#4 Notre Dame Continues Road Swing at Georgia Tech

Notre Dame Notes

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

2020 Captains

• Dick Corbett Head Football Coach Brian Kelly announced five team captains for Notre Dame’s 2020 football campaign this fall. They include returning 2019 captains QB Ian Book and OL Robert Hainsey, as well as first-time captains S Shaun Crawford, DL Daelin Hayes and DL Adetokunbo Ogundeji.
• Book and Hainsey earn the role as rare two-time captains, just the 23rd and 24th Notre Dame players in the program’s 131-season history to ever serve multiple seasons as a team captain. More than 200 players have served in the captain role for Irish Football.

home field win streak

• Notre Dame has won 22-straight games at home dating back to Sept. 30, 2017, starting with a victory over Miami (Ohio) and extending to the 2020 win over Louisville.
• It continues the modern-era record for longest home winning streak for the Irish (28-straight from 1942-50). With the 52-0 shutout of South Florida, the Irish topped the previous modern streak of 19-straight from 1987-90. With Ohio State’s first home win this season, Notre Dame is tied with the Buckeyes at 22 games.
• Clemson is the only other Power 5 program that boasts a home streak of more than 22 games.
• The Irish completed an undefeated home slate for the second-consecutive season in 2019. Notre Dame had not achieved back-to-back undefeated home seasons since 1988-89.
• Notre Dame completed an undefeated season at Notre Dame Stadium in 2019 for the third time in five seasons (2015, 6-0 and 2018, 6-0) after finishing 7-0 following a 40-7 win over Boston College. From 1990-2011, only the 1998 campaign (6-0) saw a perfect Notre Dame home slate.

2020 vision

WELCOME TO THE CLUB 

• For the first time in the 132-year history of the Notre Dame Football Program, the Fighting Irish are playing the 2020 football season as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (131 years were spent as an independent. The 132nd season is the first in the ACC). Each ACC squad will play 10 conference games, in addition to one non-conference matchup, to complete a modified 11-game schedule. The two squads with the best records will face off in the ACC Championship in December.
• In the ACC Preseason Order of Finish, the Irish were ranked second behind Clemson, who enters the season as the top-ranked team in the nation.
• In a partnership that began in 2014, Notre Dame and the ACC agreed to schedule the Irish to play, on average, five ACC opponents each season. Originally scheduled through the 2025 season, the games have now been scheduled through the 2037 campaign.
• Notre Dame is 27-7 (.794) against ACC opponents since the scheduling agreement began during the 2014 season, and including 2020 play as a conference member

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

• Notre Dame has been ranked in the Top 25 for 53-consecutive weeks, the longest such streak for the Irish since the 1994 season (124 weeks).
• The 53-week streak currently ranks fourth among all FBS active streaks, which do not include teams who were not listed in the initial 2020 AP polls at the beginning of the season (Big Ten and Pac-12). Auburn ended its 23-week streak last week.

LAST TIME: PITT

• September 19, 2015 – Notre Dame 30, Georgia Tech 22: C.J. Prosise provided the flash for the Fighting Irish with three touchdowns and 198 yards rushing, including a 91-yard TD run that was the longest run in Notre Dame Stadium history, and the defense provided the grit.
• A pair of touchdowns for 14th-ranked Georgia Tech from Justin Thomas to Patrick Skov in the final minute, the second coming after a recovered onside kick, brought some drama before No. 8 Notre Dame’s Torii Hunter Jr. recovered a second onside kick to clinch the 30-22 victory.
• Georgia Tech entered the game averaging 67 points and 457 yards, but struggled to get much going until time was running out. The Fighting Irish held the Yellow Jackets to 216 yards rushing and 337 yards total offense.

