WHO? Miami of Ohio (2-2) at Notre Dame (3-1). One more time, let’s remind Irish fans they will recognize the face leading the way on the RedHawks sideline. Chuck Martin spent four years at Notre Dame on Brian Kelly’s coaching staff before taking the job at Miami.
WHAT? These two schools do not have much in common, but they do share ties to the late Ara Parseghian. The legendary coach started his career in Oxford, Ohio, and ended it in South Bend, Ind. Obviously no one could have planned for this matchup — the first since 1909 — to come only a few months after Parseghian’s death, but it is quite appropriate that such is the case.
WHEN? 5:00 p.m. ET. That is not a typo. Your Saturday schedules will be knocked off-kilter. Factor that in now as it pertains to when to light the grill, when to open the cooler and when to turn the phone to airplane mode. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:18 p.m.
WHERE? Notre Dame Stadium, approximately five miles south of the Indiana-Michigan border and 80 miles west of the Indiana-Ohio border. Those directions should get you there, right? Great.
If lost on the way, find a television with NBC Sports Network. Let’s repeat that: This game is not on NBC. It is on NBC Sports Network. To further confuse you, Paul Burmeister will handle the play-by-play call while Mike Tirico tends to the Presidents Cup coverage on the flagship station.
If relying on an internet browser, head to http://ndstream.nbcsports.com/. If on one of those intelligent handheld devices, try the NBC Sports app. In either of these situations, some form of cable login will be needed.
WHY? When Martin left Notre Dame for Miami, Irish administrators quickly reached out about scheduling a game. In a way, this was Notre Dame giving something of a favor to an up-and-coming coach who left on good terms. Martin wanted to put off the game for a few years in hopes of bringing a competitive RedHawks team to Notre Dame Stadium. He has certainly succeeded in improving Miami over the winless state of affairs he inherited.
BY HOW MUCH? The Irish are favored by three touchdowns with a combined points total over/under of 53. Rough math would point to a Notre Dame 37-16 victory. That may undersell the Irish offense.
For this space’s prediction, let’s be logical, or perhaps it is lazy. Notre Dame has scored an average of 45 points in its three wins this season (45.33, to be exact) while giving up 18 points (17.67). Using that …
Notre Dame 45, Miami 18. (3-1 record on the season.)
SOME TRIVIA: Four colleges or universities have graduated both a President of the United States and a Super Bowl-winning quarterback. What are the four?
The comments section here handled this without much trouble. Well done, folks.
Miami (OH): Ben Roethlisberger & Benjamin Harrison
Stanford: John Elway, Jim Plunkett & Herbert Hoover
Michigan: Tom Brady & Gerald Ford
Navy: Roger Staubach & Jimmy Carter
THIS WEEK’S INSIDE THE IRSH READING:
— Monday Morning Leftovers: The long-term effects of Crawford’s punch, limited roster turnover & Yoon’s record approach
— Questions for the Week: Ankles, Stepherson and NBC Sports Network at 5 p.m. ET
— Notre Dame’s Opponents: Georgia & N.C. St. surge; Boston College & UNC fade
— Kelly on targeting, or a lack thereof; Notre Dame’s offensive & defensive lines
— Chuck Martin readies for return to Notre Dame
— Notre Dame’s increased turnover focus is 2012-esque
— And In That Corner … The Miami RedHawks and former Notre Dame assistant Chuck Martin
— Kelly on Stepherson’s return to action, Notre Dame RB injuries & hypothetical protests
— Things To Learn: Can Notre Dame retain its focus against a “letdown” opponent
— Friday at 4: Notre Dame raised the floor, maybe not the roof
INSIDE THE IRISH COVERAGE FROM ARA PARSEGHIAN’S AUG. 2 PASSING
— Ara Parseghian: 1923 - 2017
— Remembrances and Reflections of Ara
INSIDE THE IRISH COVERAGE FROM THE MICHIGAN STATE GAME
— Turnovers tip toward Notre Dame in a 38-18 victory at Michigan State
— Points off turnover differential becoming theme to Notre Dame’s season
— What We Learned: Notre Dame found a No. 2 WR & an accurate passer
— Sunday Notre Dame Notebook: Kelly on Wimbush’s accuracy, receivers’ hands & needed secondary improvements
THIS WEEK’S OUTSIDE READING:
— Belief system: Why Howard was unstoppable against a 45-point favorite
— We probably already know Alabama’s SEC Championship opponent (See item No. 4)
— Candid Coaches: Who are the high-major [basketball] coaches who don’t break NCAA rules? In light of this week’s FBI investigation, Rick Pitino firing and whatever else may yet to come, this from August seems worth looking at once again.
— Before PJ Fleck, there was Holtz …
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