Tag: BYU

Twitter reacts to Notre Dame’s Jayden Thomas’ first college touchdown

That was pretty impressive.

If you don’t know much about [autotag]Jayden Thomas[/autotag], don’t feel too bad. He had minimal playing time during his freshman year at Notre Dame, and even with more opportunities as a sophomore, he hasn’t done a lot to turn heads. However, you definitely will want to know more about him now after this amazing 30-yard touchdown catch late in the first half against BYU:

That wasn’t your typical long touchdown reception. Thomas had to battle with a defender on him to secure that ball and run toward the end zone only a few yards away. If this is the beginning of what will be a fine rest of his Irish career, Irish fans undoubtedly will be anxious to see what comes next for him. In the meantime, some of them took to Twitter to react to a touchdown catch that many will be replaying over and over for the next week:

Twitter reacts to Notre Dame safety against BYU

You loved this, right?

If you’ve been watching the first half of Notre Dame’s Shamrock Series game against BYU, you would think the wrong team is ranked. While the Irish haven’t had a perfect game against the Cougars to this point, they’ve made one devastating play after another. Perhaps the biggest such moment came in the form of a [autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag] safety immediately after the Irish had a turnover on downs:

The Irish came into this game with the clear advantage in time of possession, and that is playing a factor right now. The defense mostly has done a terrific job holding its own, and it’s limiting offensive opportunities for the Cougars. If the Irish win this game, you could argue that game balls should be split evenly among [autotag]Al Golden[/autotag]’s entire unit.

Here are some folks who took to Twitter to react what might be the Irish’s biggest defensive moment so far this season:

Twitter reacts to Michael Mayer scoring Notre Dame’s first touchdown

Is this dude good or what?

Everyone knew going into the season that [autotag]Michael Mayer[/autotag] was the one Notre Dame offensive skills player you couldn’t sleep on. To this point, Mayer mostly has lived up to that reputation. However, he has been announcing his presence early and often in the first half against BYU. He had one big catch on third down, and he ended that drive by doing this:

As you can see from the tweet, that touchdown did more than only give the Irish the lead. That tight end receptions record previously was held by [autotag]Tyler Eifert[/autotag]. It’s probable Eifert knew his record was in danger for some time now, but records are made to be broken.

Irish fans and scribes undoubtedly remember Eifert well, but Mayer is in the here and now, and some of them took to Twitter to express their appreciation for this special kid. Here are a few of the things they had to say:

Twitter reacts to Notre Dame’s Shamrock Series uniforms

How do you like the unis?

Real Notre Dame fans have known about this year’s Shamrock Series uniforms for a while now. However, there is a difference between seeing a preview of them and actually seeing them in a game. Many college football fans probably didn’t see these uniforms before they tuned into NBC or Peacock for the game against BYU. That has to be believed after seeing these mixed reactions on Twitter:

Chargers 2023 NFL draft watch: Prospects to watch for Week 6

A look at a handful of prospects that could be on the Chargers’ radar in Week 6.

The sixth week of college football is here, which means we are back with another edition of the Scouting Notebook.

The Scouting Notebook will feature prospects to watch throughout the day. While some may think it’s too early to start talking about the 2023 NFL draft, there’s never a bad time to talk about the future of the Chargers.

Let’s dive in.

Texas @ Oklahoma

The annual Red River Showdown will have its fair share of NFL prospects, as it always does. Oklahoma left tackle Anton Harrison has played well this season, perhaps launching his draft stock outside a range where Los Angeles would feel comfortable pulling the trigger. Right tackle Wanya Morris, however, is a Chargers possibility if Trey Pipkins can’t continue his early-season momentum. Wide receiver Marvin Mims is a likely 4.4s sprinter who could fill the role of a deep threat.

On the Texas side, national attention will be on running back Bijan Robinson, a likely top-ten pick and someone worth watching as a potential opponent scouting report. Los Angeles will likely focus more on players like linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, a slim 224 lb linebacker with smooth coverage skills. The Longhorns also have a plethora of late-round style defensive linemen and corner/kick returner D’Shawn Jamison.

Utah @ UCLA

Tight end Brant Kuithe tore his ACL at the end of September, but Utah still has another very good player at the position in Dalton Kincaid, an all-around tight end who’s a slightly better receiver than blocker. Cornerback Clark Phillips III is a defensive back Brandon Staley will love, but whether Los Angeles is willing to spend a first-round pick on the position with how Asante Samuel Jr. has performed, plus the money tied up in J.C. Jackson, is an interesting question. Quarterback Cameron Rising is a solid decision-maker who could be a nice backup to Justin Herbert.