Book club in session

• Graduate student quarterback Ian Book’s return as the starter in 2020 marks the first time the Irish have entered a season with a quarterback boasting at least two seasons of majority of games started (23-of-26 games from 2018-19) since Jimmy Clausen in 2009 (22-of-25 games from 2007-08).
• Book is 25-3 (.893) as a starter, which ranks second nationally among all FBS quarterbacks (min. 20 wins), even as Book ranks 14th overall in total QB career starts (28). His 25 wins tie for third among all FBS quarterbacks.
• Book is tied for fifth in the ACC in Scoring (TDs), averaging 6.0 points per game individually.
• Book was named to the Davey O’Brien Great 8 List for his performance in the 45-3 road win over Pitt. Book completed 16 passes for 312 yards and three TDs with zero interceptions. His three passing touchdowns led all ACC quarterbacks last week, along with his TD pct. (10.0, min. 20 attempts). His 312 passing yards were the second-most in the conference last week, and his 173.7 rating was the second-highest in the ACC for the week.
• Book’s three TD passes against Pitt ranked second among all Power 5 quarterbacks last week (just four other Power 5 quarterbacks threw three or more TD passes last week).
• Book’s 73-yard touchdown pass to Ben Skowronek was the third-longest pass in the FBS last week and second-longest among ACC quarterbacks.
• Notre Dame posted 11 rushing first downs against the ACC’s top-ranked rushing defense (Pitt), and Book was responsible for three of those first downs, including an 18-yard dash to later set up the 73-yard TD pass to Skowronek.
• In the win over Louisville, Book passed for 106 yards and rushed for 47, also fooling a Louisville defender to gain extra yardage on an impressive go-ahead touchdown run.
• In the 12-7 victory, Book and the offense held the ball for 36:15, including an impressive 7:55, 57-yard drive to end the fourth quarter and preserve the win.
• Book quarterbacked ND to 554 yards of total offense in the 42-26 win over Florida State, the most for Notre Dame since 2019 vs. Bowling Green (573 yards).
• Book recorded three rushing touchdowns in the first half against South Florida – the second time in his career in which he has rushed for three touchdowns in a game (Wake Forest – 2018). He became the first quarterback in Notre Dame history (modern era) to rush for three touchdowns in a half.
• In the 52-0 win over South Florida, Book completed 12-of-19 passes for 144 yards, also managing an offense that scored five rushing touchdowns, traveled 430 yards, posted zero turnovers and only punted twice.
• In the season opener vs. Duke, Book completed 19-of-31 passes, including a 75-yard long, for 236 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 12 yards. Book quarterbacked the Irish offense to five scoring drives, the first of which went 96 yards in 12 plays, to take the lead in the second quarter. It was the longest drive by the Irish since a 97-yard drive in the 30-27 home win over Southern Cal in 2019. Notre Dame also added an 83-yard touchdown drive later in the game.
• In all, the Irish offense outrushed (178-75), outpassed (263-259) and outgained (441-334) the Blue Devils, and were 3-4 in the redzone.

HEADED FOR THE RECORD BOOKS

• With his three-yard rush early in the first quarter at Pitt, Book became just the second quarterback in Notre Dame history to eclipse the 8,000 total offensive yards plateau in his career – joining Brady Quinn ‘07 (11,944).
• Passing for 312 yards at Pitt, Book moved into a tie for third all-time in Irish QB history in career 300-yard passing games (7) with John and Bobbie Arlotta Family offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.
• With three TD passes at Pitt, Book moved into second place in Irish QB history for career touchdown passes (63), passing Rees (61).
• With his first completion of the game at Pitt, a 12-yard pass to TE Michael Mayer, Book moved into sole possession of third place all-time among Notre Dame quarterbacks in career pass completions (Book now totals 574-career completions). He was previously tied with associate athletics director for football Ron Powlus.
• With the win over Louisville, Book passed offensive coordinator and former Irish QB Tommy Rees to move into seventh all-time in program history in wins as a starting quarterback (Book now totals 25).
• Book upped his career rushing touchdown total to 13 with his scoring scamper vs. Louisville, one away from tying Joe Montana and Everett Golson (14). Book’s 13 rushing TDs currently rank 10th all-time in Irish QB history.
• With his 47 yards rushing vs. Louisville, Book passed Brandon Wimbush (1,155) to move into second all-time in Notre Dame QB rushing yards with 1,159.
• Book moved ahead of Steve Beuerlein (6,527) when he passed for 201 yards vs. Florida State to rank fifth all-time in career passing yards. Book now boasts 7,144 yards.
• Bookbecame the first Notre Dame quarterback with 2,500 passing yards, 500 rushing yards and 30 touchdown passes in a season with his 2019 regular-season performance. Jalen Hurts was the only other collegiate student-athlete to hit these marks in the 2019 regular season, while Trevor Lawrence and Sam Ehlinger joined the group, but not until the postseason. Since 2017, only Book, Hurts, Kyler Murray, JT Barrett and D’Eriq King have hit these marks in the regular season.
• In 2019, Book was named Notre Dame Offensive Player of the Year and earned spots on the Davey O’Brien Award Great 8 List three times and as the Manning Star of the Week twice. He finished the season 240-for-399 with 3,034 yards and 34 touchdowns, throwing just six INT. He also ran 112 times for 546 yards and four TDs.
• Just five players in the FBS were responsible for more points than Book’s 222 (33 passing TDs, four rushing TDs) in the 2019 regular season.

