As we all know by now, UGA has lost 2 big commits in the last few days. Although the 1st reaction is to wonder to yourself “what’s going on in Athens” there’s still no reason to panic just yet. Kirby has shown time and time again that he might knows a thing or 2 about recruiting. Also let’s keep in mind that these upcoming high school seniors have not had the opportunity to visit campuses on officials since March of 2020, so these guys are finally getting the opportunity to have the red carpet rolled out for them. Let’s let these kids live it up for now and know the “G”, and one of the best closers in the business in Kirby, will be fine come signing day.
On the bright side, after UGA losing 2 5 ⭐️‘S they are still ranked ahead of Florida.

OK, maybe the refs.

After a one-week hiatus, Poseur and Chris are back with Seth and Jake to recap the Auburn game, then talk Game of the Century II. Do the Tigers have what it takes to beat Bama this year? The guys also discuss the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season, and answer listener questions.

We’ve had our fluids, we’ve stretched, we’ve even taken a nice nap... we are prepared for this Bama game. Doing all the things you need to do to get ready for this thing.

Intro/outro song is “Je Suis Fier de Toi” by The Mudbugs Cajun & Zydeco Band from their 2010 album “Mudbugs”. Used with permission and gratitude!

Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

LSU at Alabama highlights this weekend’s slate.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Buffs look to avoid a sixth straight loss and bowl game elimination in Mel Tucker’s first season

For the first time since 1904, the Colorado Buffaloes (3-6, 1-5 Pac-12) will face a Stanford Cardinal (4-4, 3-3 Pac-12) team past the first week of November. Both teams are fighting for postseason hopes late in the season with no room for error. It’s not an easy road for either team considering Colorado needs to win out after losing five straight games, and Stanford needs two of the four remaining games with two them coming on the road, along with facing 15th-ranked Notre Dame in the season finale at home.

A season that started out at 1-3 for Shaw’s team improved to .500 with back-to-back wins at Oregon State and vs. No. 15 Washington to open October. Since that point, the Cardinal gave away a 34-16 loss to UCLA and took a 41-31 win over Arizona two weeks ago to remain even on the year. Stanford is one loss away from matching the worst record in Shaw’s tenure in Palo Alto— a 9-5 season that produced a Pac-12 North title in 2017 for the then 20th-ranked Cardinal.

Stanford struggled to make the postseason with a total eight bowl appearances prior to the Jim Harbaugh era. Since Shaw arrived in Palo Alto in 2011, the Cardinal have never missed the postseason and are trying for an extra game for the 11th year in a row as the most consistent team in the Pac-12, including four straight BCS bowls between 2010 and 2013 to make Stanford the winning-est conference program of the decade. The Cardinal has won 98 games since the start of the 2010 season, tied for the sixth-most in college football. Just five programs have reached 100 wins this decade.

However, Shaw’s focus isn’t looking ahead to December, but rather taking it one week at a time. “I’m not even thinking about bowl games,” Shaw said this week. “Our charge every week is to play our best football. We’re chasing that great game where you walk out of the stadium saying, ‘Guys, that was our best game.’ That’s what we want. The bowl game stuff will happen however it happens, but our focus is just on what happens on game day.”

The last time Colorado and Stanford meet on the gridiron was 2016. A defensive road battle decided by 10-5 score in favor of the Buffaloes and helped secure a bowl bid for the first time in a decade during “The Rise.” Since that time, CU has gone 9-20 against conference opponents including a 31-point blowout in the 2016 Pac-12 Championship at the hands of 4th-ranked Washington. Colorado has allowed 30+ points in 14 straight games going back to last season, the longest streak in FBS. On the other side, Stanford has surpassed the 30-point mark just twice this season both resulting in wins. Although, one thing to watch in the meeting between the Buffs and Cardinal is the 40-point mark. Stanford is 31-0 under Shaw when scoring 40-or-more points.

While Colorado’s defense has taken a beating as of late, the offense hasn’t produced outstanding numbers either. The Buffs averaged 34.6 points per game thru the first five contests of the season and a low 14.5-point average in the four games since. A look at the stat line over the past month tells a story of the past 16 quarters. A total of 49 offensive drives (not including end of half) resulting in 22 punts, 12 turnovers, 7 touchdowns, 5 missed FGs and 3 made FGs for the Buffs.

The Cardinal have done well defensively this season allowing 28.0 points per game, but still manages to be one of the seven Pac-12 teams to give up over 400+ yards a game. What offsets the lack of discipline is Stanford’s ability to score on both sides of the ball. The Cardinal is currently 15th in the nation and has scored three non-offensive touchdowns this season.

A shuffle for Stanford at quarterback with K.J. Costello returning in the win over Arizona after missing three games due to a thumb injury. The senior starter takes back control of Cardinal offense after backup Davis Mills passed for 890 yards and five touchdowns to an interception in Costello’s absence. Mills’ relief effort was the best start by a Stanford QB in their first three games since 2003. In 24 career starts, Costello has led the Cardinal to a 15-9 record. His 48 career touchdown passes are tied for sixth-most in school history.

After Bryce Love’s exit to the NFL, Stanford’s workhorse out of the backfield this season is Cameron Scarlett. The fifth-year senior from Portland, Ore has rushed for 700 yards and five touchdowns this season, and is 39 yards shy of matching Love’s rushing yard total from last season. Through eight games, Scarlett is second behind Mills with 859 all-purpose yards.

News and notes

Second Half Hustle: “Stanford is 75-7 when leading at halftime under David Shaw and has won 59 of its last 62 games when leading after three quarters.”

Showing up early and often: “Colorado’s attendance of 48,913 for the Southern California game pushed the season number to 203,593 for four games, including two sellouts (against Nebraska and Arizona State; the last time CU exceeded 200,000 for its first four home games was in 2011 (203,666), CU’s first year in the Pac-12. The Buffaloes are at 101.4 percent of capacity at this point, one of the top figures nationally (CU’s final season ticket count for the year was 20,414, while students purchased the full allotment of 12, 254 sport passes).”

No DirecTV— A big deal: Stanford’s David Shaw shared his thoughts about the Pac-12 needing a deal with DirecTV before the season. Here’s what he had to say.

From the desk of Dave Plati:

“Stat of the week: Third Down Successes. Colorado has been fairly proficient on third downs this season, especially when it comes to third-and-short (third-and-four or less). The Buffaloes are 38-of-55 in such situations, which translates to a 69.1 percent conversion rate (CU is 28-of-37 on third-and-three or less, 75.7 percent, and has earned a first down 10 of 12 times on third-and-one). Against UCLA, the Buffs converted all five times when faced with third-and-four or less. When CU has called a running play on third or fourth down, it has converted 33 of 45 times (73.3 percent), with WR Laviska Shenault leading the way (8-of-8), followed by TB Jaren Mangham (10-of-12) and TB Alex Fontenot (9-of-13).”

Game Info

Colorado welcomes Stanford into Folsom Field for the first time since 2015 on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. MT. The Cardinal have won two of the past three over the Buffs, despite losing the most-recent meeting in 2016. Stanford holds a 6-4 all-time advantage over CU, 3-1 as members of the Pac-12.

