Notre Dame Opponent Roundup: Week 4 Edition

Week 4 was loaded on paper with six matchups between ranked teams on the docket and it didn’t fail to disappoint. Florida State notched a huge victory over Clemson on the road, Alabama took a step back toward stability, the Colorado hype train derailed in Eugene, and Ohio State outlasted Notre Dame in the nightcap in a heartbreaking setback for the Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame’s opponents had an up-and-down week, with an overall record of 5-4 (not counting Ohio State’s win). The next few weeks are setting up to be the toughest stretch of the season for the Irish, as Duke, Louisville, and USC all won to stay undefeated. However, the last third of the schedule appears much softer than it appeared in the preseason, as Pitt, Clemson, Wake Forest, and Stanford all have serious flaws.

Notre Dame Opponent Overall Record: 31-15

Let’s take a look at the Week 4 action for Notre Dame opponents.

NAVY MIDSHIPMEN

Record: 1-2
Week 4 Result: Bye

Recap: The Midshipmen return to action on September 30th against South Florida.

TENNESSEE STATE TIGERS

Record: 2-1
Week 4 Result: Bye

Recap: The Tigers return to action on September 30th at UT Martin.

NC STATE WOLFPACK

Record: 3-1
Week 4 Result: Won 24-21 at Virginia

Recap: In QB Brennan Armstong’s return to Virginia, he threw two touchdown passes and K Brayden Narveson nailed the game-winning field goal as time expired. The Cavaliers tied it up at 21 with just 36 seconds remaining in a wild sequence that saw them convert their two-point conversion from the 18-yard line, but a personal foul penalty gave NC State great field position on the final drive. However, Narveson’s first attempt was blocked, but another personal foul gave him a second chance, which he nailed from 33 yards out. The Wolfpack host unbeaten Louisville on Friday night in Raleigh.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS

Record: 2-2
Week 4 Result: Won 34-30 at South Alabama

Recap: Central Michigan notched an impressive road victory over a South Alabama team that earlier this year won on the road at Oklahoma State. The Chippewas overcame a 14-point first-half deficit to take a 10-point fourth quarter lead, but the Jaguars scored back-to-back touchdowns to lead 30-27 with 2:42 remaining. QB Jase Bauers led an 11-play, 75-yard drive to regain the lead, punching it in with a 4-yard run of his own with just 13 seconds remaining. For the game, Bauers threw for 224 yards and a score while also running for 55 yards and 4 touchdowns.

DUKE BLUE DEVILS

Record: 4-0
Week 4 Result: Won 41-7 at UConn

Recap: Duke continued its impressive start to the season with a 41-7 victory over a pesky UConn team. QB Riley Leonard had 278 total yards and 2 touchdowns, and a Blue Devil defense that has only allowed 35 points on the season held the Huskies to just 203 total yards and also returned a fumble for score. Duke hosts Notre Dame next week in prime time in the biggest game in modern school history.

LOUISVILLE CARDINALS

Record: 4-0
Week 4 Result: Won 56-28 vs. Boston College

Recap: The Cardinals rolled to a big win over a Boston College team that had Florida State on the ropes last weekend behind 388 yards passing and 6 total touchdowns from QB Jack Plummer. RB Jawhar Jordan also added 134 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns for a team that has a real chance to be a factor in the ACC race. The Cardinals avoid both Florida State and Clemson in ACC play and get Duke at home. Next on the schedule is a Friday night showdown against NC State in Raleigh before hosting Notre Dame on October 7th.

SOUTHERN CAL TROJANS

Record: 4-0
Week 4 Result: Won 42-28 at Arizona State

Recap: Caleb Williams and USC picked up a closer-than-expected victory against Drew Pyne and Arizona State on Saturday night. Williams threw for 322 yards and accounted for 5 touchdowns, RB MarShawn Lloyd rushed for 154 yards, and WR Brendan Rice had 7 catches for 133 yards and 2 scores. However, the Trojan defense never allowed USC to put this game away, and Arizona State trailed by just a touchdown well into the fourth quarter. The offense will keep USC in any game, but unless this defense improves, it’s tough to see USC getting through matchups with a loaded Pac-12 and Notre Dame unscathed. Next up for the Trojans is a road trip to Colorado, and though the Trojans will be heavily favored, they better bring their defense.

PITTSBURGH PANTHERS

Record: 1-3
Week 4 Result: Lost 41-24 vs. North Carolina

Recap: The Panthers fell to 1-3 on the season with a 41-24 loss to North Carolina at home and have a full-on problem at quarterback. Phil Jurkovec was playing better before getting knocked out of the game in the second quarter on a targeting penalty, and backup Christian Veilleux threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. The Panthers will aim to right the ship with a road trip to Virginia Tech before a bye week offers a chance to reset.

CLEMSON TIGERS

Record: 2-2
Week 4 Result: Lost 31-24 vs. Florida State (OT)

Recap: Clemson played arguably its best game of the season but let it slip away against a gutsy Florida State team. The Tigers took a 24-17 lead on a Will Shipley touchdown run with 3:32 left in the third quarter and then stopped Florida State on the ensuing possession. With the ball and the chance to ice the game, QB Cade Klubnik did not see a playside pressure and was sacked by Kalen DeLoach, who returned the ensuing fumble 56 yards for a touchdown. The teams were scoreless in the fourth quarter, but walk-on kicker Jonathan Weitz missed the 29-yard potential game-winner with just 1:45 left. The Seminoles scored a touchdown on the second play of overtime and then held the Tigers out of the end zone. Clemson surprisingly now sits at 0-2 in the ACC with a tough road game against undefeated Syracuse next weekend.

WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS

Record: 3-1
Week 4 Result: Lost 30-16 vs. Georgia Tech

Recap: The Demon Deacons had been living on the edge and that lifestyle caught up with them on Saturday against the Yellow Jackets. Wake Forest turned the ball over 5 times and lost a game in which they outgained Georgia Tech, racked up 29 first downs, rushed for 224 yards, and saw the Yellow Jackets commit 14 penalties for 142 yards. Wake Forest has a bye next week before traveling to Clemson.

STANFORD CARDINAL

Record: 1-3
Week 4 Result: Lost 21-20 vs. Arizona

Recap: In front of dozens of fans, Stanford fell 21-20 to Arizona in a back-and-forth game. The Cardinal held a 17-14 fourth quarter lead, but an Arizona touchdown with 7:42 remaining gave the Wildcats a 21-17 advantage. On the ensuing possession, Stanford drove to the Arizona 21-yard line, but a sack and penalty forced them to take the field goal, and they would never get the ball back as Arizona was able to run out the clock. Things don’t get any easier with a road trip to Oregon next week.

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