#15 Irish Take On Cyclones in Camping World Bowl

Notre Dame Notes | Iowa State Notes 

ˆ Includes 20 regular-season wins and two postseason appearances vacated under discretionary NCAA penalty.

BOWL GAME HISTORY

• The 2019 Camping World Bowl is the first-ever meeting between the Fighting Irish and the Iowa State Cyclones.
• This marks Notre Dame’s second trip to the Camping World Bowl. The Irish played the 2017 Citrus Bowl in Camping World Stadium in Orlando, beating LSU 21-17, and also took part in the 2011 Champs Sports Bowl, which eventually became the Camping World Bowl, falling to Florida State, 14-18.
• Notre Dame is 18-19ˆ in all-time Bowl Game play, including a trip to the BCS National Championship in 2012 and the College Football Playoff in 2018.

ENTERING POSTSEASON

ROAD TO THE BOWL

• Notre Dame ranked 12th nationally in points per game vs. FBS teams (37.1) and 12th nationally in points allowed per game vs. FBS teams (18.7).
• The Irish totaled three wins against CFP-ranked teams and zero losses to unranked teams.
• Notre Dame held four of five opponents in November below their season scoring average, including holding a Navy team that is 10th in scoring offense at 39.3 ppg to 20 points.
• Among CFP teams ranked 6-20, only Notre Dame, Alabama, Oregon and Wisconsin rank among the top 20 nationally in scoring offense and scoring defense against FBS competition (Oregon & Wisconsin both have losses to an unranked team, while Alabama did not defeat a ranked opponent all year).

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

• Over the last 37 games, the Irish were 31-6, their best record over a 37-game span since 1991-93, when Notre Dame went 31-5-1. The Irish improved to 14-1 in regular-season games against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents over the last three seasons.
• Of the top 10 teams in the CFP rankings and Notre Dame, the Irish lead all other teams in number of opponents that were ranked at some point during the season (7). The next closest program is Ohio State with six.
• The Irish faced seven teams coming off of their bye week this season, and won all seven of those games.
• Notre Dame and Alabama are the only two teams that have not lost to an unranked team since the beginning of 2017.
• Notre Dame has been ranked in the top 25 for 43 consecutive weeks, the longest such streak for the Irish since the 1994 season.
• For the first time in Notre Dame history, an Irish team recorded six touchdown passes in two games during the same season (vs. New Mexico and vs. Bowling Green). The six touchdown passes match the Irish team record for passing touchdowns in a game.
• The Irish completed their third consecutive season of 10 or more wins with a 45-24 victory at Stanford. Notre Dame’s offense racked up 445 yards, while the defense upped its season takeaway total to 26, the second-most in the FBS.
• Notre Dame completed its second consecutive undefeated home slate in the 40-7 win over Boston College. Notre Dame’s offense traveled 501 yards on the day, while the Irish defense held the Eagles to 191 offensive yards.
• The Irish dominated No. 23 Navy, 52-20, marking the most points Notre Dame has ever scored against a ranked Navy team. The previous high came on Nov. 1, 1958, when the Irish defeated the Mids, 40-20, at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium. It was Notre Dame’s 24th victory over a ranked team by a margin of 25 points or more, and it marked the third time the Irish have secured such a win against the Mids. It also marked the third time this season the Irish have scored at least 50 points (New Mexico and Bowling Green). The last time Notre Dame reached that plateau in multiple games in a season was in 2011 when the Irish did it twice (vs. Air Force and vs. Navy).
• Notre Dame beat Duke handily, 38-7, with a performance that saw QB Ian Book go 18-of-32 for 181 yards and four touchdowns, in addition to a career-best 139 rushing yards. His four-score performance made him one of just two Notre Dame quarterbacks to throw at least four touchdown passes on four occasions, joining Brady Quinn, who accomplished the feat seven times. He was also the first Notre Dame quarterback ever to throw four TD passes and rush for 100 yards in the same game.
• The Irish defeated Virginia Tech, 21-20. QB Ian Book rushed seven yards for a last-minute touchdown to give Notre Dame the score, with K/P Jonathan Doerer netting the go-ahead PAT. The winning drive took 18 plays and covered 87 yards in just 2 minutes and 53 seconds. The last time the Irish scored to win a game in the final minute came against Virginia in 2015. Notre Dame forced three-and-outs on six of Virginia Tech’s nine drives in the first half, holding the Hokies to 85 yards, against Notre Dame’s 243 yards.
• Prior to the break, Notre Dame defeated rival Southern Cal at home, 30-27, on an impressive effort from all three phases. RB Tony Jones rushed for a career-high 176 yards, while K/P Jonathan Doerer sent his name to the Irish record books, becoming the first Irish kicker since Dave Reeve (1977) to make three field goals of 40 or more yards in a single game.
• Against Bowling Green, Notre Dame’s 35-0 halftime lead was the largest since opening a 35-0 halftime margin over Rutgers in 1996.
• The contest vs. Virginia marked the second-consecutive week Notre Dame appeared in the week’s highest-ranked matchup (lowest total of both squads’ rankings). From 2015-2018 among all FBS teams, it has only happened three times: Alabama (Weeks 7-8, 2016; Weeks 10-11, 2018) and Penn State (Weeks 8-9, 2017). As the current AP rankings stand, the only other teams with back-to-back top-ranked matchups in 2019 were Florida in Weeks 6-7 and Ohio State in Weeks 13-14.
• The Irish made a statement in the home opener vs. New Mexico, scoring 66 points, the most in a home opener since 1932. The win marked the first time since 2015 the Irish scored more than 60 points in a game (62-27 win vs. Massachusetts). The pick-six to open the scoring for the Irish marked the first time since 2002 (Gerome Sapp in 24-17 win vs. Purdue) that the first Notre Dame score of the year at home was a defensive touchdown. The three interceptions by the Irish defense were the most in a game since they picked off three in a 36-3 win over Syracuse in 2018.
• In the season-opening win at Louisville on Labor Day, the Irish scored first on a Jahmir Smith three-yard rushing touchdown. Notre Dame has scored the first points in the season-opening game in nine of the last 10 seasons. Since 1958, the Irish are 38-4 when scoring first in the season opener. Notre Dame also recovered three fumbles, tying the then-program record set in 2012 vs. Navy in Dublin.

