutes to get warmed up it appeared.

If it ain’t Lenzy, it ain’t working in the running game. I know the offensive line is beat up and regulars are and have been out for sometime but even on a sloppy track I expected a lot more out of the run game early today.

Notre Dame’s pass defense entered today as the third most efficient unit in the nation but don’t tell that to Stanford. Have been impressed largely by Davis Mills, specifically his willingness to stay in the pocket, deliver a strike while knowing a huge hit was coming on the second Cardinal touchdown of the day.

Defensive line took this game over the last few Stanford possessions. Tell me how they play the rest of the way and I’ll tell you if Notre Dame wins and/or covers.

Notre Dame has had better special teams the majority of this season than its opponents. The blocked punt was huge in waking up the Irish but that’s something that has felt like a rarity during the Brian Kelly era and deserves praise again early today.

Enjoy the second half.

No. 16 Notre Dame A Massive Favorite Over Stanford

Stanford will be done for the year following Saturday, failing to go to a bowl game for the first time since 2008 which was Jim Harbaugh’s second year with the Cardinal.

Two teams headed in opposite directions will meet late Saturday afternoon in California as 4-7 Stanford plays host to No. 16 Notre Dame.

A win would give Notre Dame their third straight 10-win season, something they haven’t accomplished three seasons in a row since between 1991 and 1993.

Stanford will be done for the year following Saturday, failing to go to a bowl game for the first time since 2008 which was Jim Harbaugh’s second year with the Cardinal.

Notre Dame has not won at Stanford since 2007 while Brian Kelly is 0-5 all-time in Palo Alto, California.  Despite that Notre Dame is a huge favorite against the struggling Cardinal on Saturday, currently sitting as a 16.5 point road-favorite.

Odds via BetMGM. Access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated 11/18 at 2:09 p.m. ET.

Notre Dame marched to victory over Stanford last year 38-17 but has not won comfortably at Stanford since 2003 when a 57-7 win led by Tyrone Willingham finished Notre Dame’s 5-7 campaign.

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Stanford A Decade Long House of Horrors for Notre Dame

There haven’t been many more painful losses in Brian Kelly’s now ten-year run than what happened to conclude the 2015 regular season.

Forget that.

There haven’t been many more painful losses for Notre Dame in the almost 30 years I’ve been watching as the regular season finale in 2015 was.

The Notre Dame versus Stanford rivalry for The Legends Trophy has had some iconic moments for Notre Dame.

The Goal Line Stand in 2012:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpK7QUG3cbE&w=560&h=315]

Ben Koyack in 2014:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDUvS88s_cY&w=560&h=315]

Dexter Williams 2018 Debut:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZLXify02xY&w=560&h=315]

Unfortunately for Notre Dame these moments have been few and far between in odd-numbered years, when the Irish finish their regular season on the west-coast.

Notre Dame leads the all-time series against Stanford 19-13 (2012 being vacated) but hasn’t won at Stanford since the forgettable 2007 campaign that came to forgiving end with a rather forgettable 21-14 win at Stanford.

We’ve got all week still to get set for a regular season conclusion at Stanford, who has been incredibly disappointing this season, but let’s take a quick moment to look back on the five-straight Notre Dame has lost at Stanford, a trend they hope to finally end in the Brian Kelly era this Saturday.

First up:  2009 – Charlie’s Last Stand

No. 16 Notre Dame Blasts Boston College: A Few Good Numbers

Kmet’s sixth touchdown reception of the year also joined him with Ken MacAfee for the school record for most in a single season by a tight end.

40-7 has a good ring to it as Notre Dame routed Boston College and moved to 9-2 on the year. In our Five Instant Thoughts piece after the game we discussed some of the bizarreness in terms of Notre Dame’s incredibly evenly disturbed offensive production.

What other numbers are worth taking a second look at after the blowout victory.

Cole Kmet:

Became the tenth tight end in Notre Dame history with 400 or more receiving yards in a single season and the first to do so since Troy Niklas in 2013.

Kmet’s sixth touchdown reception of the year also joined him with Ken MacAfee for the school record for most in a single season by a tight end.

Chase Claypool:

Claypool’s touchdown reception against Boston College was his tenth of the season and sixteenth for his career. No player has reached the 10-plus touchdown reception mark since Will Fuller in 2015, while his latest touchdown reception tied him with Jim Seymour for the tenth-most by a receiver in Notre Dame history.

Going Streaking:

In completing their second-straight undefeated home season the Irish are now winners of their last 18 home contests. It marks the first time since the 1988-89 seasons that Notre Dame went unbeaten at home in consecutive seasons.

With Saturday’s 40-7 win over Boston College the Irish won their third straight game by 30 or more points for the first time since 1989 when they beat up Pitt, Navy and SMU in consecutive games.

Notre Dame: 2022 Running Back Leaves with Offer

Class of 2022 running back Nicholas Singleton of Reading, Pennsylvania was on campus for Saturday’s 40-7 win over Boston College and walked away from his visit with a little more than just a t-shirt from the bookstore. Singleton, listed as 5’11” and …

Class of 2022 running back Nicholas Singleton of Reading, Pennsylvania was on campus for Saturday’s 40-7 win over Boston College and walked away from his visit with a little more than just a t-shirt from the bookstore.