AND THE BASE KEEP RUNNIN’

THE UNIT

• RBs Kyren Williams, C’Bo Flemister and Chris Tyree have each posted at least one 100-yard rushing game. Notre Dame is the only team in the ACC to have three different student-athletes mark a 100-yard rushing game this season, and no Power 5 team has more than Notre Dame’s three.
• Irish running backs have reached the 100-yard mark five times this season, a figure which ties for the lead among all Power 5 teams and in the ACC with Virginia Tech. Just one FBS team has had more (Liberty, six).
• With a 127-yard performance by Williams vs. Louisville, it marked Notre Dame’s fifth-consecutive game with a 100-yard rusher (beginning with Tony Jones Jr. in the 2019 Camping World Bowl). The last time the Irish strung together five-straight games with a 100-yard rusher was in 2017 (Miami – OH to Wake Forest).

WHEN THERE’S A WILL[IAMS]

• RB Kyren Williams has reached the 100-yard rushing mark in three of four total games this season, the second-most individual 100-yard rushing performances in the ACC. Williams ranks fifth in the ACC in rushing yards per game, running for an average of 104.8 yards (524 yards so far this season). He ranks sixth in the ACC in all-purpose yards (136.0) per game, also tying for 13th in the nation (FBS) in that category.
• Williams’ 486 yards in the first four games of a season was the best opening slate for an Irish RB since Dexter Williams in 2018 (512). Kyren Williams reached three 100-rushing yard performances in just four games, as did Dexter Williams, while it took Josh Adams five games to reach that mark in 2017.
• In a grind game vs. Louisville, Williams showcased his power run ability, plowing for 127 rushing yards alone against a defense that had only allowed 156.8 rushing yards per game entering the matchup with the Irish.
• Williams shattered his previous career-high mark of 112 yards set vs. Duke in the season-opener, rushing for 185 yards on 19 carries vs. Florida State. His 185 rushing yards rank as the fifth-highest in a single game by any ACC player this season, and the most by any freshman or sophomore ACC player this season (Williams is an academic sophomore, a freshman in eligibility).
• Entering the game, Florida State allowed just 141.3 rushing yards per game. Williams surpassed that total on his own by more than 40 yards. His 185 yards vs. FSU still rank tied the ninth-most in a single game among FBS players this season, and the fourth-most in a single game that week in the FBS. His total is also the highest for a Notre Dame player since 2018. Williams was responsible for 10 of Notre Dame’s 15 rushing first-downs in that game.
• Williams posted 117 yards on five carries vs. Florida State, including runs of 65 and 46 yards, in the first quarter. The last time a Notre Dame player rushed for more yards on five or fewer carries was Josh Adams vs. Miami – OH  in 2017 (151 yards).
• His 65-yard run in the first quarter vs. Florida State was the longest rush of his career, and his performance marked the second time this season (and in his career) he broke the 100-rushing-yard plateau.
• Williams exploded onto the scene in his first-career start vs. Duke, leading all FBS players in all-purpose yards (205) after rushing for 112 yards and tacking on 93 more in the air. His performance marked the first time an Irish player has reached the 90-yard plateau in both rushing and receiving in a single game since at least 1996.
• In the season-opener vs. Duke, the sophomore back averaged 5.9 yards-per-carry (12 carries) and rushed for two touchdowns, also accounting for two receptions that resulted in 91 yards-after-catch, including a career-high 75-yard reception on a screen pass to bring the Irish in the red zone. Williams the first Irish player to record two or more rushing touchdowns since Tony Jones Jr. had three against Virginia in 2019, and was awarded the game ball vs. Duke for his efforts.

THE JET

• RB Chris Tyree surpassed the 100-yard mark for the first time in his young career, with 11 carries for 103 yards and boosted by a 45-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, vs. Florida State. Tyree was responsible for five of Notre Dame’s 15 rushing first downs that day.
• His performance was the only 100-rushing yard performance by a true freshman in the ACC that week. On the season, only three ACC true freshmen have recorded 100-rushing yard games, including Tyree.
• Tyree scored his first-career touchdown vs. South Florida. He later would set a then-career mark for longest rush after scampering 31 yards in the second quarter.
• Tyree has also served four games in the kickoff return role for the Irish.