IAN BOOK NOTABLES

• Senior quarterback Ian Book became the first Notre Dame quarterback with 2,500 passing yards, 500 rushing yards and 30 touchdown passes in a season. Jalen Hurts is the only other collegiate student-athlete to hit these marks in the 2019 season and, since 2017, only Book, Hurts, Kyler Murray, JT Barrett and D’Eriq King have hit these marks in the regular season.
• Just five FBS players have been responsible for more points than Book’s 222 this season.
• Book matched a career high vs. Navy when he passed for five touchdowns, including a 70-yard career-long pass (and career-long passing TD) to WR Braden Lenzy and four scoring passes to WR Chase Claypool.
• Book is the first Notre Dame quarterback to start and win consecutive matchups vs. Southern Cal since Rick Mirer (played 1989-92).

BOOK SOLID LATE

• In the last eight games, Ian Book has been sacked just once on third down (73 passing attempts), the best rate among Power 5 quarterbacks.
• Book completed 29 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns vs. Virginia Tech, rushing for the game-winning score in the final minute. Book became the fourth Irish QB to complete 29 or more passes at least two times in one season, along with Jimmy Clausen, Brady Quinn and Everett Golson.

HEADED FOR THE RECORD BOOKS

• Following his four passing touchdowns vs. Stanford, Book moved into fourth all-time in program history for career touchdown passes (56), passing Ron Powlus (52), current associate athletic director for football.
• Book’s 33 touchdown passes this season rank second in program history. Brady Quinn’s 37 touchdown passes in 2006 is the only more-prolific QB scoring campaign.
• With another four-touchdown passing game vs. Stanford, it marked the fifth time this season that Book has notched at least four TD passes in a game the most all time in Notre Dame history. Book has now hit the four TD passes mark in six games in his career (one behind Notre Dame all-time leader Brady Quinn).
• Book totaled three games with five TD passes this season (two -Bowling Green- with five in one half), the most in a season by an Irish QB, and is the first Notre Dame passer to record five touchdown passes in one half.
• Book went 18-of-32 for 181 yards and four touchdowns at Duke, in addition to a career-best 139 rushing yards. He led the Irish in rushing, and was the first player in program history with four passing touchdowns and at least 100 rushing yards in a game. The last Notre Dame quarterback to rush for more than 100 yards was Brandon Wimbush vs. Wake Forest in 2017 (110). Book’s rushing total was the third-highest for an Irish quarterback since 1996.

