Notre Dame Football: 3 takeaways from blowout win in Camping World Bowl

By Dante Pryor | Dec 28, 2019

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: TaRiq Bracy #28 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates after breaking up a pass in the end zone against La'Michael Pettway #7 of the Iowa State Cyclones in the second quarter of the Camping World Bowl at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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ORLANDO, FL – DECEMBER 28: Khalid Kareem #53 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on while warming up before the Camping World Bowl against the Iowa State Cyclones at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

3. Identity is everything

Brian Kelly said in a pregame interview said one of the reasons he let go of Chip Long is he wanted to “get back to the DNA” of Notre Dame football. He went on to say Notre Dame was a “linemen” school. Well Saturday’s game was indicative of how the Irish want to play football.

Kelly and the Irish want to run the football with physicality, throw the football off of play action and play tough defense. Mission accomplished.

Notre Dame wanted to establish their dominance along the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. The Irish kept quarterback Ian Book fairly clean giving up only one sack. The run game was as good. Led by redshirt junior Tony Jones Jr., Notre Dame ran for almost 200 yards at 5.5 yards per carry.

The Irish sacked Cyclones quarterback Brock Purdy three times and held them to just 1.7 yards per rush.

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