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Notre Dame football: 3 bold predictions vs. Louisville in Week 6

By Ryan Van Dever

Sep 30, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chase Ketterer (27), wide receiver Tobias Merriweather (5),quarterback Sam Hartman (10), and offensive lineman Joe Alt (76) walk out before the first half of the game against Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chase Ketterer (27), wide receiver Tobias Merriweather (5),quarterback Sam Hartman (10), and offensive lineman Joe Alt (76) walk out before the first half of the game against Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports /
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Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison is one of the best cornerbacks in the nation and the Louisville Cardinals will have their hands full with him on Thrash.
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

2. The Notre Dame football defense will reign supreme

With an elite cornerback in Benjamin Morrison presumably drawing the duty of defending Jamari Thrash, running the ball might be Louisville’s most promising prospect at winning the game. The Irish allow an average of 124.2 yards a game on the ground, which ranks 52nd in the nation. This will be the Cardinals’ most formidable defense they’ve encountered so far this season.

The goal for Louisville in this game will be attempting to keep Jack Plummer and his pocket clean. Notre Dame loves to pressure the quarterback as they have all season, and they will plan to continue this trend. The Irish front seven is a formidable squad; they blitz as much as any team in the country and have done it successfully this season. The downside is that teams will make adjustments as Duke did last weekend, being shut out in the first half and scoring two touchdowns in the second half.

This will be the third consecutive year Notre Dame faces Louisville quarterback Jack Plummer, but the first as a Cardinal. In 2021, Plummer played for Purdue; he started for California last year. Plummer reunited at Louisville with former Boilers head coach Jeff Brohm. Plummer has put up solid 2023 numbers so far, throwing for 1,406 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. His favorite target is Jamari Thrash, who has 22 receptions for 444 yards and five touchdowns.

Louisville has leaned on Jawhar Jordan for most of the ball-carrying responsibilities, with the junior at 510 rushing yards and six touchdowns. His 66 attempts are 35 more than the next closest running back.

One of the keys of this game will be if the Notre Dame defense can slow down this running attack, as the Irish rank 53rd in the FBS with 124.2 yards per game allowed. The challenge is clear for the Irish: shut down the run game for Louisville, and the offense won’t be as good.

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