NOTEWORTHY DEFENSIVE NOTABLES

• During the regular season, the Irish allowed just 3.67 points/game in the opening stanza this season (just 2.40 points per first quarter at home). Notre Dame totaled six first-quarter shutouts this season. At Notre Dame Stadium in 2019, the Irish defense allowed only two touchdowns in the first quarter and just five in the first half.
• At home in 2019, the Irish defense allowed only two touchdowns in the first quarter and just five in the first half. In total, Notre Dame’s defense has faced 47 first-half drives.
• Notre Dame totaled 26 takeaways this season, the second-most in the FBS after the regular season, and the highest number of fumble recoveries (17) in the FBS (overtaking Illinois’ 16). Over the last three games of the regular season, the Irish notched eight takeaways.
• Notre Dame‘s defense currently ranks third among FBS teams in pass yards allowed/game (163.7).
• Notre Dame’s offense traveled 501 yards vs. Boston College, and the Irish defense held the Eagles to 191 offensive yards, including just 63 yards passing. Prior to that game, the Eagles had averaged 201.5 passing yards per game.
• Entering the matchup, Navy had allowed just eight touchdown receptions on the season. The Irish scored five passing TDs on the Mids, limiting Navy to 79 total passing yards.
• In the first quarter vs. Duke, the Irish held the Blue Devils to 26 offensive yards to Notre Dame’s 180. The Irish totaled eight first downs in the quarter while limiting Duke to just one. Duke did not post their second first down until halfway through the second quarter.
• In the first half vs. Virginia Tech, Notre Dame forced three-and-outs on six of the Hokies’ nine drives, holding them to 85 yards against Notre Dame’s 243 yards.
• The Irish forced a shutout vs. Bowling Green for the first time since 2014 (vs. Michigan, 31-0), scoring 35 points in the first half. Notre Dame’s 35-0 halftime lead was the largest since opening a 35-0 halftime margin over Rutgers in 1996. It is Notre Dame’s largest shutout margin since that game, when Lou Holtz’s Irish won, 62-0.
• Notre Dame held Bowling Green to just four drives that ended in Notre Dame territory (out of 11 total), the farthest point reached by the Falcons being the ND 23-yard line.
• In 2019, Notre Dame has outscored opponents 93-33 in the third quarter.

FOLLOW HIS LEA-D

• Notre Dame has held 24 of 25 opponents during Clark Lea’s tenure as defensive coordinator to 30 points or less. That includes includes ranked opponents LSU, Michigan, Stanford, Virginia Tech, Syracuse, Clemson, Georgia, Virginia and Navy.

BORN TO (STOP THE) RUN

• The Irish defense held Virginia to just four total rushing yards, marking the fourth-lowest total by an opposing team of Notre Dame since 1996, and the fewest in the Brian Kelly era. Notre Dame produced tackles for loss on 44.8 percent of Virginia’s rushing attempts, a rate which led the FBS. The four yards was also the lowest total against a ranked team since Nov. 26, 1966 (Southern Cal, 51-0 win, -12 rushing yards).
• In the first half, Notre Dame held Virginia to -2 rushing yards. In their previous four games, the Cavaliers had rushed for an average of 55.75 yards in the first half.
• Notre Dame’s defense held Georgia to just 34 total yards of offense in the first quarter. The Bulldogs gained at least 150 yards in the first quarter during each of their first three games this season.
• In the first half, Notre Dame outgained Duke, 273-123. The Irish racked up 175 rushing yards to the Blue Devils’ 44. On the game, the Notre Dame defense held Duke to 95 total rushing yards.