TV: Pac-12 Network (except DirecTV)

Radio: 850 KOA (Regional) Mark Johnson (play-by-play)/ Gary Barnett (color)

Weather Forecast: 67°, clear at kickoff

Odds: -3 Stanford

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Pete is coming to E-Town! Not creepy at all.

We’re still doing this. Northwestern (1-7, 0-6 Big Ten) is actually favored for the first time since UNLV as they ready to play host to Purdue (3-6, 2-4). But will the Boilermakers’ injuries get the better of them, or will it be the Wildcats who fail to capitalize on a winnable 11 a.m. home tilt?

Here’s how our staff sees things playing out on Parents Weekend in Evanston:

Joe Weinberg: Northwestern 10, Purdue 9

Lake the fucking posts.

Noah Coffman: Purdue 17, Northwestern 16

I really want to pick the Wildcats this week. I even think they’ll score a touchdown! But Aidan O’Connell, in limited action so far this season has seemed pretty solid for a third-string quarterback. He will outplay his fellow Aidan (or Hunter Johnson, we still don’t have an injury report) and Purdue’s complete lack of a run game won’t be enough to sink them.

Get ready for some impressive Charlie Kuhbander field goal kicking, though.

Claire Kuwana: Purdue 13, Northwestern 7

Even with an injury-ridden offense, Purdue will still manage to produce coming off their win over Nebraska. Northwestern may score their first touchdown in over a month. I’m feeling optimistic.

Avery Zimmerman: Northwestern 17, Purdue 10

Northwestern finally gets some takeaways and capitalizes with..... touchdowns!

Matthew Albert: Northwestern 9, Purdue 6

Go ‘Cats. Cancer sucks.

Jacob Brown: Purdue 17, Northwestern 7

With NU’s postseason hopes dashed, and Johnson nursing another injury, I hope the coaching staff will stay away from risking his health (but who knows at this point?) Aidan Smith will throw a touchdown, but Aidan O’Connell and the Boilermakers will dominate time of possession, and win the game easily.

Daniel Olinger: Purdue 17, Northwestern 3

The Ringer’s Ryen Russillo said something something in an NBA preview that I think can apply to Northwestern’s football team. According to Russillo, with certain players we already know the answer to “the question” about them, so we should stop asking it. The question all season with Northwestern has been related to when the offense will improve. It’s been asked enough times, at this point, that everyone should know the answer is never.

This offense is not going to suddenly break through and muster enough points to win Big Ten games. Things don’t change as much as people would like to believe. As much as everyone wants to talk themselves into something like a 17-10 ‘Cats win, that’s just not what this team is this year. I don’t enjoy ripping on a team that’s filled with some really great people, but in 2019, they just aren’t good enough at football.

Mac Stone: Northwestern 13, Purdue 7

Northwestern is bad. Really, really bad. Purdue is also bad though, and will be without their best player in Rondale Moore, who went down in late September with a leg injury. This is going to be an eyesore of a game. The low score won’t be the result of good defense, but horrific offense. If you’re in Vegas, you’re betting your life on the under (the total is currently 39.5 points, who did the math on that?)

Colin Kruse: Purdue 9, Northwestern 6

Both teams are going to struggle immensely on offense, and the special teams units will have field days. Star turns from Andrew David, Trey Finison, and Kuhbander are incoming. Neither Aidan will lead their respective offenses to touchdowns, but, because the world is a cruel place and nobody can have nice things this season, the Boilermakers somehow will prevail. Take the under, folks.

Eli Karp: Purdue 16, Northwestern 10

I picked Northwestern the last two weeks to try to move up in the standings. I’m done now. The touchdown drought ends, though!

Inside NU Prediction Standings

Joe Weinberg: 7-1

Noah Coffman: 6-2

Avery Zimmerman: 6-2

Colin Kruse: 6-2

William Karmin: 5-3

Lia Assimakopoulos: 4-3

Jacob Brown: 4-1

Eli Karp: 3-5

Matt Albert: 2-5

Daniel Olinger: 3-0

Mac Stone: 3-0

Caleb Friedman: 1-0

Lucio Vainesman: 1-0

Claire Kuwana: 1-0

Ryley Hougland: 1-2

Graham Brennan: 0-1

Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

One tailback returns; another is on the shelf.

The South Carolina Gamecocks enter Senior Night’s contest against Appalachian State in fairly good health for this time of year, although the backfield continues to struggle with having all hands on deck. Let former and oft-banged up cornerback Akeem Auguste guide you through a lengthy report which, thankfully, contains mostly good news.

Zero Augustes - Full go!

One Augustes - Should play, but won’t start

Two Augustes - Game-time decision

Three Augustes - Questionable

Four Augustes - Unlikely

Five Augustes - Out

Tavien Feaster — Five Augustes

The Clemson transfer who came in and made exactly the kind of instant impact Gamecock fans were hoping for is currently down for the count with a groin injury. This is unfortunate, since he and Rico Dowdle together have rejuvenated South Carolina’s rushing attack and made quite the duo when both were healthy.

A.J. Turner — Four Augustes

It’s not exactly clear what Turner’s status is, but the running-back-corner-back utility player is still nursing a hamstring injury and those are notoriously difficult, so I wouldn’t expect to see him this week.

Shi Smith — Three Augustes

The junior wide receiver joins Turner in dealing with a hamstring pull. He’s officially considered questionable, but it sounds like his availability will ultimately be a game-time decision.

Rico Dowdle — Zero Augustes

But here’s the good news! Dowdle, who has struggled with a snake-bitten injury history throughout his career, suffered another blow to his ankle a couple weeks ago. Fortunately, he’s back to full speed and will be ready to go against the Apps.

Dylan Wonnum — Zero Augustes

After missing five games with an ankle injury of his own, the offensive lineman is finally set to make his return.

Keir Thomas — Zero Augustes

The senior defensive lineman has been absent all season while battling a lingering infection after offseason ankle surgery. Coach Will Muschamp has given him the green light, but I’m not sure how much we’ll see him, given his prolonged recovery.

Damani Staley — Zero Augustes

The reserve linebacker sat out against Vanderbilt with turf toe, but is good to go.

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame has to play Duke again. It will hopefully not be like last time.

You guys are never going to believe this, but the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team has yet ANOTHER game this weekend.

Yes, I know, it’s wild.

The 6-2, #15 Irish travel to Durham to face off against Coach David Cutcliffe and his 4-4 Duke Blue Devils tomorrow, and after the past two games for Notre Dame, it goes without saying that even Duke can make us uneasy about how our team will perform...especially remembering the last time ND took on the Blue Devils.

Sorry about that, you’ll probably want to toss some acid into your eyes really quick. Maybe watch this to get some positive feelings back in ya?

Once you’ve done that, let’s move past watching a BVG defense lose to Duke at home and focus on Clark Lea’s squad hopefully turning it up a notch while the offense does the same, eh?

Here’s how the two teams match up.

Duke Offense vs. Notre Dame Defense

The Duke Blue Devils offense is not particularly great this season. They’re ranked 95th offensively in SP+ and are 100th in total offense (66th in rushing, 103rd in passing). Furthermore, they average less than 30 points per game, 64th in the country in scoring offense.