Singleton, listed as 5’11” and 195 pounds walked out of his visit with an official scholarship offer.

Singleton also made an unofficial visit to campus for the USC game back in October.  The Notre Dame offer is the eighth he’s listed as receiving, joining Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and William & Mary.

 

No. 16 Notre Dame Blasts Boston College: 5 Instant Thoughts

Hamilton went from a relative-unknown as a recruit as little as 14 or so months ago.  By the time he actually enrolled in school some outlets had him as Notre Dame’s highest ranked recruit in the class and his instant-impact isn’t going unnoticed.

 

Although the first half was closer than most would like, the final score was a rout as No. 16 Notre Dame improved to 9-2 on the season as they beat up Boston College, 40-7, as four scores, three being field goals in the first half turned into four scores with three being touchdowns instead in the second.

The win completes a second-straight undefeated season at Notre Dame Stadium and gives the Irish a great chance at their third 10-win season in a row, something that hasn’t been done since 1991-93.

No. 1: Domination on Defense

No. 16 Notre Dame/Boston College: Keys & Predictions

Notre Dame lost four times alone on their home field in 2016. Since then they’ve lost only six times total and only once one their home field, that coming against eventual national runner-up Georgia in 2017.

No. 16 Notre Dame welcomes Boston College this weekend as Senior Day is upon us. It’s not a perfect formula seeing as plenty from the 2016 recruiting class have a year of eligibility remaining and will be back next season but take this into consideration as many will play their final game at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday:

Notre Dame lost four times alone on their home field in 2016. Since then they’ve lost only six times total and only once one their home field, that coming against eventual national runner-up Georgia in 2017.

I know that ultimate goal of another appearance in the College Football Playoff isn’t attainable but an unbeaten November for a program that has had their issues late in seasons to play hard and play well through the end is worthy of some praise, although not everything.

So how do the Irish avoid coming out flat in their final home game of 2019 and walk out victorious while preferably not hopefully not having things get overly interesting late?

Keys:

Offense:

Jeff:

Things probably aren’t going to come as easy as they did last week but I thought the diversity of the play calling last week from Chip Long was on point. Continue to use the skill sets of these young receivers like Keys and Lenzy and build their confidence. If all else fails, throw it to Claypool 🙂

Nick:

Boston College gets thrown all over all the time. Ian Book has looked very good since the last two drives against Virginia Tech, keep that rolling today and hang a big number.

Defense:

Jeff:

Stop AJ Dillon. Make BC work through the air. It’s really that simple to me. Dillon is one of the toughest players in the country to bring down and there’s no doubt the Irish have struggled against running games that can at least throw the ball a little. I’m looking at you Navy. 

Nick:

Contain the running game. AJ Dillion is great and he’s a threat in their pass game as well but David Bailey is solid too, assuming he ends up playing Saturday. Michigan made you look a fool while you went and just did the same to Navy – now take care of business against BC’s rushing attacking.

Predictions:

Jeff: Notre Dame 38, Boston College 17

Nick: Notre Dame 34, Boston College 20

Notre Dame Bowl Projections: New Years Six Chances Improving?

So what does the blowout victory win and ultimately more importantly, what does this week’s No. 16 ranking matter for where Notre Dame will be headed this post-season?  

No. 16 Notre Dame had one of their best wins of the season last Saturday as they put a beating on previously 23rd ranked Navy and moved to 8-2 in the process.

Notre Dame didn’t move up in the College Football Playoff rankings despite Auburn having their third loss of the season, this one coming on their home field.  As much as it stings Fighting Irish fans, as we discussed earlier this week, the Irish have nobody to blame for that but themselves.

So what does the blowout victory win and ultimately more importantly, what does this week’s No. 16 ranking matter for where Notre Dame will be headed this post-season?

Knowing that last week only one of the eight experts we track had Notre Dame headed to a New Years Six Bowl Game, you may be pleasantly surprised what this weeks projections have for the Irish.

Notre Dame Bowl Projections:

How Do You Build the All-Time Greatest Notre Dame Receiver?

I’ve only been contributing to the Irish Wire for a short time, but in that time, I feel like I’ve used it as a forum to serve as President of Chase Claypool’s fan club. And guess what? I’m ok with that! But during the course of our frequent …

I’ve only been contributing to the Irish Wire for a short time, but in that time, I feel like I’ve used it as a forum to serve as President of Chase Claypool’s fan club. And guess what? I’m ok with that!

But during the course of our frequent exchange of e-mails and direct messages, Irish Wire Grand Poobah Nick Shepkowski brought up the idea for the following: How would you build your perfect Notre Dame wide receiver?  He says it was because of something Golden Tate tweeted in regards to Claypool earlier this week.

Me, being the sucker for any article idea with historical context, started mapping out my ultimate pass-catcher. A few rules before we get started on my list. First, each player can only be used once for the various characteristics. Of course some of these guys could be on there for various things, but we’re trying to spread the love. Next, my own historical reference dates back to right around 1990. Sorry Tim Brown, Tom Gatewood and Jack Snow fans. Finally, this is my list. I’m not going to pretend like I know everything. I welcome the debate. Now, on with the construction.

We start with my most important trait for a wide receiver. 

First up: Best Hands