NOTEWORTHY SPECIAL TEAMS NOTABLES

• LS John Shannon won the Patrick Mannelly award, recognizing the nation’s top long snapper. He recovered a muffed punt by Stanford in the third quarter, reclaiming possession for the Irish at the Cardinal 48-yard line and earning the game ball.
• On the season, K/P Jonathan Doerer has compiled a 81.3 FG-make percentage (13-16), the fifth-best by an Irish kicker in a single season since 1996. In 2019, Doerer was perfect on PAT attempts (54-of-54), totaling 93 poinst between field goals and points after.
• Doerer kicked a 47-yard field goal (his second-longest of the season) vs. Boston College to notch the first points of the game on Notre Dame’s opening drive. He also made field goals of 45, 37 and 29 yards. With his four field goals vs. Boston College, Doerer ties for seventh-most by an Irish kicker in a single game.
• Doerer inscribed his name in Notre Dame record books vs. Southern Cal, becoming the first Irish kicker since Dave Reeve (1977) to make three field goals of 40 or more yards in a single game. Doerer made a career-long 52-yard field goal on the opening drive of the second half vs. Southern Cal, also making a 45-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining in the first half. Doerer added a 43-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. All three surpassed his previous career-long (36 yards).
• Doerer’s 52-yarder also places him in the Irish record books, matching the third-longest field goal made in Notre Dame history. Dave Reeve (1976 vs. Pittsburgh) and Kyle Brindza (2013 vs. Arizona State in Arlington, Texas) both had 53-yard field goals for the Irish. Notre Dame’s last made field goal of 50 yards or longer came in 2015, when Justin Yoon netted a 52-yarder against Navy.
• At Stanford, DL Isaiah Foskey blocked a Stanford punt with less than five minutes remaining in the second half, the second blocked punt this season by the Irish (Bo Bauer) and Foskey’s first of his career. It was recovered by DL Justin Ademilola at the Cardinal 1-yard line, his first career recovery.
• LS John Shannon recovered a muffed punt by Stanford in the third quarter, reclaiming possession for the Irish at the Cardinal 48-yard line.
• Lending voice to the importance of veteran players making their mark on special teams, in the first quarter at Georgia, WR Chase Claypool recovered a Georgia muffed punt return at the Bulldog eight-yard line to set up a Notre Dame touchdown drive (QB Ian Book one-yard pass to TE Cole Kmet). It was Claypool’s first-career fumble recovery.

NOTEWORTHY OFFENSIVE NOTABLES

• The Irish tight ends have totaled 11 touchdown catches this season (Kmet – 6, Tremble – 4, Takacs -1), the most in a single season for the position group in Notre Dame records. The previous highs came in 2013 and 1991, both with eight.
• The Irish marked the third time this season scoring at least 52 points in a game with the win over Navy, marking the most points Notre Dame has ever scored against a ranked Navy team. The previous high came on Nov. 1, 1958, when the Irish defeated the Mids, 40-20, at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium.
• Notre Dame was the last remaining team in the FBS hold a perfect red zone scoring percentage, converting on its first 24-of-24 visits inside the 20. Of the two dozen scores, 21 were touchdowns (11 rushing, 10 passing). This season, the Irish have scored on 47 of 51 visits to the red zone.
• The Irish totaled 573 yards of total offense vs. Bowling Green, having a 100-yard receiver (Javon McKinley) and 100-yard rusher (Tony Jones Jr.) for the first time since 2018 at Virginia Tech (WR Miles Boykin and RB Dexter Williams).
• Notre Dame’s running backs have recorded 1,375 carries with one fumble. The streak prior to the fumble (1,273), dating back to Nov. 21, 2015, was the longest active FBS streak.

