Notre Dame Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2021 season

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Jan 1, 2021; Atlanta, GA, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) throws a pass against the Georgia Bulldogs in the second quarter of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Marcus Freeman goes from his “earn your keep” game against Wisconsin to a battle against his former boss in Luke Fickell.

Cincinnati is going to be one of the top Group of Five teams in college football next season and Desmond Ridder returns under center which could give the Irish some issues. While they’ll have faced quarterbacks like McKenzie Milton and Graham Mertz to this point in the year, Ridder may be the toughest matchup. He can utilize his legs to burn the Irish defense and that will cause problems.

This game will get interesting and it’ll be back-and-forth for the most part as the Bearcats will have Brian Kelly’s former team on the ropes before two late touchdowns put Cincinnati away.

Cincinnati will be up 21-20 in the fourth but Tyler Buchner will engineer two long touchdown drives which will drain the clock and give the Irish a 13-point lead. A late touchdown by Cincinnati will give the Bearcats life, but they’ll fail to recover the ensuing onside kick.

Notre Dame escapes here.

Final Score: Cincinnati 28, Notre Dame 34 (5-0)

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