SEEYA, C’BO

• RB C’Bo Flemister posted a career game vs. South Florida, rushing for a career-high 127 yards (13 carries) to go along with a rushing touchdown. His 31-yard run in the fourth quarter was the longest rush of his career, and his performance marked the first time he has broken the 100-rushing-yard plateau in his career.

HANDS IN THE AIR

• WR Ben Skowronek posted a career game at Pitt, catching two passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Skowronek’s two receiving TDs tied for the lead in the ACC last week, and his 107 yards were the third-most among all ACC players last week. His 53.5 yards per catch vs. Pittsburgh is the best mark of the season in the ACC thus far.
• Skowronek’s 73-yard touchdown reception was the third-longest among all FBS players last week, and the second-longest in the ACC.
• His 34-yard touchdown later in the game also ranked as the seventh-longest touchdown reception in the ACC on the week.
• WR Javon McKinley led the Irish in receptions and receiving yards vs. Florida State with five receptions for 107 yards, and was the first Irish receiver to reach the 100-yard plateau since Chase Claypool in the 2019 Camping World Bowl. McKinley surpassed his previous career-high in receiving yards (104) with the 38-yard reception in the third quarter vs. Florida State.
• The Book-McKinley connection was solid vs. FSU, as McKinley was Notre Dame’s most successful receiver, while also matched up with Preseason All-ACC selection Florida State CB Asante Samuel for much of the evening.
• McKinley also posted his first-career rush, a 15-yard run, in the third quarter vs. Louisville.
• On Notre Dame’s opening drive vs. Louisville, WRs Kevin Austin Jr. (18-yard catch) and Ben Skowronek (16-yard catch) each posted their first receptions of the season.
• WR Joe Wilkins Jr. hauled in a five-yard pass from Ian Book for his first-career reception in the final minute of the second quarter vs. Duke.

HOLD TIGHT

• Often referenced as “Tight End U,” every Notre Dame tight end who has started in the opening game of the season has been drafted, starting with Anthony Fasano in 2003.
• The Irish have started multiple tight ends in three of the four total games this season, also starting Brock Wright, Tommy Tremble and Michael Mayer all in the game vs. South Florida.
• Four tight ends have caught passes this season: Tremble (10-114), Mayer (7-80, TD), Wright (2-10) and freshman Kevin Bauman (1-5).
• TE Michael Mayer was named to the Pro Football Focus Team of the Week for his performance at Pittsburgh, posting five receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown. Mayer’s five receptions vs. Pittsburgh were the most by a true freshman, and tie for the most by a tight end, in the ACC last week.
• All five of Mayer’s receptions resulted in first downs, and all were for a gain of 10 yards or longer. Notre Dame totaled 11 passing first downs.
• Mayer averaged 14.6 yards per catch, the third-best mark in the ACC last week (min. five receptions). Of the 11 ACC pass-catchers who posted five or more catches last week, just three players also recorded a receiving touchdown, including Mayer.
• Mayer scored his first-career TD vs. Florida State, marking him as the first true freshman tight end to score a touchdown since Kyle Rudolph in 2008 against Purdue.
• Mayer made his first-career start vs. South Florida. He previously notched his first-career reception in the second quarter vs. Duke, hauling in a 17-yard reception from Ian Book for a first down.
• Bauman’s first-career catch came vs. USF, also serving as freshman QB Drew Pyne’s first-career completion.

