Game Preview: 15 Notre Dame at Clemson

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman may be making his first trip to Clemson, but there will be plenty of familiar faces in this matchup on Saturday.

Clemson has struggled with consistency on the offensive side of the ball and it has cost them wins this season. A 1-3 record in one-score games with a defense as talented as Clemson's is a harsh reminder of how much the offense has struggled. 

On a positive note, Cade Klubnik has played exceptionally well at home with a 66.9 completion percentage, 898 passing yards, and 8 passing touchdowns. If Klubnik can stay upright - and make the correct reads - expect the game to be close. Offensive coordinator Garrett Riley could help Klubnik out by trying to balance the play calls but the absence of Will Shipley could make that a little more difficult.

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is making his first trip to Clemson this Saturday / Notre Dame Athletics

Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman knows this Clemson team all too well, facing them four times as the starter at Wake Forest. The Clemson defense has been the backbone of the team since the beginning of the season and will be the key to keeping the Tigers in the game. The weapon that the Fighting Irish have in running back Audric Estime creates a tremendous 1-2 punch with Hartman and himself. The duo poses a challenge that this Tigers defense will be prepared for.

Since 2015, this game has become a rivalry, with the Tigers winning three games compared to the Irish's two wins. In the last matchup, the Fighting Irish won 35-14 at home back in 2022.

Both teams have built a culture where their players resemble their coaches on the field with the attitude and physicality brought each Saturday. Expect this matchup to feature a lot of hard hits, with toughness being displayed mentally and physically, and maybe a little chippiness this Saturday.