Meanwhile, Clark Lea’s defense has, besides the Michigan game, proven to be very consistent and pretty stingy, ranked 29th in SP+ ratings, 33rd in total defense, and 28th in scoring defense. On paper, this group should suffocate the Blue Devils and it should be smooth sailing for the Irish.

Unfortunately, that’s not how things have gone for the Irish lately, and Duke brings another dual-threat QB and some explosive offensive weapons to the table that could cause some issues.

Let’s start with the Duke passing game, which is certainly their weakness, which is odd considering David Cutcliffe is known for being such a good developer of QBs and a strong offensive mind. However, with the departure of 1st Round pick Daniel Jones, Quentin Harris has stepped in as QB1, and although he’s been decent passing the ball, he also hasn’t seen a pass defense as good as ND’s since the opener vs. the Alabama Crimson Tide. Duke lost that game 42-3 while Harris went 12-for-22 for 97 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.

Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports

Indeed, the Irish’s pass defense is 14th in the country in passing yards allowed per game, and 19th in yards allowed per passing attempt, surrendering just 6.28. That group, as we all know at this point, is led by a bevy of veteran guys that includes a pair of senior captains at safety — Alohi Gilman (46 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR) and Jalen Elliott (29 tackles, 2 PD, 2 INT) — as well as reliable cover guys Troy Pride Jr. (27 tackles, 5 PD) and Shaun Crawford (17 tackles, 2 PD, 1 INT). That nucleus of seniors does a fantastic job of not letting receivers get behind them for many big plays, and none of them shy away from contact or making key tackles in space.

Along with those older guys, there have been a couple of youths making waves in the secondary, as TaRiq Bracy (21 tackles, 5 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR) stepped up in Crawford’s absence while he was injured, and freshman Kyle Hamilton has been better than advertised — 28 tackles, 3 PD, 3 INT (1 TD) — which is saying a lot for the 5-star talent.

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

The continued strong play from that group will be important, as Harris has been able to find some success this year with some pretty dynamic receivers running routes for him. The leader of that group has been WR Jalon Calhoun, who’s hauled in 37 passes for 294 yards and 3 touchdowns so far this season.

WR Scott Bracey is a big-play, home run threat kind of guy who’s got 257 yards and a pair of scores on just 19 catches, and Aaron Young has been equally strong with 18 catches, 234 yards, and two touchdowns himself. Add in TE Noah Gray’s 32 receptions for 238 yards and 2 scores, along with the unbelievable catch-to-touchdown ratio of Eli Pancol — 4 catches on the year, 3 touchdowns scored — and the Blue Devils have some skill guys who can hurt you if allowed to get open.

Running backs Deon Jackson and Mataeo Durant, in fact, are pretty strong in the passing game as well, combining for 28 receptions, 262 yards, and 3 touchdowns out of the backfield.

Of course, none of this will matter if QB Quentin Harris can’t get the ball consistently to those guys — especially considering they won’t be open every play with that vaunted Irish pass defense hounding them on their routes.

Harris is an okay passer, having tossed the ball for 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns so far in 2019 while completing passes at a 61% clip. However, he’s averaging just 6.1 yards per attempt through the air, and has managed to throw 7 interceptions already, meaning the Irish secondary has to be licking their chops a bit, hoping Harris takes the wrong chance out there.

One way Clark Lea can help nudge Harris in that direction will be by hitting him with a good pass rush that gets to the QB, hits him often, contains him in the pocket while collapsing said pocket, and piles up the sacks. The defensive end duo of Julian Okwara (16 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR) and Khalid Kareem (28 tackles, 4.5 sacks) are WAY overdue for a repeat of the 2nd half performance against the Virginia Cavaliers, and Harris is similar in a lot of ways to Perkins in terms of his being a decent passer and a VERY dangerous runner.

Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images

If Okwara and Kareem — in conjunction with key reserves Adetokunbo Ogundeji and Jamir Jones (combined 32 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 FF, 1 FR TD) and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (4 sacks) — can put frequent heat on Harris and make sure he’s bottled up and taken to the turf often, the Irish will really be in business, considering how one-dimensional that kind of effort will make the Blue Devils.

Duke’s got an okay running game, and Notre Dame’s rush defense definitely leaves something to be desired (72nd in total rushing defense, 61st in yards allowed per rush at 4.03), so this would be where the Blue Devils could do some damage if the defense isn’t able to take away the pass and focus heavily on stopping the run.

Deon Jackson leads Duke in rushing with 487 yards and 5 touchdowns while averaging a decent 3.9 yards per carry, and his backup Mataeo Durant is solid as well with 248 yards, 3.8 yards per carry, and a rushing touchdown of his own.

Add in Harris and his 408 yards and 6 rushing touchdowns while averaging 3.9 yards per scramble, and Duke would have the weapons necessary to gash the Irish on the ground if they’re having to invest too much in preventing big passing plays.

The most important guys in containing Jackson, Harris, and Durant will be the Irish linebackers. The trio of Asmar Bilal (51 tackles), Drew White (48 tackles, 1 sack), and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (45 tackles, 1 FF, 1 FR) have had their ups and downs this year, but if they can pick the right gaps to shoot and be as sure-tackling as we’ve seen them be, Duke will struggle to move the ball, considering their limitations through the air.

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

It will also be important that Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (16 tackles, 1 FR), Kurt Hinish (13 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 FF), and Jayson Ademilola (16 tackles) continue to get a good push in the middle and clog things up, giving the linebackers time to read the run and make plays.

Offensive Blue Devil to Watch

QB Quentin Harris

If Harris can find just an iota of success through the air tomorrow, it will go a long way in terms of keeping the Irish defense honest and giving the Blue Devils running game some room to work. That plus some big scrambles to keep the chains moving will allow the Dukies to hang around in this one, and with the game played in Durham, who knows what could happen if Duke’s still there at the end of the line.

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive Irish to Watch

DE Julian Okwara

The man was a preseason All-American and projected first round pick, but he’s been incredibly quiet for much of the year. Some of it can be chalked up to teams keying on him and double-teaming him and getting the ball out quick so he’s less effective, but he’s also seemed to disappear at times. With the team still struggling quite a bit, an explosive, loud game from the senior captain would go a long way toward energizing the team and potentially spurring a blowout road win.