TRENCH WORK

• Notre Dame’s starting offensive line boasts 132-career starts between the five veterans (Eichenberg, Banks, Patterson, Kraemer and Hainsey). Entering last week with 127, it was the fourth-most starts among a starting offensive line nationally, and second-most in the FBS. Hainsey and Kraemer were sidelined for some game action in 2019 due to injury.
• The Irish own the third-highest rushing offense average in the ACC (231.8.0 yards per game), and have allowed the fewest sacks (tied) on the season (nine) in the ACC.
• In the 45-3 road win over Pitt, the line paved the way for 434 yards of total offense. Notre Dame’s 115 rushing yards Saturday were the second-most Pittsburgh has given up in a game this season. Entering the game, the Panthers allowed just 61.5 yards per game, the ACC’s top-ranked rushing defense.
• Notre Dame’s two rushing touchdowns against Pitt marked the first time the Panthers allowed multiple rushing touchdowns in a single game since October 5, 2019 vs. Duke.
• The Irish held control of the ball for 40:59 minutes of possession time against Pitt, the most by an ACC team in a single game this season, and fifth-most in a single game among all FBS teams this season.
• In a performance against Louisville that saw Liam Eichenberg receive Pro Football Focus Team of the Week honors, Notre Dame rushed for 232 yards, earning Kyren Williams his third 100-yard performance of the season. Entering that game, Louisville had allowed just 156.8 rushing yards per game.
• In the victory over Florida State, the unit allowed zero sacks on QB Ian Book, while making it possible for the Irish to rush for 353 yards total, with two different players reaching the 100-yard mark. Prior to that contest, Florida State had allowed just 141.3 rushing yards per game.
• Notre Dame averaged 8.4 yards-per-carry vs. Florida State, the third-highest single-game figure in the conference this season.
• OL Robert Hainsey received ACC co-Offensive Lineman of the Week honors for his role in the O-Line’s performance vs. South Florida. The line allowed zero sacks on Irish quarterbacks in the 52-0 shutout win and paved the way for six rushing touchdowns, tied for the ACC’s most in a single game this season.
• Notre Dame’s 281 rushing yards were the most by any ACC team that week, and only one ACC team had posted more rushing yards in a single game prior to that occurrance.
• The 6.2 yards-per-rush by Notre Dame vs. South Florida ranked as the most that week.
• Notre Dame posted 16 rushing first downs, then the most in a single game this season by any ACC team. It currently sits just three below the conference-leading figure of 18.
• The Irish won Pro Football Focus’ Offensive Line of the Week after the season-opener vs. Duke, producing the highest-combined pass-block grade of any line that week.

POISED TO ATTACK

• The Irish rank fourth in the ACC in total offense (439.4 yards per game), third in rushing offense (231.8), and lead the conference in third-down conversion rate (52.2 percent).
• Notre Dame’s two rushing touchdowns against Pitt marked the first time the Panthers allowed multiple rushing touchdowns in a single game since October 5, 2019 vs. Duke.
• The Irish held control of the ball for 40:59 minutes of possession time against Pitt, the most by an ACC team in a single game this season, and fifth-most in a single game among all FBS teams this season.
• Notre Dame’s 115 rushing yards Saturday are the second-most Pitt has given up in a game this season. Entering today’s game, the Panthers were the ACC’s top-ranked rushing defense, allowing just 61.5 yards per game.
• In the win over Louisville, the offense held the ball for a whopping 36:15, including an impressive 7:55, 57-yard drive to finish out the fourth quarter and preserve the win. In all, the Irish had seven offensive drives on the day, and four of those drives took five minutes or more off the clock.
• In the 42-26 win over Florida State, Notre Dame racked up 554 yards of total offense, the most since 2019 vs. Bowling Green (573 yards). It also marked the first game with two 100-yard rushers (Kyren Williams & Chris Tyree) and a 100-yard receiver (Javon McKinley) since 2015 (Stanford).
• The last time Notre Dame had two players with more than 100 yards rushing in a game was in 2017 vs. Southern Cal (Josh Adams and Brandon Wimbush), and the last time the Irish posted more than 300 yards rushing was in 2019, also against Southern Cal.
• The win over Florida State also marked the first time since 2000 the Irish have scored 42 points in consecutive games.
• Notre Dame marked the 12th time the Irish scored at least 50 points in head coach Brian Kelly’s (12-0) 11-year tenure in the 52-0 win over South Florida. The 11 years prior to Kelly’s arrival, Notre Dame hit the 50-point mark once.
• The Irish held a 35-0 margin at halftime vs. South Florida, the largest halftime lead since last season’s 52-0 win against Bowling Green (also 35-0).
• Notre Dame rushed for six touchdowns against USF, the most in a game since 2018 (six versus Wake Forest) and the most in a single game this season among ACC teams.
• In addition to allowing zero sacks in the victory over South Florida, the offensive line paved the way for Notre Dame’s 281 rushing yards, the most by any ACC team that week.
• The 6.2 yards-per-rush by Notre Dame vs. South Florida ranked as the most that week. Notre Dame posted 16 rushing first downs, the most that week and the highest value at that point in the season. The figure was topped the next week.
• In the season opener vs. Duke, the Irish offense outrushed (178-75), outpassed (263-259) and outgained (441-334) the Blue Devils, and were 3-4 in the redzone.
• Book quarterbacked the Irish offense to five scoring drives vs. Duke, the first of which went 96 yards in 12 plays, to take the lead in the second quarter. It was the longest drive by the Irish since a 97-yard drive in the 30-27 home win over Southern Cal in 2019. Notre Dame also added an 83-yard touchdown drive later in the game.

