Miami - Notre Dame Gameday Vitals

Game Day Vitals

• Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-0) vs. Miami Hurricanes (4-1)

• Time: 7:30 pm ET

• Series Record: Notre Dame leads 16-7-1

• Last Matchup with UM: 2010 Sun Bowl – Notre Dame 33, Miami 17

• Location: Soldier Field; Chicago, IL

• Television: NBC

Opponent Information

• Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-0)

• Head Coach: Brian Kelly

• Season Results:
  • Notre Dame 50, Navy 14

  • Notre Dame 20, Purdue 17

  • Notre Dame 20, Michigan State 3

  • Notre Dame 13, Michigan 6

• Offensive leaders
  • Passing: Everett Golson (641yds, 3 TD, 3 INT, 56.2% comp)

  • Rushing: Theo Riddick (242 yds, 2 TD, 3.8 ypc)

  • Receiving: DaVaris Daniels (159 yds)

• Yards per game – offense: 351.25 (95th)

• Yards per game – defense: 291.25 (15th)

• Official Notre Dame website: www.und.com

• SB Nation Notre Dame blog: OneFootDown.com

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• Welp! It's the "Shamrock Series" in Notre Dame-speak, so our foe will be wearing some of the ugliest uniforms in the history of mankind tonight (although nowhere near the disgusting duds that Edsall's Terps wore in last year's opener). As our guys, I believe, will be wearing their regular unis, hopefully the Irish will be as embarassed as the rest of us will be for them. K, maybe not, but still.

• A bigger concern for our Canes will be that Irish front 7 that has been masquerading as a vice grip on the offensive lines of teams who didn't pay protection to the mob. Manti Te'o is just freakish, who can create pressure, stuff the run game, and drop back in coverage. He has three interceptions so far this year, including two against Michigan. Stephen Tuitt has six sacks on this young season. Prince Shembo is disruptive. It might be the most physical defensive front the Canes face this year, although Florida State waves hi. And the Canes will be trying to handle this bunch without RT Ben Jones, who will be replaced by Ereck Flowers and/or Seantrel Henderson. Whether or not the Canes can hang tonight depends on this bunch, because if they can give Stephen Morris time.........

• The Canes may have a puncher's chance. Miami has shown they can move the ball on the ground and through the air this year, as they have found a terrific rhythm in the running game with Mike James and Duke Johnson. While that sledding will be tougher tonight, opening up the run through the passing game could be the plan. Miami has shown they have a number of young weapons in the passing game, all of whom are capable of hitting the big play. The line has protected Morris well during his air raiding. Tonight will be a supreme challenge.

• Of course, can Miami's defense stop one of the nation's lowest-ranked offenses statistically? Notre Dame certainly has some players that can hurt the Canes, i.e., RB Cierre Wood, who killed the Canes in the Sun Bowl. They actually have a pretty healthy rotation of running backs, so they may look to pound down a Canes' front which has obliged the opposition far too much. TE Tyler Eifert can create mismatches on linebackers in the middle of the field and will command regular attention from the Canes' defense.