Halftime Funtime

Best Names in the Game

1. Notre Dame RB C’Borius Flemister
2. Notre Dame LS Axel Raarup
3. Notre Dame S Litchfield Ajavon
4. Duke PK Charlie Ham
5. Duke S Lummie Young IV
6. Notre Dame TE Tommy Tremble
7. Duke OT Peace Addo
8. Duke LB Koby Quansah
9. Notre Dame DL Hunter Spears
10. Duke LS Lee Rodio
11. Notre Dame LB Ovie Oghoufo
12. Duke WR Damond Philyaw-Johnson
13. Notre Dame DE Nana Osafo-Mensah
14. Duke RB Brittain Brown
15. Duke G Rakavius Chambers
16. Notre Dame CB Temitope Agoro
17. Notre Dame DE Adetokunbo Ogundeji
18. Duke QB Gunnar Holmberg
19. Notre Dame RB Jafar Armstrong
20. Duke LB Sayyid Stevens

Devil Power Rankings, No Context or Explanation Given

1. Devil’s Food Cake
2. A “devil may care” attitude
3. Tasmanian Devil (cartoon character)
4. Tasmanian Devil (animal)
5. “Speak of the devil”
6. Playing Devil’s advocate
7. “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by The Charlie Daniels Band
8. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
9. “The devil is in the details”
10. Devil (2010), which has the following description on IMDB: “A group of people are trapped in an elevator and the Devil is mysteriously amongst them”
11. Geographical features named after the Devil
12. Arizona State Sun Devils
13. Deviled eggs
14. Lucifer/Satan (like, just the actual Devil)
15. “Devil in Disguise” by Elvis Presley
16. Make a deal with the devil/sell your soul to the devil
17. New Jersey Devils
18. Duke Blue Devils

Notre Dame Offense vs. Duke Defense

Whereas the Notre Dame defense appears to have a lot of advantages over the Duke offense, what should be much more interesting is the matchup between the ND offense and the Blue Devil defense.

Both are ranked 37th in the SP+, and although the Irish are 39th in scoring offense while Duke is just 55th in scoring defense, Duke’s defense does a pretty good job of limiting offensive production overall (40th in total defense) while the Irish struggle a bit in producing great raw offensive output (58th in total offense).

Thus, it should be fun to see if offensive coordinator Chip Long is able to change up his game plan a bit after a horrid performance in the rain at Michigan and a mostly bad follow-up against a Virginia Tech defense that rates lower than Duke’s.

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

The key, no doubt, will be QB Ian Book and his continued search for redemption after some disappointing games earlier in the season. Book has been fairly productive overall with 1,828 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, and has done a great job in limiting turnovers, throwing just 4 interceptions.

However, his accuracy (58% completion) has dipped substantially — roughly 10 percentage points — since last season, and persistent issues with abandoning the pocket early and not being able/willing to toss deep balls to a nice array of deep threats has left the offense an incomplete mess that really has trouble driving down the field and scoring against competent defenses.

Duke’s pass defense is its strength on that side of the ball, as the Blue Devils are 43rd in the country in passing defense and 27th in yards allowed per passing attempt (6.75). Their secondary includes a number of guys with a penchant for making plays on the ball, like safeties Marquis Waters (43 tackles, 5 PD, 2 INT) and Michael Carter II (37 tackles, 3 PD) and corners Leonard Johnson (33 tackles, 5 PD, 2 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR) and Josh Blackwell (18 tackles, 4 PD).

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Add in Dylan Singleton, who is 2nd on the team in tackles with 55 (plus 2 FF and 1 FR), and Jalen Alexander, who has 2 picks himself in 2019, and it’s obvious that Duke’s secondary is entirely capable of making some big plays, especially if Ian Book manages to make some big mistakes and throw the ball into risky spots like he did against Georgia and Virginia Tech.

Book will especially be interesting to watch due to Duke’s solid pass rush they’ll send his way — the Blue Devils are tied with Notre Dame for 35th in the country in team sacks, and have multiple guys who really know how to get to the QB and wreak havoc. DE Victor Dimukeje is the guy to watch in that regard, as he’s already got 6.5 sacks on the season and will surely have been told by his coaching staff that his ability to put pressure on Book will force him to ditch his progressions, scramble, and hopefully do much less damage than what could be done by standing in and patiently finding open receivers downfield.

Alongside Dimukeje, look for defensive ends Chris Rumph II (30 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 PD) and Tre Hornbuckle (24 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 FF) to be causing some issues — especially considering the recent injury to starting right tackle Robert Hainsey, as he is done for the season with a broken ankle.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive tackles Trevon McSwain and Edgar Cerenord (combined 36 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2 FF, 1 INT) provide some decent heft in the middle and could cause issues as well, what with RG Tommy Kraemer out with a sprained MCL. How Duke attacks that weakened right side of the ND offensive line, and how reserves Trevor Ruhland and Josh Lugg hold up, will be critical for how much time Book even has to pass tomorrow.

If Book does find himself with decent protection, he will of course first look to his two go-to targets, Chase Claypool and Cole Kmet. Claypool was once again fantastic and critical to the team’s success in the 21-20 win over the Hokies last weekend, as he reeled in 8 passes for 118 yards, including multiple HUGE, clutch catches on the final scoring drive for the Irish. On the season, Claypool has amassed a stat line of 37 catches for 554 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Kmet has probably not been targeted in this offensive game plan as much as fans would like, but he’s still a major mismatch whenever he’s out there running routes, and in 6 games has been able to snare 27 balls for 318 yards and 5 touchdowns, which is pretty damn good considering the roller coaster ride this offense has been on this year.

Along with Claypool and Kmet, look for Book to hopefully sprinkle in passes to guys like Javon McKinley (11 rec, 268 yds, 4 TD), Chris Finke (20 rec, 233 yds, 1 TD), and Tommy Tremble (11 rec, 145 yds, 3 TD). Avery Davis and Braden Lenzy (17 rec, 232 yds, 3 TD combined) could also add a spark or two if given the chance, considering their speed and cutting ability.

If Duke is successful in pressuring Book and taking him out of his game through the air, the Irish will HAVE to be running the ball successfully to have a shot at winning this game. Rush defense is not really a strong suit for this Duke defense (54th in rushing defense, 53rd in yards per rush allowed), but unfortunately for us Irish fans, the ND rushing offense has not exactly been dominant this year (72nd in the country in total rushing, 63rd in yards per rush). Considering 40% of the starting offensive line is out, it might be a long day for Tony Jones Jr. and Jafar Armstrong in trying to get things going on the ground.

Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images

Jones Jr. has been very good this season, having run for 571 yards and 4 touchdowns while averaging 6.5 yards per carry. He sat out the Virginia Tech game after injuring his ribs against Michigan, but will supposedly be good to go tomorrow in Durham. The Irish could certainly use him back, considering his powerful, agile running style and consistent ability to move the chains if given just a sliver of room to work with by his offensive line.

Jafar Armstrong, meanwhile, has been hurt for much of the season, and since returning from injury has really done nothing of note, running for just 46 yards and averaging a paltry 1.8 yards per carry. Jahmir Smith has actually been the second-best back for the Irish, running for 4.5 yards per carry while accumulating 122 yards and 2 touchdowns this year.

Of course, I’d be remiss in talking about the ND rushing offense if I left out Ian Book and his 251 yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground, including the game winner against VaTech last weekend. For all the flaws Book has, he’s still a very good runner for a QB, and definitely uses his legs pretty well when necessary to turn losses into gains, move the chains, and give defenses fits.

On Saturday, there will be a trio of linebackers tasked with running him down and making sure Irish ball carriers can’t find any space in the second level in general. Koby Quansah is the leader of that group, considering his 72 tackles (plus 1.5 sacks, 2 PD, 1 FR), and along with Brandon Hill (50 tackles, 1 sack, 3 PD) and Shaka Heyward (33 tackles, 1 sack, 2 FR), they definitely have the skill and aggression necessary to bottle up the ND run game if the offensive line struggles to get a good push up front.

Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Defensive Blue Devil to Watch

DE Victor Dimukeje

We know at this point that getting into Ian Book’s face, like with many other QBs, is the best way to force him to make mistakes, abandon plays early, etc. Dimukeje is an excellent pass rusher, and with junior captain Robert Hainsey out for the rest of the year, Dimukeje may have free reign at times in getting to the ND QB. If that’s indeed the case — watch out, folks.

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive Irish to Watch

QB Ian Book

Guess who! Book played a bit better last week, but the offense still struggled mightily and Book made some near-critical mistakes that he simply shouldn’t be making at this point. Duke’s got a solid defense, and with the right side of the o-line out, Book will need to elevate his game and make some dazzling passes and runs to ensure the Irish come away from North Carolina with a W.

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Special Teams???

Duke’s kicker, AJ Reed, has not missed a kick this season. He is 27-for-27 on extra points and 9-for-9 on field goals. Folks, it’s time for that to change, amiright???

Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Meanwhile, ND’s Jonathan Doerer has been pretty damn good himself, making all 32 of his PAT tries while also hitting 6 of his 8 field goals.

Duke is rated a bit better in special teams than the Notre Dame — the Blue Devils are 31st in SP+ vs. 44th for the Irish — but I don’t anticipate special teams playing too huge of a role in this one (and of course, in saying that, I have all but ensured that Duke will run back a kickoff or ND will block a field goal or something).

Alright, Let’s Predict the Result of This One

Notre Dame 33, Duke 20

Duke is better than Virginia Tech for sure, so this won’t be an easier match-up than last weekend, especially on the road and with some injuries taking their toll. But with that said, I think the Irish are going to once again improve their play week-over-week, we’ll see some big turnovers from the defense, and Ian Book and his squad will be just good enough to make this a comfortable final score despite a decently close game happening throughout. Sorry, David Cutcliffe!

Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Next?

Let’s attempt to corral this madness. The Seminoles are in the market for their next head football coach, and as is par for the social-media course, lunacy has ensued. So we’re here to inject a little perspective, in the form of disseminating which hires are actually viable for the ’Noles. We’ll update this piece as new information becomes available, but keep in mind that this list is neither exhaustive nor an endorsement.

Bob Stoops

Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

This is FSU’s top choice. But despite what some want you to believe, nothing appears to have been finalized as of yet. As per usual, many without real information will hazard guesses, hoping they’re right so that they can later claim to have been first with the news. But the retired Stoops is an attractive option because he brings massive clout and experience, as a former national champion head coach with Oklahoma— and the fact that he doesn’t require a buyout only helps, even if the ’Noles will likely make it up in salary. However, Stoops hasn’t been the biggest fan of recruiting in the southeast.

Several national voices have been quite down on the possibility of Stoops taking over in Tallahassee, but early denial is often the name of the game when it comes to the extended courtship involved between big-name programs and top-tier coaches.

Mark Stoops

Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

A former Seminole defensive coordinator (2010-2012), Mark is Bob’s younger brother and currently the head coach at Kentucky. In addition to experience in Tallahassee, he’s done a nice job resurrecting Wildcat football at a basketball school, but he’s far from the most inspiring target out there. Then again, his $1.75 million buyout is far from prohibitive, and FSU is far from drowning in cash.

James Franklin

Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images

Franklin’s name was bandied about when Florida State was last searching for a head coach, and his star is on the rise. The Penn State team he leads is 8-0 and 4th in the first College Football Playoff rankings. His $1 million buyout isn’t much, and he has head coaching experience in the southeast, having helmed the ship at Vanderbilt from 2011-2013. Competing against Clemson every year doesn’t sound like much of a draw— but Franklin is a great recruiter, and the Big Ten East is no slouch either. Still, would he want to leave Happy Valley, given what he’s built with the Nittany Lions?

Mike Norvell

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Norvell’s was another name mentioned the last time FSU sought a new boss. The Memphis head coach has limited head coaching experience, having been in charge of the Tigers since just 2016, but his 8-1 team boasts a top-10 SP+ offense. With a buyout of only $500,000, the price is right. And he’s only 38.

P.J. Fleck

Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images

After a year coaching receivers for the Tampa Bay Bucs, Fleck debuted as a head coach with Western Michigan prior to taking over at Minnesota in 2017. The Golden Gophers are 8-0 (an inflated record against the Big Ten Coastal — er, West). Still, they have a top-25 offense and defense, per SP+ rankings, which is adjusted for opponents. But Fleck just agreed to a big extension in Minneapolis, and the buyout of $4 million is pricey, especially for a guy with no college coaching experience of any kind south of the Mason-Dixon line.

Matt Campbell

Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images

Winning at Iowa State isn’t easy, but Campbell has shown that it’s more than possible, having captured Big 12 Coach of the Year honors for the last two seasons. Like Fleck, he’s another midwesterner, and also like Fleck, his buyout is high: north of $6 million. It’s a matter of time before Campbell bolts Ames— could that time be now?

Gus Malzahn

Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Now Auburn’s head coach, Malzahn was the OC for the Tigers or War Eagles or Peace Lillies or whatever when they won the national title in 2010. All he needed was a future No. 1 pick QB— so he’s basically Jimbo Fisher. Kidding. But Malzahn is the guy they love to hate on the Plains, so if he wants a change of scenery, he could inherit the same role in Tallahassee.

Odell Haggins

Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

Florida State’s interim head coach for the second time in three years, Haggins’ loyalty to the program is unquestionable. He’s an exceptional recruiter, but would this be a longterm move for the future, or a temporary, feel-good fix? Haggins is also the only guy on this list without any extended head-coaching experience— are the Seminoles in a position to let him learn on the job?

Again, there are more candidates out there. And while some are more likely hires than others, we find these to be plausible — if not probable — options. We’re not here to waste your time, which is why we present the following most recent “possibility” without comment.

The thing that jumped out to me the most in that piece wasn’t the probable talent Iowa has coming in from the walk-ons, but the fact that two brothers of current Iowa players were in the class. It made me look back and realize Iowa has had quite a few brothers run through this program.

Since I’m a blogger, and due to the fact Iowa basketball cancelled this season, I decided to spend some time researching Iowa’s brotherly love of the mostly-Ferentz era. Since you’re still reading this, you may as well just finish up the rest of the post. Here it goes!

LeShun & James Daniels

We’ll start with perhaps the most successful brotherly duo to ever wear the Black & Gold, because the Daniels’ were the first to cross my mind when I thought about this piece.

LeShun Daniels racked up over 1,000 rushing yards in 2016, thanks in large part to his brother James, who helped open up some big holes for his brother (and Akrum Wadley) to run through. James Daniels started 11 games that year and 12 this past season. James is forgoing his senior season to enter the NFL draft, where he’s projected to get taken in the second round.

LeShun Daniels currently finds himself on the Washington Redskins, but broke his foot during a team practice in December.

Riley & Brady Reiff

Another pair of recent brothers, Riley and Brady Reiff were never on the team at the same time, but both made their mark as members of the football program.

Riley Reiff was one of the best Iowa offensive lineman in recent memory, earning all-Big Ten honors and some all-America mentions. He started 37 games on the offensive line over three years, forgoing his senior year to enter the draft. He was selected 23rd overall by the Detroit Lions in 2012, and has started 84 games in his NFL career. Reiff’s addition to the Minnesota Vikings this past season was instrumental in getting the Purple & Gold to the NFC Championship game.

