Notre Dame Football: 3 hot takes from disappointing loss to Cincinnati

Cincinnati Bearcats defensive lineman Myjai Sanders (21) hits Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Jordan Botelho (12) as he throws an interception made by Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Deshawn Pace (20) in the first half of the NCAA football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind.Cincinnati Bearcats At Notre Dame Fighting Irish 185 /

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SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 02: Drew White #40 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish tries to make the stop on Desmond Ridder #9 of the Cincinnati Bearcats during the second half at Notre Dame Stadium on October 2, 2021 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

2. Do not blame this loss on the defense

If you are going to blame one side of the ball it should not be the defense. The Notre Dame offense did the defense no favors for much of the afternoon.

The Irish defense was able to keep them in the game. The defense really helped spark Notre Dame as a whole with that strip-sack in the second half to set the Irish up with great field position.

The score really could have been a lot worse but Notre Dame was able to keep the Bearcats offense out of the end zone on a few occasions which was huge.

The defensive unit will tell you they did not play well enough, especially on the deep balls to extend drives. But for the most part in my opinion I believe the defense played well and was on the field way too much on Saturday.

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