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Sunday, April 19, 2026
The Observer

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The Observer

Staff Predictions 2020: North Carolina Tar Heels

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Notre Dame fans might be in for a wakeup call come Friday afternoon. This North Carolina offense is dynamic and can beat you on the run and from the pocket. Between Sam Howell at quarterback and the two-pronged running attack of Michael Carter and Javonte Williams, Clark Lea will have his hands full trying to manage this offense. That said, even with all the offensive weapons at its disposal, Notre Dame is still the more talented and more balanced team. Whether in double overtime against Clemson or holding Louisville to one score on a day when the Irish offense struggled to connect, this Notre Dame defense has proven itself to be the backbone of this team’s success. Still, this offense is nothing to write off. As long as the defense contains the big plays that Howell and his offensive corps are bound to put up, Ian Book just has to do what he does best — manage the game. I don’t expect this game to ever be more than a two touchdown difference, so this will be a test of patience and trust. Are the Irish up for it?


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Podcast: College basketball is back; let us give thanks

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It’s the season of giving thanks, and not just because of the holiday. It’s because college basketball is back, which means the Notre Dame men and women will be taking the court for the first time in the 2020-2021 season this weekend. Sports editor Hayden Adams and sports writers Greg McKenna, Liam Coolican and Nate Moller hop on Zoom to discuss each team, first the women and then the men. They break down the guards, wings and bigs from both units and discuss several talking points, from when the University will build Muffet McGraw a statue to just what it says about the men’s program that a walk-on is going to play a key reserve role.