Duke at Notre Dame Gameday Open Thread

Duke opens the 2020 football season at 2:30 in South Bend against No. 10 Notre Dame.

The Blue Devils won in their last trip to South Bend, in 2016, when Daniel Jones led a 38-35 victory. Last season, in Durham, the Irish rolled to a 38-7 victory.

This will be the first Duke start—and first college start—for quarterback Chase Brice, who was a graduate transfer from Clemson over the offseason, where he backed up Heisman Trophy candidate Trevor Lawrence. Brice won the quarterback job over last year’s backup, Chris Katrenick, and Gunnar Holmberg, returning from a knee injury that kept him out all last year.

Brice’s top job will be keeping the offense on the field, something that plagued the Blue Devils last year, when the offense would have long strings of three-and-out drives, including four straight in the first half against the Irish, as Notre Dame built a big lead.

In addition to a new quarterback, the offense has a new coordinator, as head coach David Cutcliffe decided to take on that responsibility and will be calling plays from the sideline.

Duke’s defense will be led by a pair of elite edge rushers in Chris Rumph II and Victor Dimukeje. The secondary is deep and experienced, as last year’s starting cornerbacks—Leonard Johnson and Josh Blackwell—are joined by former All-ACC corner Mark Gilbert, who returns after missing most of the last two years with a hip injury.

The Irish return their entire offensive line and quarterback Ian Book, who rushed for 100 yards against Duke last year. Notre Dame also gets back much of its defensive front.

This will also be the first conference game in Notre Dame’s football history, as the Irish have joined the ACC for this season to facilitate scheduling during the pandemic.

According to NBC, Duke took six buses to the stadium, so they could socially distance: 26 people per bus.

Duke gets the ball first. Philyaw-Johnson decides to take it out of the end zone, which was a mistake. Duke starts on the 15

Duke wearing white jersey, pants and shoes. Blue helmets with black logo, which is an interesting look

Brice to Pancol for 56 yards puts Duke in the red zone.

Two runs and a Brice incompletion and the Blue Devils settle for a Ham field goal, his first in college. Up early, 3-0.

Casey Holman struggling at left tackle. Brice has been hit twice by his man. And on the next play, Duke moves the tight end to that side to help out.

After three straight three-and-outs, a special teams fake sparks Notre Dame's offense. A 96-yard drive gives the Irish the lead, 7-3.

Brice to Pancol is definitely clicking. Duke marches down field but the drive stalls in the red zone again. Another field goal cuts the deficit to 7-6.

Second half starts in a steady rain with the Irish up 10-6. Coach Cut was frustrated at red zone struggles, he pointed out that Duke ran 10 more plays in the first half. He hopes to be fresher late.

Duke continues wasting opportunities. Jason Calhoun loses a fumble. Irish on the move.

As good teams do, Irish make Duke pay. Williams runs 26 yards on fourth & 1 to go up 17-6

Chase Brice hits Noah Gray behind the defense to get inside the five, then keeps it himself to score. Cuts deficit to 17-13

Cutcliffe wanted to get Notre Dame into deep water, but as the fourth quarter wears on, it appears the Irish are the ones swimming. Blue Devils have struggled with cramps, as Josh Blackwell goes down.

Irish scored on a workmanlike drive, then shut down Duke's offense. Lead is now 24-13.

Chase Brice looking like an out-of-control train car in an old Western movie on that last run, but he picks up 23 yards to keep a last-ditch drive going.

Brice with what appears to be an unforced fumble. Just lost his grip as he was throwing. Irish takes over with 2:51 left, up by 14.

The Irish run out the clock to take a season-opening 27-13 win over Duke.

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