Penn State and Ohio State have dominated the college football Week 9 excitement thus far, as the winner may ultimately be locked into the Big Ten title game and immediately become a favorite to contend for the national championship.
But in South Bend, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will look to hang onto their quietly impressive 6-1 season, taking on a dangerous N.C. State team that has elite talents on both sides of the ball. And the winner of this matchup may ultimately become a trendy College Football Playoff contender.
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Here are the matchups and keys to victory for both teams to come away with a victory.
N.C. State D-line vs. Notre Dame O-line
Between the Wolfpack defensive line and Fighting Irish’s offensive line, there are as many as eight players who may be drafted in the 2018 NFL Draft. With remarkable and versatile talent on both sides of the trenches, this game may be decided entirely by which unit has the better game.
The N.C. State defense, led by Bradley Chubb, relies on just four rushers on a heavy majority of their snaps, trusting their lineman to generate pressure and disrupt the flow of opposing offenses. Defensive tackle B.J. Hill’s upper body strength and short-area explosiveness forces quarterbacks to work from a limited pocket, while Chubb, along with his fellow defensive ends, consistently win one-on-one opportunities to disrupt a quarterback’s comfort, force running backs to adjust off course, and finish tackles in the backfield.
Notre Dame left tackle Mike McGlinchey is a highly respected offensive linemen in the country for the last two seasons, and after a shaky start to the season has been the leader on what is arguably college football’s best offensive line. While guard Quenton Nelson will have his hands full keeping N.C. State's defensive linemen at bay, it’ll be on McGlinchey to prevent drive-stalling sacks the entire game against Chubb.
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Notre Dame LBs vs. Jaylen Samuels, Nyhiem Hines
N.C. State’s defense has deservedly earned national recognition, but it’s the play of their two top rushers, Jaylen Samuels and Nyheim Hines, that has led the Wolfpack’s six-game win streak.
Samuels, a do-it-all fullback/tight end/power running back has continued to consistently display his versatility in the offense, putting stress on opposing defenses to account, prepare and adjust for Samuels whenever he’s in the game. His versatility in alignment forces defenses to tip their coverage plans and responsibilities pre-snap, giving quarterback Ryan Finley a better opportunity to assess the defense.
But it has been Nyheim Hines that has benefited the most from Samuels' versatility. He has had more 100 yards in each of the Wolfpack's last three games, and four total touchdowns. Hines — a low-to-the-ground, explosive rusher who capitalizes on the opportunities his offensive line provides him — will be Notre Dame’s biggest worry on defense.
The Notre Dame defense has been efficient this season, improving each week in their rush defense and capability on third downs. Still, their 3.56 yards per carry allowed this season suggests Hines and Co. can take advantage, especially since Notre Dame showed earlier in the season a tendency to allow big plays.
Nyles Morgan, one of the Fighting Irish’s defensive leaders, will have plenty of isolation opportunities against Hines and Samuels that he’ll need to finish on. The Notre Dame defensive line has done a fantastic job in recent weeks of flowing with zone blocking linemen and delaying running backs decisions as they work to the perimeter. But it’ll be up to Morgan to finish in space and limit first-down runs as well as big plays on the perimeter.
Morgan, linebacker No. 5, missed an opportunity to finish in the backfield in the below play vs. Temple, and can’t afford to do that against Hines and the Wolfpack offense.
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Ryan Finley vs. young Notre Dame secondary
N.C. State quarterback Ryan Finley has been college football’s most efficient passer, posting a 69 completion percentage and 11 touchdowns with zero interceptions (the only QB to have double-digit TDs and no interceptions). More importantly, Finley has worked remarkably well off playaction and outside the hash marks, two qualities that have allured NFL scouts to the impressive passer.
Notre Dame’s secondary, which includes a heavy dose of sophomores and juniors along with senior cornerback Nick Watkins, likely won’t be tested on more than 35 dropbacks by Finley, but they need to stay disciplined vertically and outside the hash marks — the same way they did against Georgia earlier this year — and prevent plays like the one below from Finley.
Notre Dame’s rushing attack and offensive line, as well as an improved rush defense this year, has led the Irish to emerge as a viable College Football playoff contender. Junior running back Josh Adams has even become a surprise Heisman contender.
But N.C. State boasts similar, if not more, depth of talent as Notre Dame, and hit its stride shortly after its surprising loss to South Carolina to start the season. Notre Dame vs. N.C. State features two of the best teams in the country whose winner will emerge as a serious playoff contender.