Notre Dame gets running back back for Cincinnati showdown

How much will this addition help going forward?

Notre Dame has scratched and clawed its way to a 4-0 start this fall but awaiting them will be perhaps the toughest foe of the 2021 campaign in the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Cincinnati makes their first trip to Notre Dame Stadium this Saturday and is listed as a slight favorite over the Irish.  Notre Dame will be getting and addition to its roster Saturday though as veteran running back C’Bo Flemister is set to make his season debut.

Flemister missed the first four games of the season and was involved in an overnight car accident back in the spring, but Brian Kelly made it clear that he’ll be available to play versus the Bearcats.

Flemister ran 58 times for 299 yards and five touchdowns as the third running back on the depth chart last season.

Notre Dame has averaged just 2.3 yards per carry through the first four games of 2021.

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Notre Dame at Pittsburgh: Third-Quarter Analysis

The third quarter between Notre Dame and Pittsburgh saw the Irish kick it into even higher gear.

The third quarter between Notre Dame and Pittsburgh saw the Irish kick it into even higher gear. They’re holding onto the ball for extended and/or productive periods, and the Panthers either can’t get anything going with the ball or even hold onto it. So it only makes sense that we have a 45-3 Irish lead going into the fourth.

Notre Dame’s defense is living up to its reputation of keeping points off the scoreboard. The unit is well-rested thanks to doing its job quickly and efficiently. We’ve even seen interceptions from Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Nick McCloud, the first of their respective collegiate careers. Owusu-Koramoah, widely seen as the unit’s best player, has made little impact for much of the afternoon, but at least he finally has that first pick out of the way.

The Notre Dame offense had a lengthy first possession of the second half, highlighted by a 41-yard pass from Ian Book to Javon McKinley. Though the drive stalled out at the Pitt 2-yard line, Jonathan Doerer salvaged the drive with a 21-yard field goal. The next time the Irish had the ball, Kyren Williams tried to throw a touchdown pass to Tommy Tremble from 27 yards out, which was unsuccessful but became a positive anyway after a defensive holding call against the Panthers. Two plays later, Book threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Michael Mayer, who had a 23-yard reception earlier in the drive.

That second drive of the half was made possible by Owusu-Koramoah’s interception. McCloud set up the third, this time with a short field at the Panthers 35. This one saw Avery Davis record a 21-yard reception that was added onto after a roughing the passer call. With C’Bo Flemister’s 2-yard touchdown run coming soon after, the rout definitely is on at Heinz Field.