Will Another Unsung Hero Make a Splash?
How’d We Do Last Week?
Most Interesting
Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard made, “the play” to end the game by out-racing 2 SEC defenders to the edge and jumping over an All-American safety. He will do whatever it takes to win a game, and I expect him to put his body on the line against PSU. The last time someone made “the play” I was Book’s deep shot to Avery Davis in 2020 against Clemson. Gotta get another one this week.
RILEY. LEONARD.
ESPN #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/NfDHP6vqpf
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) January 3, 2025
Most Accurate
Farsdahl nailing the Mitch Jeter and yards per rush take. Also, turnover battle made a massive difference as well. On Jeter- He was directly responsible for 11 points. I’d say that is significant in a 10 point win.
And now onto the take for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Penn State Nittany Lions
Cold Take
Another Unlikely Hero Emerges
Riley Leonard and Jordan Faison are my picks for MVP, but like the previous two contests, I an unlikely hero emerges in a big moment. Against Indiana, Jayden Thomas made a huge touchdown catch at the goal line. Against Georgia, it was RJ Oben, Jayden Harrison, Mitch Jeter, Junior Tuihalamaka, and Beaux Collins. This game will be no different, though we see it from Kris Mitchell. He finds space in a roll out zone concept, makes a man miss, and takes it 40+ yards for a TD.
Kris Mitchell has six targets in his last two games after only amassing four in the previous three.
If he’s going to give Notre Dame these kinds of moves and yards after the catch, the Irish should sling it out to him and let him go more often. Part of an improving passing game. pic.twitter.com/qB9c40SaRL
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) October 24, 2024
Hot Take
Al Golden & co. holds Tyler Warren to under 50 total yards and 0 TDs.
Warren is the engine that makes this offense move and does it running, catching, throwing, handing off etc. I expect him to be featured early and often……HOWEVVVAA Al Golden understands that he can single handedly take this game over and will get very creative in shutting him down. We will see LB chips, Xavier Watts covering, and other schemes to limit his production. They also key on him even more any time the ball gets close to the red zone. This will likely lead to some bigger plays from others on PSU, but the the goal will be to make someone else beat you. This will be another huge game for Leonard Moore and Christian Gray as a result, who will be lined up in man coverage nearly the entire game.
Your Takes: Please leave your takes below (hot, cold medium-any temp). I will feature the Top Takes next week. GO IRISH!