Brady has played sparingly his first two years at Iowa, but looks to make a push for a starting role as a defensive tackle in 2018.

Anthony & Nathan Nelson

You know Anthony Nelson as the terrorizing defensive end who led Iowa with 7.5 sacks this year. His brother, Nathan, comes in at 6-4, 230 lbs and is also projected to play on the defensive line. The younger Nelson comes in unheralded from Waukee, but if he takes to Doyle-ization half as well as his brother, then don’t be surprised if Iowa finds a spot for him on the field.

Brandon & Jaden Snyder

Jaden Snyder comes in with actual offers from programs such as South Dakota State, UNI and South Dakota. But it appears he would rather try and earn his way into playing time for a bigger program and spend a year with his brother in Iowa City.

Jaden is said to be bigger, stronger and faster than his brother Brandon, who’s started 14 games for Iowa at safety after also joining the program as a walk-on. Iowa’s tradition of putting a walk-on at safety could continue with Jaden Snyder.

Broderick & Marcus Binns

Broderick Binns started 31 games for Iowa, and was an instrumental piece of the defensive line on the team that won the Orange Bowl in 2009. He’s since stuck around in Iowa City, being named director of player development for the Iowa football team in 2016.

His younger brother, Marcus, didn’t quite find as much success. A walk-on running back in 2011, Binns never saw the field for Iowa. He suffered from the injury bug early on, and got caught up with the law, being charged with fifth-degree theft, firmly planting him in Kirk Ferentz’s doghouse.

Zach & AJ Derby

You all know AJ Derby as like one of the best Iowa recruits ever at one time, but the stars never quite aligned for AJD, who was done after spending two years in Iowa City. He went on to play for Bret Bielema in Arkansas, and is currently a tight end for the Miami Dolphins.

Zach Derby started 8 games at tight end for Iowa, backing up current NFL tight end CJ Fiedorowicz most of that time.

Ben & Nick Niemann

Ben Niemann’s graduation leaves to door wide open for his brother Nick to compete for a starting linebacker position in 2018. The older Niemann is graduating Iowa after a nice littler career in the Black & Gold, where he amassed 199 tackles, 2 interceptions and forced 2 fumbles in 40 starts.

Nick Niemann saw some time as a redshirt freshman in 2017, mostly as a special-teamer, where he logged 5 tackles.

Levi & Landan Paulsen

The chronicles of the Paulsen twins are well-documented, if not underwhelming given the fact neither brother has played much as a Hawkeye. Levi is expected to start (or at least push for a starting role) at either guard position this year, while Landan looks more suited to be a backup.

Levi has three starts under his belt, including one at right tackle in the Pinstripe bowl, so he has some versatility. Landan hasn’t started a game, but has seen action on special teams. It’s likely we find out this year if the Paulsen Hype is to be founded.

John, Nick & Robert Gallery

Did you know Robert Gallery had not one but TWO brothers who punted for Iowa? I sure didn’t until I sat down to write this!

John Gallery had 8 punts for Iowa in 2005, averaging 42.5 yards a pop.

His brother, Nick, played from 1993-96 and had a short stint in the NFL. He now runs a production company in Brooklyn.

Robert Gallery, meanwhile, won the Outland Trophy in 2003 and earned first-team all-American honors. He is perhaps the greatest offensive lineman to ever wear the Black & Gold. Robert was selected second overall in the 2004 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders, starting 103 games. He retired in 2012.

Brian, James and Steve Ferentz

I almost forgot to include the Ferentz brothers in here!

Brian, as you all know, is Iowa’s offensive coordinator and probably head coach in-waiting if we’re being honest. Before heading back to Iowa City, he coached tight ends for the New England Patriots. As a player, BF started 21 games as a Hawkeye, and spent two years in the NFL as a free agent.

James Ferentz had a pretty illustrious career as a center for Iowa, starting 38 consecutive games at the position. He’s currently on the practice squad for the New England Patriots.

Steve Ferentz didn’t see any action at all until he was a senior on the 2015 team, only appearing in blowouts.

Shaun & Shane Prater

Shane only lasted one year in the Iowa football program, transferring to Iowa Western a year after being on campus. He reportedly had trouble keeping his grades up to stay with the team.

His twin brother, Shaun, had a better go of things in Iowa City. He was selected as first team all-conference as a corner in 2010 and 2011, starting 35 games over three years. He’s currently a free agent in the NFL, but has spent time with the Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals.

Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images

Scott & Nathan Chandler

Nathan started at quarterback for Iowa in 2003, leading the Hawkeyes to a 10-3 record and a win over Florida in the Outback Bowl.

Scott, meanwhile, cemented a legacy of his own. He left Iowa ranked second in school history among tight ends with 117 catches for 1,476 yards along with 10 touchdowns. He went on to be taken by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2007 draft. He spent eight years as a journeyman of sorts in the league, having his best years in Buffalo.

Brad Banks & CJ Jones (Cousins)

Jones caught 9 touchdowns from his cousin, Brad Banks, in 2002. That’s good enough to make this list.

Jim, John & Chuck Hartlieb

Chuck Hartlieb played quarterback for Iowa in 1987 & 88, and holds the school record for most touchdown passes in a game with 7. He ended his Iowa career with 6,269 passing yards and 34 touchdowns. He quarterbacked Iowa for Hayden Fry’s first win at the Horseshoe.

[embedded content]

Jim Hartlieb also played QB, albeit with less success than his older brother. He split time with Paul Burmeister on the 1992 team, finishing that year with 1500 yards, 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.

The youngest Hartlieb, John, played linebacker for Iowa during the 1993 season. That’s the only season Sports-Reference has logged for John, and the internet is relatively quiet on him. Who has more info?!

Bob, Mike & Mark Stoops

The Stoops brothers all played defensive back for Iowa in the 80s, each with distinction. Bob was a four-year starter, and named Iowa’s MVP in 1982.

Mike played on the same team as Chuck Long as a strong safety, earning all-conference honors in ‘83 & ‘84.

Mark played for Iowa from 86-88, recording 2 interceptions.

All three brothers went on to become graduate assistants at Iowa before starting their professional careers in the coaching field.

Jay Hilgenberg Photo by George Rose/Getty Images

The Hilgenberg’s

This was at first going to be just about Jay and Joel Hilgenberg, but then I found out there’s been enough Hilgenberg’s through the Iowa program to field a basketball team.

Jerry Hilgenberg walked-on to Leonard Raffensperger’s Iowa team in 1950 to play quarterback. He converted to linebacker, starting at the position for three years. As a senior in 1953, he helped lead Iowa to a top-10 finish, being named an all-American for that season. He was Forest Evashevski’s first all-American at Iowa, and was also captain of the baseball team.

Hilgenberg was drafted by the Cleveland Browns … and the US Air Force. One of those teams doesn’t give you a choice. When he got out of the service, he served as an assistant coach at Iowa from 1956-63. During this time he was able to coach his younger brother, Wally.