Speaking of potential backup QBs, I think Dorian Thompson-Robinson will likely be drafted, given his development this season. The Chargers seem to like having a playmaker-style QB on the roster, given Easton Stick’s tenure with the team, making DTR an intriguing name to keep an eye on. Wide receiver Jake Bobo is coming off his best game as a Bruin and brings a fascinating blend of route running and size that may be worth a Day 3 pick. Guard Jon Gaines is a Senior Bowl watchlist member and potential swing guard if Jamaree Salyer moves into more of an everyman role next season.

Washington State @ USC

Sticking in the Pac-12, the Cougars have a nice team gelling early this season. Quarterback Cameron Ward is likely outside the Chargers’ range, but he’s someone worth keeping an eye on. Left tackle Jarrett Kingston is another potential target as a guard revert after playing on the interior early in his college career. Defense is where this team shines, though, led by pass rusher Brennan Jackson, a 255-pounder on the Senior Bowl watchlist who profiles as a late-round pick. Linebacker Daiyan Henley was a multi-time All-Mountain West selection at Nevada before transferring to Pullman and could be another name on the radar for LA.

Down the street from SoFi Stadium, USC has guys you probably already know all about. Jordan Addison is the headliner. Last year’s Biletnikoff winner is probably only a realistic option if the Chargers severely disappoint this season, but it’s worth keeping an eye on and fantasizing about here and there. Guard Andrew Vorhees might be one of the top interior linemen in the draft but needs to work on his hand usage and keeping his upper and lower bodies in sync. Corner Mekhi Blackmon is one of the few interesting prospects on an Alex Grinch defense that plays like, well, an Alex Grinch defense.

BYU vs. Notre Dame

Jaren Hall leads the Cougars into a neutral site game with Notre Dame as one of the 2023 QBs gaining the most draft steam, but it’s perhaps worth noting that he’ll be 25 in March. Do the Chargers want a paradoxically seasoned rookie behind Herbert? Tight end Isaac Rex has been on my radar for a while now, and it’ll be interesting to see what kind of impact he makes against the Irish. Left tackle Blake Freeland is another popular player in media circles, which could carry him out of LA’s range. BYU also has a trio of linebackers worth watching: Keenan Pili, Max Tooley, and Payton Wilgar.

Notre Dame has had its ups and downs in Marcus Freeman’s first season, but there’s still an abundance of talent on their roster. Tight end Michael Mayer has been heralded as this season’s top man at the position as a classic Midwestern-style player, but I’m not sure that’s what Los Angeles wants at the position. Jarrett Patterson might be this draft’s top center and could be a plug-and-play replacement for Corey Linsley as the latter continues to age. We know Tom Telesco loves his Fighting Irish defenders, and all powder blue-tinted eyes should be focused on edge rusher Isaiah Foskey. Perhaps a bit of a luxury pick with Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, and Chris Rumph under contract, Foskey is an absurdly explosive rusher with adequate bend and mass (260 lbs) to hang tough in the run game.

WR Nathaniel “Tank” Dell, Houston

The Chargers experienced early in the season the offensive woes of playing without star wide receiver Keenan Allen. The team needs the proper depth to keep Justin Herbert firing on all cylinders. Tank Dell has great vision in the open field and big plays are naturally magnetic to him. The explosive 5-10, 165-pound receiver understands what it means to be a target hog – Dell has 43 catches, 534 yards, and six touchdowns in six games.

LB Drake Thomas, North Carolina State

The Chargers are doing fine against the run this season with the league’s 14th-best unit and averaging 125.0 yards per game to opposing ball carriers. However, there has been a run of 50 or more yards in each of the last three weeks. Each one has been along the perimeter of the front seven. Drake Thomas, a fourth-year junior for North Carolina State, is a reliable tackler with an 82.2 PFF grade against the run last year. Thomas has 32 tackles this season and is a large reason for the Wolfpack’s No. 14 ranking in the AP Top 25 poll.

ESPN’s College GameDay makes their picks, including Notre Dame vs BYU

Who do you think wins the big games today?

For the first time in College GameDay history, the crew of host Chris Fowler and analysts Desmond Howard, David Pollack, Kirk Herbstreit, and Pat McAfee  traveled down to Lawrence, Kansas as the undefeated Jayhawks host TCU in a top 25 matchup. They were joined by comedian and  Kansas alum Rob Riggle to make their picks for today’s slate of games. Find out below who Howard, Herbstreit, McAfee, and Riggle select to come out on top this Saturday.

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Let’s get wild week 6: Statistical predictions for Notre Dame vs. BYU

Who fills up the stat sheet for the Irish this week?

The Irish are finally back and have now traveled to Las Vegas to play host to BYU in Allegiant Stadium. Their home away from home isn’t the most ideal city, but as we will see by their uniforms, and hopefully the crowd, the Irish will in fact be the home squad. With that they should have a solid evening on the field and here a a few statistical guesses as to how that will unfold.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Mike on Twitter: @MikeFChen

How to watch Shamrock Series: Notre Dame vs. BYU

All your viewing information

Notre Dame is usually the easiest college football team to find on TV as its  home games are always on NBC (unless Peacock gets in the way … insert eyeroll emoji) and the vast majority of its road games are easily accessible.