EXPERIENCED & EXPLOSIVE

• The Irish boast two long-tenured veterans in the secondary with sixth-year Shaun Crawford and gradaute transfer Nick McCloud. They are coupled with young standouts Kyle Hamilton, TaRiq Bracy, Houston Griffith and Clarence Lewis, all of whom have started at least one contest for the Irish this season.

HAMILTON, A STAR

• A preseason All-America Second Team selection (USA TODAY), Kyle Hamilton is tied for the team lead in tackles with 20, after only playing in three games thus far.
• Hamilton started in the win over Louisville and posted a crucial diving pass breakup on third-and-11 on Louisville’s opening drive to force a punt. In the fourth quarter, Hamilton posted tackles on consecutive plays, second-and-26 and third-and-17, to force a punt, ending what would be Louisville’s final drive of the game to secure an Irish win.
• Hamilton now averages 6.7 tackles per game, which ranks third among all ACC defensive backs.
• He accounted for four tackles and a PBU on the opening drive for Duke. His QB hurry came in the second quarter, which forced an incomplete pass on a Duke third-and-seven. On the day, he marked seven tackles, the second-most for the Irish and the 13th-most in the ACC. His five solo tackles ranked 10th in the ACC at that point.

The VET

• Shaun Crawford returns for his sixth season, due to a medical redshirt year of eligibility granted by the NCAA. After playing corner for five seasons, Crawford won the starting safety job entering 2020.
• The graduate student earned the game ball for his performance vs. Louisville, when he tied for the team lead in tackles (six), also executing a crucial pass breakup, punching the ball out of the receiver’s hands, to end the third quarter and stall Louisville’s drive.
• Crawford was called to start at corner due to team need in the victory over Florida State, and posted the first interception of the season for the Irish in the fourth quarter as he intercepted QB Jordan Travis at the Notre Dame goal line to prevent a score. The interception helped seal the game for the Irish. It was the fifth interception of his career, and his second-career forced or recovered turnover inside the Notre Dame five-yard line.
• Crawford made several impact plays vs. FSU including coverage on a third-down pass from Jordan Travis to Camren McDonald in the first quarter, which fell incomplete and forced a Florida State punt
• He also recovered a fumble in the win over Duke, setting Notre Dame up at their own 41 for a touchdown drive.

McCLOUD-Y WITH A CHANCE OF INTs

• Coming to Notre Dame as a grad transfer from NC State, CB Nick McCloud was named to the Pro Football Focus Team of the Week for his performance at Pitt, in which he snagged his first interception in an Irish uniform, marking the fourth of his career (three while playing at NC State). McCloud’s interception came on the first play of a Pitt third-quarter drive to give the Irish possession at the Panthers’ 35-yard line, and the resulting series culminated in a Notre Dame rushing TD.
• His four tackles at Pitt tied for second on a defense that held Pitt to just a field goal. According to Pro Football Focus, McCloud’s receivers were targeted six times at Pitt, making just three catches. He earned an 80.1 PFF tackle grade and a 76.2 coverage grade, resulting in a 75.6 overall defensive grade.

SQUAD ROLLS DEEP

• S Houston Griffith and true freshman CB Clarence Lewis made their first-career starts vs. South Florida. Both finished the game with five solo tackles including 1.0 for loss each, and Lewis tacked on three pass breakups.
• Junior CB TaRiq Bracy was named to the Pro Football Focus Team of the Week for his play against Duke. According to PFF, Bracy forced a contested target and incompletions on two of three targets, and did not allow any yards.

BACK IT UP

CAN I GET A WU-WU-WU?