Wally Hilgenberg started both as an offensive lineman and a linebacker for Iowa, and was drafted in the fourth round by the Detroit Lions in 1964. He played 16 seasons in the NFL, most famously with the Vikings, where he was a member of the Purple People Eaters. He was one of 11 players to play in all four of the Vikings’ Super Bowl appearances. His son, Luke Lindahl, walked-on to the Iowa program in 2013. Wally was inducted into the Iowa sports hall of fame in 1987.

Jay Hilgenberg is the oldest son of Jerry. He was a seven-time pro-bowler as a center and was a starter on the 1985 Bears Super Bowl team. He’s a nominee to be inducted in the NFL hall of fame and is currently a game analyst for WBBM-AM Radio in Chicago and the Bears Radio Network.

Joel Hilgenberg was a second-team all-American at center in 1983, getting drafted in the fourth round by the Saints in 1984. He played nine years in the NFL, making the Pro Bowl in 1992. He went on to Green Bay, where he was offensive quality control coach for the Packers in 2011, and assistant offensive line coach for 2012-13. He resigned his coaching position in April 2014.

I could be missing a Hilgenberg, I honestly don’t know.

Mike and Dave Haight

Mike Haight was the Big Ten offensive lineman of the year in 1985, leading to his becoming the first overall pick in the USFL draft by the Orlando Renegades in 1986. Well the USFL didn’t last much longer, and Haight never had the chance to play in Orlando. He was selected 22nd overall in the NFL draft by the Jets, starting 63 games for the Jets and Redskins until he retired in 1992.

Dave Haight was a first-team all-American in 1988 as a defensive lineman, being named the conference’s defensive lineman of the year in 1987. He’s the only lineman in Iowa history to record over 100 tackles in two separate seasons. His 346 career tackles rank 12th in Iowa history. Dave Haight wasn’t drafted to the NFL, leading him to quit football after graduating from Iowa.

Ronnie Harmon

Ronnie & Kevin Harmon

And finally, the end of our list. Both Harmon brothers played running back for the Hawkeyes, and later took their talents to the NFL. Ronnie ran for over 1800 yards through four years in Iowa City, was a second-team all-American running back in 1984, and a first-team selection the following year. He was selected 16th overall in the 1986 draft by the Bills, and lasted in the NFL for 12 seasons. He made the Pro Bowl in 1992 as a member of the Chargers.

I debated putting in highlights (?) of Iowa’s trip to the Rose Bowl in 1986, but decided not to.

Kevin Harmon didn’t have the illustrious career his brother did, but was still a fourth-round draft pick by the Seattle Seahawks, where he lasted two seasons. He ended his Iowa career with 1100 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.

TL;DR, Iowa football sure has a rich history of brotherhood within its program. This sort of turned into a Where Are They Now, but trips down memory lane are always fun!

If I missed anyone, please let me know in the comments.

I am not going to pretend that the Samford Bulldogs are the Alabama Crimson Tide. That would be insulting your intelligence, and I try only to do that to family. But the fact is it will be interesting to see how the Georgia Bulldogs respond to the relative prosperity that comes with winning a big intersectional match up.

On the one hand, I think we all recognize that Notre Dame is not the creme de la creme of college football as it once was. Also, I anticipate that Kirby Smart and his staff reminded their charges of exactly how many errors they committed in South Bend while still being fortunate enough to escape with the victory. Saturday’s win was anything but a rousing success from a technical football standpoint. There were bad things. There were dumb things. There was enough grit and athleticism to overcome the errors.

Again, I don't necessarily want to look past Samford. But I cannot help but notice that matchup with the Bulldogs from the state of Mississippi that looms a little over a week away. As I have said since the preseason, that is a game that really worries me. but I think we will also learn a lot about the mental make up of this team by how they handle business this Saturday against an FCS opponent. take care of business with ruthless efficiency against Chris Hatcher squad, and you may convince me that we've really got something here.

So what is the drink for a game in which one hopes the Bulldogs win the first part of the double Bulldog September swing? Easy. A double dawg.

It’s a variation on the Bulldog, a very common old-school cocktail. I think I have ordered maybe two of them ever, usually when I wasn't sure the bartender could help but screw up something more complicated. Traditionally a bulldog is made by mixing 1 ounce each of gin, cherry liqueur, and lime juice over ice, straining into a martini glass, then garnishing with a lemon or lime wedge. A double Dawg is made by simply adding an extra half ounce of gin (1 and ¹⁄₂ ounces), also known as a "jigger" to those who know too much cocktail verbiage.

So drink up, and go ‘Dawgs!!!

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Aaaaaaaanyway....

We’re back again to take a look at that stat sheet following a rough one in South Bend on Saturday night. The Georgia Bulldogs went all out in South Bend, overrunning the city, university, stadium, and even Chicago in the process.

Here’s what I noticed in reviewing the statistics from Saturday night.

First downs. Notre Dame had 18 first downs in the game, compared to Georgia’s 16. But that did not equate to a productive day for the Irish offense; they managed a piddly little fart of 266 total yards, only 55 of which came on the ground. Most of their first downs came as a result of Georgia penalties, and Notre Dame was only 3 of 17 when it came to converting on third down. That’s the truly telling statistic right there.

I expected more for a Chip Long offense, if that’s fair to say.

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

In the name of being fair, Georgia does have a very good defense. However it’s pretty frustrating to hear all about the vaunted Notre Dame offensive line and rushing attack only to be stonewalled by the visitors.

Then there is Brandon Wimbush’s stat line. 211 yards through the air doesn’t sound too bad, right? Unfortunately if you go 19 of 39 with a 5.4 yard average, you’re only going to end up with a QBR of 19.3. Yuck. Restart. Unsubscribe.

55 yards on the ground. That’s it. 1.5 yards per attempt. Not a single Dexter Williams carry. This is indicative of poor play calling and questionable coaching, and certainly doesn’t reflect well on an offensive line that is supposed to be home to one or maybe even two All Americans.

I’ve been soft on Brian Kelly in the past, but I think a well-coached Notre Dame team wins this game, particularly in regards to the offense. That’s all I’ll say on that matter.

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

On the other hand, the Notre Dame defense came to play. Mike Elko’s unit gave up 185 yards on the ground, but many thought both Sony Michel and Nick Chubb would go over 100 yards. That was not the case, they had 73 and 63 yards respectively. If you would have told me that that’s what the defense would do heading up to the game, I would have taken it. I still think it was good enough.

But the offense let the Irish down, much like many fans did in selling their tickets. You want a real stat that doesn’t lie? Take a look at the attendance numbers for Georgia fans. Well done, Notre Dame faithful.

On to Boston College, I guess.

I had the chance to watch Tyrique McGhee play before he made it to Athens. McGhee was part of a series of standout Peach County Trojan teams coached by Chad Campbell. If you’ve watched much Middle Georgia high school football over the years you know that the Trojans a) usually appear to be fielding a team of 23 year olds, and b) will not be out-physicaled by any opponent. The boys from Fort Valley and Byron get to the ball fast and arrive in a bad mood year after year.

