Although the 3-7 Syracuse Orange shouldn’t present the most difficult of challenges when they enter Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, head coach Marcus Freeman’s Irish still have much to accomplish and prove through their performance. With its star running back in prime Heisman Trophy contention and a College Football Playoff spot yet to be nailed down, Notre Dame better win convincingly to remain in the good graces of the national media and the CFP committee. Here are four keys for Notre Dame to not only squeeze the Orange, but also secure its spot in the postseason.
Start hot
Despite the 3-7 record and lack of inspiring play on both sides of the football, Syracuse should not be overlooked by an Irish team that already played a tight game with 1-10 Boston College. That disappointing result, albeit a 25-10 win, was Notre Dame’s one mulligan. If it hopes to keep separation above potential SEC champion Alabama, one-loss BYU and the hated Miami, Notre Dame needs to dominate the Orange.
That begins with the first quarter. Even extending beyond 2025, Notre Dame has seemed to be a second-half team under Freeman. Contests with Purdue, NC State and Navy this season were all close at the intermission before the Irish pulled away late. The Irish can’t afford to let the Orange hang around and apply game pressure. They must be in complete control for all 60 minutes and all four quarters. That begins with a score and a stop on the opening possessions Saturday afternoon.
Feed Jeremiyah Love
While Freeman has continued to stress team glory, a heavy dosage of touches for the junior running back will not only benefit Notre Dame’s prospects, but also boost the St. Louis native’s chances at the game’s most prestigious honor. Love has been dominant in the month of November, running for 136, 94 and 147 yards in Notre Dame’s three games, also finding the end zone five times. All told, he has scampered for over 1,100 yards on the ground with 14 scores, while also proving dangerous in the pass-catching game.
The typical threshold for a running back to be in contention for the Heisman Trophy is 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns, which Love assuredly won’t reach. However, two more strong games with opportunities to add even more “Heisman moments” may be enough in a wide-open field with no clear favorite. Regardless of whether or not Love is among those honored in New York City this December, it is in Notre Dame’s best interest to continue feeding its workhorse meaningful touches as the team gears up for a postseason run.
Continue the defensive domination
These may seem like straightforward, cliche keys to victory, but the running game and stout defense have been the Irish’s recipe to success across their active eight-game winning streak. Strong defensive performance is also critical to the eye test of former coaches, who seem to be dominating the discourse within the CFP committee. While Notre Dame’s resume certainly isn’t the strongest amongst the plethora of two-loss teams, the perception of the Irish holds weight in a room that includes former bench bosses Mark Dantonio (Michigan State and Cincinnati) and Mike Riley (Oregon State and Nebraska).
Since the train wreck first three games of defensive coordinator Chris Ash’s tenure, the Irish defense has been lockdown, allowing just over 12 points per contest. Across the field, Syracuse’s attack has sputtered since former Notre Dame signal-caller Steve Angeli went down, averaging just under 12 points per contest. All the goodwill the Irish pass rush and secondary have built up over the previous two months will be forgotten if they slip back to their previous habits. The committee would be hard-pressed to omit a defense that hasn’t allowed more than 15 points since the middle of October.
Control the emotions
Notre Dame is 3-0 on Senior Day in the Freeman era, but the added fanfare always presents the potential for distraction. In his weekly press conference, the head coach noted the importance of balancing the due recognition of the senior class with focus on the task at hand. Add in the return of Angeli and the push for the Playoff, and Notre Dame could be battling much more than just a subpar Syracuse team.
All in all, Notre Dame should have no problem handling the Orange to move to 9-2. After all, the Irish have Jeremiyah Love, and the Orange do not. Despite the doomsday scenarios unfolding in the minds of loyal Notre Dame fans nationwide, the Irish should find themselves safely in the CFP as long as they continue to follow the adage of former Raiders owner Al Davis: “Just win, baby!”