• Named to the Preseason All-ACC team, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah boasts a total of 6.0 TFL on the season, and his average of 1.20 per game ranks 12th in the ACC.
• In a performance that saw him named to the Pro Football Focus Team of the Week, Owusu-Koramoah posted his first-career interception at Pitt, giving the Irish possession at the Pitt 49-yard line to set up a Notre Dame TD drive.
• “Wu” led the Irish defense in TFL with 2.0 vs. Louisville, adding two other tackles, one of which resulted in no gain for the offense. Two of his tackles came on third down to force a fourth-down play.
• Owusu-Koramoah forced the first turnover of the season after breaking the ball loose from Duke’s Jalon Calhoun in the third quarter. Owusu-Koramoah led the Irish in tackles (nine) and got to Duke QB Chase Brice for the third Irish sack of the day in the fourth quarter, pinning him for a loss of six yards on what would be Duke’s final drive.

BE A DOG

• Junior LB Bo Bauer snagged his first-career interception, returning it 16 yards, in the second quarter at Pitt. The turnover gave the Iirsh possession at the Pitt 46 to set up a touchdown drive.

MR. INDIANA

• Sophomore LB Jack Kiser made a statement in his first-career start against South Florida, leading the team in tackles (eight) in his first game action on defense. Kiser’s 2.0 tackles-for-loss led the team (tied), and he also posted a QB hurry. Ater not being listed on the depth chart leading up to the game, Kiser was called up to start at the BUCK position, and his efforts earned him the game ball.  Pro Football Focus named Kiser its “Secret Superstar of the Week,” giving him a 90.0 PFF grade in the first half.

PUT THE PRESSURE ON

• In the 45-3 win over Pitt, Notre Dame sacked Panther QBs three times. DL Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa posted a sack for a loss of six yards, DB Isaiah Pryor dropped the QB for a loss of seven yards and DL Isaiah Foskey and DL Ovie Oghuofo combined for a sack (-6 yards).
• DL Jayson Ademilola made his first-career start at defensive tackle in place of Tagovailoa-Amosa vs. Florida State. He also started against Louisville.
• DL Daelin Hayes made an impact play with his TFL vs. Louisville, reading the screen pass and pinning Louisville’s Javian Hawkins for a loss of six in the fourth quarter, helping to stall a Louisville drive on first-and-20 and preserve the Irish win.
• DL Ade Ogundeji posted 2.0 sacks against Florida State for a total loss of nine yards, the leading sack figure on Notre Dame’s defense. In total, he posted four tackles and a QBH.
• Sophomore DL Isaiah Foskey tallied his first-career sack vs. Duke to force a Blue Devil field goal. The sophomore made noise in a reserve role against Duke, responsible for the sack (loss of 10 yards) and a QB hurry earlier in the game at the 11-yard line also forced a Duke field goal. Foskey broke up a pass on the next drive to help lead to a punt. His final TFL came in the fourth quarter, when he combined with DL Jacob Lacey to bring down Duke’s Deon Jackson on second-and-13, setting up a Duke punt.
• Foskey also blocked a Pitt punt with 0:11 remaining in the first half, returning it for a touchdown. It was Foskey’s first-career score, and the second touchdown on a blocked punt for the Irish this season (vs. USF). It also marked his second-career blocked punt.
• Freshman DL Alexander Ehrensberger notched his first-career sack in the third quarter vs. South Florida, while sophomore LB JD Bertrand posted his first-career tackle.