And so it is with that context that Tyrique McGhee’s contributions at Georgia in 2017 should make a lot of sense. There’s a very real chance that Tyrique McGhee may not start more than a couple of games this season. The competition in the UGA secondary, a unit for some time viewed as a bit of a liability, is fierce this fall. The ‘Dawgs return three seniors and one junior starter for packages in which four defensive backs are on the field. Aaron Davis has played as much football as anyone in Athens. Dominick Sanders is an All-SEC candidate. Malkom Parrish and Deandre Baker improved significantly through 2016 and have secured the corner spots.

But sophomore McGhee has the chance to be the surprise in the secondary, for a couple of reasons. For one, he’s possibly the best tackler in the UGA defensive backfield. It’s something that jumped off the screen when you watched his high school tape, and it continued as he became a solid contributor on special teams as a freshman. McGhee played in all thirteen games last season, and tallied nine tackles (eight of them on special teams). Six of McGhee’s stops came on kickoff returns, and a full half of those were stops inside the opponent’s 20 yard line. You want a gunner on kick coverage? Have I got the guy for you.

He’s currently working at both outside corner and the star position vacated by Maurice Smith. While Baker may have one spot nailed down, Parrish remains questionable for the opener with a broken foot. Yes, Kirby Smart says he hasn’t been ruled out. No, I’ve never known the head Bulldog to be reluctant to give the full story on injuries. Why do you ask?

The truth is McGhee may well be your game one starter at the corner spot. He may also see significant time alongside redshirt sophomore J.R. Reed at the star spot, a fifth defensive back which is on the field often in Smart and Mel Tucker’s defense (as much as 80% of snaps depending on the opponent).

I expect that McGhee’s tenaciousness, experience, and versatility will bring him off the bench ahead of more heralded freshmen even when Parrish returns. But regardless of where he’s ultimately situated Tyrique McGhee is a player you should get used to seeing on the field, the kind of player who could make a huge difference in a big game situation. Until later . . .

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Prior installments

#10 Jeb Blazevich

#9 D’Andre Walker

#8 Ben Cleveland

Kirby Smart may be getting into the sweepstakes for one of the top defensive linemen in the class of 2017. IMG Academy’s Joshua Kaindoh, rated the #2 strongside defensive end and #26 player in the nation by 247Sports, committed to the University of Maryland in April over Ohio State, Michigan and other big name schools in a pretty major upset win for coach D.J. Durkin. Originally from Essex, Maryland, Kaindoh was the crown jewel of the Terps’ class until this evening, when he announced on Twitter that he’s decommitting and will now choose his collegiate destination at the Under Armour All-American game on January 1st.

Kaindoh’s decommitment follows a November 14^th visit to Florida State and a visit this past weekend to Penn State. He’d been rumored to be shopping around a little, and coaches haven’t backed off recruiting the 6’6, 250 pounder. Kaindoh will now be visiting Athens this weekend. Notre Dame may also get a visit.

How realistic is Georgia’s chance of landing Kaindoh? I still think it’s going to be a tough sell. Penn State has historically recruited Maryland well, and James Franklin has built some solid momentum in Happy Valley during 2016. Florida State will also be in it until the end for Kaindoh. But getting a player of this caliber on campus late in the process with the ability to promise early playing time in the SEC should give Georgia a shot.

Taking on Texas.

Somebody’s got to play in the Liberty Bowl.

SB Nation updates its bowl projections every week, and with the Georgia Bulldogs now sitting at 4-4, the projection is for the team to take on the Texas Longhorns in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 30.

While not super exciting, it’ certainly not the worst-case scenario. There’s no bowl at all, and worse yet, that game they play out in northwest Louisiana.

Playing Texas would certainly be interesting, especially since that team could be in the midst of a coaching change at kickoff. And Memphis is a pretty nice place.

Would you make the trip?

What's too long? When you're talking about a college football team, that's a minimum of 2 years with a possibility of 3-4 years. With every scheme and formation, coaches want specific body sizes and specific skill sets. I think UGA falls into the 2-3 years category. I believe our O-Line needs great improvement. We're not consistent and we're not as big as Coach Pittman seems to prefer. O-Lineman take at least 1 year to get and in most cases at least a year to get the size and understanding of college football speed under their belt. There is a few cases when a freshman comes in and can play immediately but even those guys have rough moments until they can get adjusted to the speed.

Our WR's haven't been consistent this year. When a wide receiver makes it to this level, most the time what seems to keep the young receivers from playing much is learning the playbook, running the routes, and learning how to block. Catching is something that they're already doing. With a true freshman QB in there you want, no you NEED, your WR's to make more than just the catches that they're suppose to make. That has not happened. We have too many drops this year. I believe the Ole' Miss game would've been a lot different  this year if that series in the 1st quarter, I believe it was, that we dropped 3 passes (1 in the end zone). I think with the players we got coming will help address both of those areas. Think about something, I think our defense has done pretty good this year but we have struggled against big physical receivers. Who doesn't. That's the type of receiver that Kirby and Co. are bringing to Athens. Also, I don't think it's ideal to need a graduate transfer to come in and start and left tackle. Not taking nothing away from Catalina but that's a lot to ask for from him. There's a huge difference in speeds there. It takes some getting use to.

Special Teams have been a disaster this year. We have had moments were we show a glimpse of something great just to do something that makes you speechless and wonder to yourself,"how does this even happen here at UGA." Blakenship had a great day yesterday. I was even hoping that he would be the hero of the day. As we all know, he didn't get that shot. However, what drives me crazy is catching a kickoff that was going out of bounds and then stepping out inside the 10. That's crazy. That's a complete mental breakdown. Mental errors will kill you in any sport just like it will in football. We have to cut back on metal mistakes. We're too young and inexperienced to be putting our backs against the wall with mental mistakes.

Final thoughts. The game yesterday is a different kind of loss than Ole' Miss or Tennessee. With all the issues that UGA have this year with young players, inconsistent special teams, and inconsistent o-line play. Losing to Vandy is never okay. Sorry Vandy, it is what it is. A game like yesterday panics a fan base and rightfully so. We can't have issues all over our team and yet still come out "flat".  I think we're passed "gut check time" and we have to step up. A "rebuild year" is fine but that doesn't consist of losing to Vandy or even barely getting by Nichols State. Playing to our opponent is something we already did before the "Kirby Era". We don't need that anymore. We want a team that's able to sit the starters by the half or even the 3rd quarter so we can build quality depth with game experience. Last year we escaped the embarrassing overtime win against Ga Southern. We didn't show up for our biggest home game against Bama. We blew a big lead against the Vols and we forgot to show up against Florida in the Cocktail Party. The point I'm making, is we have had flat. We have had the teams that didn't show up a couple times a year. I believe Kirby and Co. will be great in the next couple of years but in the meantime we can't be dropping to Vandy because we're coming out flat and playing to our opponents level. If we lose, it better be because it was a hard fought battle and not because we were not ready to play. We've had that and that's why we got someone else to man the ship this year. Although our last offensive play yesterday is being talked about like crazy (WHAT WAS THAT), it shouldn't have came down to that.

Kirby, I'm pulling for you. I believe you're bringing something great to UGA, but these types of losses get people talking. It's too early for us to start jumping ship but after yesterday it was a flashback to the last few years and what we were wanting to get away from. Get your type of players in here, build the depth on the line, and let's play every game to our level and not to our opponents level. GO DAWGS!!

Written By: CBG-UGA