NOTEWORTHY INDIVIDUAL NOTABLES

• WR Chase Claypool passed Jim Seymour (16, 1966-68) to move into 10th place in the Notre Dame record book for career touchdown receptions (18). Claypool also passed the 2,000 career receiving yard plateau, currently totaling 2,013 career receiving yards.
• Just five receivers in Notre Dame history have posted more touchdown receptions in a season than Claypool’s 12 in 2019. He ties for sixth in the record books with Michael Floyd (2010) and Jeff Samardzija (2005).
• Claypool posted 12 touchdown receptions this season, the sixth-most in a season by an Irish receiver in program history
• Claypool posted a career-high four touchdown receptions vs. Navy, tying for the most in a single game by an Irish receiver with Maurice Stovall (vs. BYU, 2005). Three of those receptions came in the first half, marking the first time an Irish player has scored three receiving touchdowns in a single half since at least 1950.
• Claypool caught two touchdown passes at Stanford, the first a 41-yard TD pass from Book to cap a three-play, 76-yard drive to take the lead, 21-17, heading into halftime; and the second an eight-yard reception to help put the Irish up, 28-17.
• In the month of November over the past four seasons, Claypool has totaled 63 receptions for 962 yards and eight TDs.
• He recorded eight receptions for 118 yards vs. Virginia Tech, including a key 26-yard catch on fourth down in the final minutes of the game. His reception kept the Irish drive alive, which culminated in the go-ahead touchdown run by Ian Book.
• Claypool caught a seven-yard pass for a touchdown from Book in the first quarter at Duke, his fifth touchdown catch of the season and 11th of his career. It was Claypool’s first score since his two receiving touchdowns vs. Bowling Green. Claypool finished the night with 5 receptions for 97 yards, marking the fifth-highest single-game total of his career.
• Claypool has passed the 400-yard receiving mark for the third consecutive season. He is among only four Notre Dame wideouts since 1996 to accomplish this feat (joining Michael Floyd, Rhema McKnight and Malcolm Johnson).
• Claypool caught two touchdown passes vs. Bowling Green, totaling 61 yards on three total receptions, while catching three passes for 47 yards vs. Southern Cal. He surpassed the 100-career receptions mark on his first catch vs. Virginia, and on his now 121 career receptions, Claypool has recorded 1,676 yards (13.9 average) and 10 touchdowns in four seasons. He joins a group of just 14 other Irish players who have reached the 100-career receptions mark since 1996. The most recent receivers to reach the benchmark were Chris Brown and Will Fuller V.
• Lending voice to the importance of veteran players making their mark on special teams, in the first quarter at Georgia, Claypool recovered a Georgia muffed punt return at the Bulldog eight-yard line to set up a Notre Dame touchdown drive (QB Ian Book one-yard pass to TE Cole Kmet). It was Claypool’s first-career fumble recovery. He also added 6 catches for 66 yards and a touchdown at Georgia.
• S Jalen Elliott and LB Asmar Bilal each played in their 50th career game against the Cardinal. They become just the fifth and sixth players in Notre Dame history to play in 50 or more games during their career (Manti Te’o, Harrison Smith and Drue Tranquill with 51; Tyler Newsome with 50).
• LS John Shannon recovered a muffed punt by Stanford in the third quarter, reclaiming possession for the Irish at the Cardinal 48-yard line.
• WR Chris Finke caught his fourth touchdown pass of the season vs. Boston College. He posted five receptions in the first half, matching his single-game season-high. He totaled seven receptions (matches career high) for 71 yards (season high, previous was 57 yards vs. Navy) and a touchdown on the game.
• Finke put up the first points at Duke on an 18-yard touchdown catch from Book. Finke recorded his second touchdown of the game on a six-yard pass from Book on Notre Dame’s first drive in the third quarter. The two scores mark Finke’s first career multi-TD game. He also recorded a career-long 46-yard punt return, and received the game ball.
• DL Khalid Kareem recorded two forced fumbles in the first half vs. Navy, his first two of the season and third of his career. The first was recovered by LB Asmar Bilal on Navy’s opening drive to give Notre Dame possession at the Irish 27-yard line. It was Bilal’s first fumble recovery of the season and the second of his career (vs. Clemson, 2018). The second was recovered by DE Jamir Jones, his first of the season and the second of his career (vs. Navy, 2018). He forced his third fumble of the season vs. Boston College, which was also recovered by White.
• WR Braden Lenzy scored on a 61-yard rush vs. Boston College, the longest rushing touchdown (previously 51) and longest rushing play (previously 53) of the season for Notre Dame. It also marked Lenzy’s fourth touchdown of the season (two rushing, two receiving).