This week is easy, even though the Irish are “home” they will be on their home network this evening.

Here are the viewing notes:

  • Game Day: Oct. 8th, 2022
  • Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. ET
  • TV: NBC
  • Streaming: Peacock
  • Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada

Have fun tonight and go Irish!

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Mike on Twitter: @MikeFChen

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Notre Dame vs BYU Prediction, Game Preview

Notre Dame vs BYU game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Week 6 game on Saturday, October 8

Notre Dame vs BYU prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 6, Saturday, October 8

Notre Dame vs BYU How To Watch

Date: Saturday, October 8
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
How To Watch: NBC/Peacock
Record: Notre Dame (2-2), BYU (4-1)
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College Football Week 5 Roundup
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Notre Dame vs BYU Game Preview

Why BYU Will Win

This is where the lines have to kick in.

The BYU ground game has been fine. It hasn’t been anything amazing since rolling on USF like everyone does, but it’s been … fine. The passing game has been strong, the offense is working, but this is when this program tends to step up and shine with steady play up front.

Don’t get into a twist over the 41-20 loss at Oregon – that might be the best team in the Pac-12 – and don’t be too concerned about the lackluster performances against Wyoming and Utah State.

The defense line won’t get gouged, and the offensive line should hold up and get just enough out of the running game to matter.

The Cougars don’t turn the ball over, the secondary has been terrific, and Notre Dame’s offense – while improved – is still nothing to worry about.

The Irish aren’t running on BYU like they did against North Carolina.

Back to the turnover thing, Notre Dame has generated one more turnover this season than you have.

However …

– NFL Expert Picks, Week 5

Why Notre Dame Will Win

Are the BYU lines really playing that well?

The run defense hasn’t been anything consistently amazing, and the pass rush hasn’t been there. There’s talent and depth, and size isn’t an issue, but the line has been a bit hit-or-miss.

The offensive front personnel-wise is among the best BYU has had in years, but the pass protection has been just okay and the running game hasn’t blasted away against anyone but USF and Wyoming.

On the other side, the Notre Dame defensive front has picked it up.

It was good enough against Ohio State – that 21-10 loss now looks far, far better than it did at the time – and the pass rush should be enough to bother BYU QB Jaren Hall and make him rush just a wee bit.

Offensively, yeah, Notre Dame is better than it was over the first two weeks. Drew Pyne is getting things moving, the ground game went off on North Carolina, and BYU’s secondary might have a few problems.

Pyne is hitting over 70% of his throws over the last two games. BYU’s defense is solid overall, but the pass defense struggled against Oregon’s Bo Nix and allowed too many short-range passes to Baylor’s Blake Shapen.

– Schedules, Previews College | NFL

What’s Going To Happen

It’s going to be a fun game.

Notre Dame stepped up the smack with a fun offseason “The Hangover” themed video, and now it needs to back it up with a win to get the season rolling.

The 0-2 start was a killer, but win this, and with Stanford and UNLV up next the team will be on a run before dealing with Syracuse on the road and Clemson at home.

BYU needs this with Arkansas up next, but if it can win impressively and take down the Hogs in Provo, look out – it might be smooth sailing the rest of the way for an 11-1 season.

Can the BYU defense that showed up in the win over Baylor get it done against an Irish attack with two weeks off to rest up? Yeah, and this is where Hall becomes more of a national name.

Notre Dame will have its chances, but Hall will be solid on third downs with an efficient day to pull this off.

– CFN Expert Picks, Week 6

Notre Dame vs BYU Prediction, Line

BYU 27, Notre Dame 23
Line: Notre Dame -3.5, o/u: 51
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Notre Dame vs BYU Must See Rating (out of 5): 4
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Notre Dame football: Shamrock Series vs. BYU a red-hot ticket

How much would you pay to get into this one?

Notre Dame football has never played a game inside the state of Nevada let alone in Las Vegas, a place seen as off-limits to so many in the sports world until the last decade or so.  As you know they take on No. 16 BYU on Saturday night in the home of the Las Vegas Raiders, Allegiant Stadium.

Just how hard of a ticket is it to get into Notre Dame-BYU this weekend?  According to Vivid Seats, it’s the fourth-highest average priced ticket for a college game this weekend at $310 per.

Ranking ahead of it for this week are Auburn at Georgia ($371), Texas A&M at Alabama ($410), and Oklahoma vs. Texas in the Red River Showdown ($439).  Tennessee’s late-morning start at LSU checks in fifth at $202.

The $310 average ticket price for the 2022 Shamrock Series game makes it the second-highest priced average ticket in series history according to Vivid Seats.  Check out the entire top-five below.