DEFEND THE GRIDIRON

• With just three points allowed vs. the Panthers, the defense has yielded just 9.8 points per game through the five games of the season. That figure leads all Power 5 teams with more than one game played, and is second among all FBS teams (Marshall, 9.4). In 2019, the Notre Dame defense ranked No. 12 among FBS teams in scoring defense, allowing just 17.9 points per game (26 touchdowns and 17 field goals).
• Not only did the Irish limit Pitt to just a field goal, they also kept the Panthers out of the red zone entirely. Prior to the game, Pitt had totaled 27 appearances in the red zone through six games.
• The Irish have held back-to-back opponents to fewer than 10 points for the first time since 2012 (Boston College – 6, Wake Forest – 0). The last time Notre Dame held a team without a touchdown on the road or at a neutral site was Iowa State in the 2019 Camping World Bowl.
• Notre Dame limited Pittsburgh to just 44 rushing yards, sacking Panthers QBs a total of three times. Pittsburgh’s longest drive of the day was just 43 yards, and with just 19:01 of total possession time for the Panthers, none of their 13 drives lasted longer than 2:31.
• The Irish held Pitt to -3 rushing yards in the first quarter, the fewest in a single quarter by an opposing team since Notre Dame held Iowa State to -13 rushing yards in the fourth quarter of the 2019 Camping World Bowl. Notre Dame’s rushing defense ranked third in the ACC entering that game, allowing just 107.5 yards per game.
• Notre Dame held Pitt to 2 rushing yards in the first half, the fewest in a half since the Irish held Iowa State to 1 rushing yard in the second half of the 2019 Camping World Bowl. Pitt entered the game averaging 107.0 rushing yards per game.
• In the win over Louisville, the defense limited Louisville to just 96 rushing yards. Entering the game, the Cardinals averaged 177.8 rushing yards per game.
• On the day, Louisville posted just 14 first downs and held the ball for only 23:45 minutes of possession time. Entering Saturday, the Cardinals ranked second in the ACC in time of possession, averaging 32:59 per game.
• Notre Dame leads the ACC in opponent first downs, allowing just 72 on the season thus far. At 14.4 per game, it is the second-best rate in the conference.
• The Irish lead the ACC in opponent third-down conversions, allowing just a 21.2 percent success rate. It is the fith-best rate among all FBS teams.
• The Irish lead the ACC in total defense (273.0 yards per game), rank second in the ACC in rushing defense (94.8) and second in pass defense (178.2). Notre Dame also leads the ACC in pass defense efficiency (99.6).
• Notre Dame marked the second shutout in as many seasons with a 52-0 victory over RV South Florida in Week Two. The Irish allowed the Bulls in the red zone just one time on the day, and the attempt was unsuccessful for South Florida. In all, the Bulls were held to 11 first downs, including just one first down in the first half.

FOLLOW HIS LEA-D

• Notre Dame has held 30-of-31 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.

saturday specialists

• The Irish rank third in the ACC in kick-return defense, allowing an average of just 18.3 yards per return.
• True freshman RB Chris Tyree owns the fifth-best kick return average in the ACC, bringing back kicks at a rate of 21.9 yards per game.
• The Irish have blocked two punts, returning both for touchdowns, thus far this season.
• DL Isaiah Foskey blocked a Pitt punt with 0:11 remaining in the first half, returning it for a touchdown. It was Foskey’s first-career score, and the second touchdown on a blocked punt for the Irish this season (vs. USF). It also marked his second-career blocked punt.
• Foskey was the only player in the ACC to record a punt return TD last week. There have been just 17 this season in the FBS, and only one FBS player boasts two.
• True freshman DL Jordan Botelho recovered a blocked South Florida punt for a touchdown in the 52-0 shutout win, marking the only punt return TD in the ACC that week and just the second this season. DL Osita Ekwonu was responsible for the block. It was the first blocked punt returned for a TD by the Irish since 2015 vs. Southern Cal.
• Botelho was the only player in the FBS that week to post a punt return touchdown.
• Botelho also provided notable pressure on another South Florida punt, forcing a rushed punt that traveled just one yard and gave the Irish possession at the South Florida 25-yard line.
• P Jay Bramblett made his mark vs. Duke, bombing six punts in the season-opener, including punts of 53, 52 and 45 yards. His play of the day came in the second quarter on a fake punt play, when he rushed for 14 yards, cutting to get the Irish the first down and keeping Notre Dame’s drive alive to end in a touchdown. On the day, Bramblett marked a 43.8-yard average punt.
• K/P Dawson Goepferich scored his first points for the Irish on a PAT vs. South Florida.

OPEN DOERER

• K/P Jonathan Doerer is 6-8 on field-goal attempts through the season, connecting on all 21 PAT attempts. He has now connected on 83-consecutive PATs, a streak which extends to 2018 vs. Navy and ranks 13th in the FBS.
• In the win vs. Louisville, Doerer made both field goal attempts, giving the Irish an early lead in the 12-7 contest on a day that experienced wind gusts upwards of 30 MPH.
• On the season, Doerer owns an 80.0 FG percentage in conference games, tying for fifth in the ACC.
• In 2019, Doerer compiled a 85.0 FG-make percentage (17-20), the fifth-best by an Irish kicker in a single season since 1996. In 2019, Doerer was perfect on PAT attempts (57-of-57), totaling 108 points between field goals and PAT.
• In 2019, Doerer scored 108 points for the Irish, the most in a single season by any Notre Dame kicker. He topped Kyle Brindza’s 2013 mark of 98 with his performance in the Camping World Bowl vs. Iowa State, in which Doerer netted 15 points on four field goals and three PATs.
• In 2019, 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).