• Lenzy also scored on a 70-yard spiral from Book vs. Navy, the longest pass/reception, scoring or otherwise, for both Book and Lenzy in their careers. Lenzy notched his first career rushing touchdown (second career TD), a 51-yard score, in the second quarter vs. Southern Cal. It was Notre Dame’s longest rushing touchdown of the season.
• LB Drew White has recovered two fumbles on the season, one vs. Boston College and one vs. Navy. He led the Irish in tackles vs. Navy, totaling 10 on the day. White made a career-best 11 tackles in the effort at Michigan, and led the Irish with eight total tackles vs. Virginia Tech.
• Freshman DB Kyle Hamilton led the Notre Dame defense in interceptions (four) in 2019, and is one of two true freshman in the FBS to total four interceptions on the season (LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr.). He recorded his fourth interception of the season in the fourth quarter vs. Boston College to set up an Irish touchdown drive. His third interception sealed the Irish victory in the final seconds vs. Virginia Tech.
• LB Paul Moala recorded a fumble recovery and returned it for a touchdown vs. Navy, marking his first career scoop and score.
• CB Troy Pride Jr. snagged an interception on the opening drive of the second half at Duke, returning it 39 yards . The interception marked the fourth of his career and first of the season.
• RB Tony Jones Jr. posted a career-high 176 rushing yards vs. Southern Cal, marking his fourth 100-yard rushing performance of the season and the fifth of his career. His previous rushing career-high came this season vs. Virginia (131 yards).
• Jones Jr. surpassed 100 rushing yards with fewer than three minutes remaining in the first half vs. Southern Cal, and is now tied for 14th in Notre Dame history with four 100-yard rushing games in a season.
• S Alohi Gilman posted his first career sack on Boston College’s opening drive, forcing a three-and-out.
• LB Asmar Bilal recorded five tackles in the first quarter vs. Southern Cal, totaling 11 (8 solo) on the game and leading the Irish defense. His 11 total tackles mark his single game career high, passing his previous total of nine. He also led the Irish in the Boston College game with eight tackles and earned the game ball.
• LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah recovered a Virginia Tech fumble, the first fumble recovery of his career, to give the Irish possession at the Hokie 47-yard line late in the second quarter. He also notched his first career sack on Southern Cal’s opening drive, setting up an eventual punt for the Trojans.
• No Notre Dame tight end in his first year of playing experience has caught more touchdown passes than TE Tommy Tremble. His second-quarter touchdown catch at Stanford was the sophomore’s fourth receiving TD of the season. For the first time in school history, two TE’s have had four touchdown receptions or more in the same season (Kmet 6, Tremble 4).
• K/P Jonathan Doerer compiled a 85.7 FG-make percentage (12-14) on the season, the fourth-best by an Irish kicker in a single season since 1996.
• Doerer kicked four field goals vs. Boston College – a 47-yarder (his second-longest of the season) and makes from 45, 37 and 29 yards – tied for seventh-most field goals by an Irish kicker in a single game.
• Doerer made three field goals of more than 40 yards vs. Southern Cal, becoming the first Irish kicker ever to do so in a single game. (See Noteworthy Special Teams Notables for more details.) Doerer was awarded a game ball, the first of his career.
• TE Cole Kmet tied the Irish record for touchdown receptions in a season (six) by a tight end. Ken McAfee is the only other Notre Dame tight end to reach six touchdowns in a single season (1977).
• Kmet became the 10th tight end in Irish history to have 400 or more yards in a season (first since Troy Niklas in 2013).
• Kmet has totaled 41 receptions, the seventh-highest number of receptions by an Irish tight end in a single season, over the last ten games. Kmet missed the first two games of the season with a collarbone injury. With his second catch vs. Southern Cal, Kmet doubled his career total entering the 2019 season (17) in those four games.
• Kmet posted four catches for 65 yards vs. Virginia, totaling 13 receptions over two games (vs. Virginia and at Georgia). Just two Irish tight ends have totaled more receptions over a two-game span (most was 16 by Kyle Rudolph in 2010 vs. Michigan and Michigan State) since 1996.
• Kmet totaled a career-high nine catches at Georgia, which tied the program mark for receptions in a single game by a tight end. He tallied 108 receiving yards and a touchdown (seven receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown coming in the first half), and was named the John Mackey Award’s Tight End of the Week in Week 4.
• RB Jahmir Smith posted a career-long 40-yard rush in the first quarter at Duke, topping his previous high of 24 yards vs. Louisville this season.
• CB TaRiq Bracy recovered his first career fumble in the fourth quarter to give the Irish possession at the Duke 29-yard line.