For the third time in four years, Notre Dame and Stanford played an instant classic.
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Not really. It was a beaten, battered and bruised Notre Dame team that played its tail off, with Kizer making a huge statement for down the road with what should’ve been a game-winning touchdown drive, and then it was Kevin Hogan coming up with his signature drive and his signature pass, getting Conrad Okropina into a position to nail his 45-yard attempt right down the middle.
“Tradition” is a word used a lot – probably too much – around campus in South Bend. Oklahoma State however, would have an uphill battle to jump Notre Dame, despite the same record. He went 17 for 21 for 269 yards and four touchdown passes in a 38-36 win over Notre Dame.
Scouts from five National Football League clubs were expected to attend the game, which featured McCaffrey, several draft prospects on both offensive lines, and one of the top linebackers in the nation in Notre Dame’s Butkus Award finalist, Jaylon Smith.
When: Saturday, 5 p.m. The Cowboys are now ranked eleventh in the playoff rankings so it doesn’t seem that a win would catapult them all the way into the top four, but I have to admit that I have no idea how the committee would judge this situation as they have been all over the place in their explanations thus far. It’s insane, but until the Irish’s final fourth-quarter drive, they had gotten into Stanford territory 3 times, and they had scored 6 points.
Of course, when it comes to the Irish that season, you know the rest of the story. Notre Dame RB C.J. Prosise (ankle) and CB KeiVarae Russell (foot) did not play because of injuries suffered last week.
The Cardinal has eight quality wins, including a signature victory over Notre Dame, which went into the game ranked No. 4 by The Associated Press and No. 6 in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Notre Dame had taken the lead the previous possession when Adams burst through the line for a 62-yard touchdown run as the offenses dominated.
Notre Dame was flagged for a facemask penalty on the drive’s first play and then Hogan hit Cajuste for 27 yards, putting Stanford into Ukropina’s range.
Admittedly, a few dominoes must fall to make the case for the Irish – the first being a USC victory over Stanford in the Pac-12 title game. One play? Sure, but you better go back though the full 60 minutes and not just the last half of the last one. We didn’t play our best football. Notre Dame is now 6-1 facing Temple who is 7-0 going into this game.
Another Cardinal receiver who has impressed this season has been Michael Rector.
Lloyd has had to step up in the absence of injured safety Ronnie Harris and cornerback Alijah Holder, though Harris remains an active member of the team. You just try to find in all these phases something that can be successful again, but also realizing they may change things that worked last time.
Still, a bowl game awaits the Irish, though it’s not the one they had envisioned. And these two have certainly done that as of late.
For Notre Dame, it’s a disappointing end to what was a remarkable season. But today, the Legends Trophy sits in control of Stanford.
So, it’s never about just one series or one play.
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But those three words may be an understatement for how good this rivalry has become. This column is the commentary of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The News-Sentinel.
