Notre Dame Opponent Roundup: Week 8 Edition

Rounding up the week eight results for Notre Dame's 2023 opponents

Week 8 of the college football season turned into “Survival Saturday” for top contenders, as multiple CFP hopefuls were pushed to the wire by lesser opponents.

• #4 Florida State trailed Duke when Blue Devil QB Riley Leonard reinjured his ankle, swinging the momentum in the game.
• #5 Washington failed to score an offensive touchdown against woeful Arizona State and trailed 7-6 in the fourth quarter.
• #6 Oklahoma had to stop a UCF two-point conversion that would have sent the game to overtime.
• #8 Texas was all but handed the win against Houston by the refs on one of the worst spots (and non-reviews) in college football this season with the Cougars driving for the tying score.
• #9 Oregon and #11 Alabama had to overcome early deficits before pulling away from Washington State and Tennessee, respectively.

Among those unable to survive were #7 Penn State, #10 North Carolina, and #18 USC, whose weaknesses were magnified on Saturday in losses, leaving them major questions to answer the rest of the way.

It was a brutal day for Notre Dame’s opponents, who finished with a record this week of 3-7. Ohio State scored an impressive win over #7 Penn State, but Duke, USC, and Clemson all fell in games they held late second half leads.

Notre Dame Opponent Overall Record: 52-34

Let’s take a look at the Week 8 action for Notre Dame opponents.

NAVY MIDSHIPMEN

Record: 3-4
Week 8 Result: Lost 17-6 vs. #22 Air Force

Recap: The Midshipmen wasted a fine defensive performance against undefeated rival Air Force in a 17-6 loss. Air Force managed only 8 first downs and its only offensive touchdown came on a 94-yard pass, but Navy’s offensive ineptitude sunk the Midshipmen. Navy failed to score until punching in a touchdown with just 50 seconds remaining and had just 46 total yards of offense until that final drive. For the game, Navy had just 22 yards rushing on 35 attempts, never a recipe for success in a triple option offense. Navy has a bye next week before taking on Temple in Philadelphia.

TENNESSEE STATE TIGERS

Record: 5-2
Week 8 Result: Won 54-0 vs. Lincoln (CA)

Recap: Tennessee State rolled Division II Lincoln on Saturday behind 4 rushing touchdowns from Jordan Gant. The Tigers totaled 314 rushing yards on the ground, as in addition to Gant’s big day, Jalen Rouse rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown and Deveon Bryant added 69 yards and a score. Tennessee State closes the season with four straight Big South-OVC conference games against teams below them in the standings, giving the Tigers a good shot at challenging for the conference title.

NC STATE WOLFPACK

Record: 4-3
Week 8 Result: Bye

Recap: The Wolfpack return to action on October 28th vs. Clemson

CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS

Record: 4-4
Week 8 Result: Lost 24-17 at Ball State

Recap: Central Michigan dropped a disappointing game at Ball State, who entered the matchup with a 1-6 record, and saw any dreams of challenging for the MAC title this season dashed. The Chippewa rush defense was unable to slow down the Ball State rushing attack, as Marquez Cooper rushed for 162 yards and a touchdown while Kiael Kelly added two scores. In total, Ball State outrushed Central Michigan 243-99. The Cardinals were able to stay ahead of the sticks and converted 5-11 third downs, while Central Michigan was just 3-13 on third down conversions. Central Michigan hosts a tough Northern Illinois team next weekend.

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

Record: 7-0
Week 8 Result: Won 20-12 vs. #7 Penn State

Recap: Ohio State leaned on its stifling defense and superstar WR Marvin Harrison Jr. to outclass Penn State in a game that was not as close as the score indicated. The Buckeye defense held Penn State to just 240 total yards, limited a talented Nittany Lion backfield to just 49 yards rushing on 26 attempts, and harassed QB Drew Allar into a 42.8% completion percentage on 42 attempts (4.5 YPA). Penn State was constantly behind the sticks and finished just 1-16 on third down, a historically bad rate for a top-10 team. On offense, Harrison posted a career-best 11 receipts for 162 yards and his fourth quarter touchdown grab put the game out of reach. The Buckeyes will be heavy favorites to head to Ann Arbor on Thanksgiving weekend undefeated – their journey continues with a road trip to Madison to take on Wisconsin next weekend.

DUKE BLUE DEVILS

Record: 5-2
Week 8 Result: Lost 38-20 at #4 Florida State

Recap: Duke led 20-17 at Florida State with 7 minutes left in the third quarter and had a first down at the Seminole 11-yard line when QB Riley Leonard re-aggravated the ankle injury suffered on the final offensive play in the loss to Notre Dame. With backup QB Henry Belin IV thrust into action, the Blue Devils wound up turning it over on downs and managed just 35 offensive yards on the final three drives of the game. Duke’s defense, which had played so well all night, just wore down against the talented Jordan Travis and his deep cast of playmakers. Despite being outscored 21-0 in the fourth quarter, Mike Elko’s team leaves Tallahassee with heads held high – the Blue Devils proved that with Leonard on the field they can play with anyone. With both Louisville and North Carolina remaining on the schedule, Duke still controls its own destiny for a rematch with Florida State in the ACC title game. Let’s hope Leonard is healthy for next week’s trip to #18 Louisville.

LOUISVILLE CARDINALS

Record: 6-1
Week 8 Result: Bye

Recap: The Cardinals return to action on October 28th vs. #20 Duke

SOUTHERN CAL TROJANS

Record: 6-2
Week 8 Result: Lost 34-32 vs. #14 Utah

Recap: USC saw a massive fourth quarter comeback against a physical Utah team fall short as Cole Becker nailed a 38-yard field goal as time expired, capping off an 11-play, 54-yard drive that evoked shades of Brian Van Gorder’s defense against Stanford in 2015. The Trojans scored 14 points in the first quarter but didn’t score again until a field goal on the last play of the third quarter cut the deficit to 28-17. On the ensuing possession, Calen Bullock picked off Utah QB Bryan Barnes and returned the interception for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 28-23. After the teams traded field goals, the Trojan defense again stood tall and forced a punt, which freshman speedster Zachariah Branch returned all the way to the Ute 11-yard line. Caleb Williams scored the next play to take a 32-31 lead with just 1:46 remaining, but the two-point conversion failed, allowing Utah to drive down for the game-winning score. The Trojan defense will again (rightly) get much of the blame for the loss, but for the second consecutive week an opponent was able to overwhelm the Trojan offensive line to harass and rattle Williams, who often looks like he is trying to do too much. Lincoln Riley better figure things out quickly, as after next weekend’s trip to Berkeley, the Trojans close with Washington, Oregon, and UCLA.

PITTSBURGH PANTHERS

Record: 2-5
Week 8 Result: Lost 21-17 at Wake Forest

Recap: One week after shocking Louisville, Pitt fell 21-17 at Wake Forest, as third string Demon Deacon QB Santino Marucci threw a 15-yard touchdown pass with just 7 seconds on the clock, answering the go-ahead Panther touchdown that had occurred with just 1:30 remaining. QB Christian Veilleux had a strong outing, throwing for 302 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Notre Dame transfer RB C’Bo Flemister had 105 rushing yards on 23 carries, but Pitt committed 13 penalties for 101 yards, a big reason the Panthers could only manage 17 points. Still, Pat Narduzzi’s team should enter South Bend with at least some confidence, having moved the ball consistently two games in a row after a brutal start to the season on offense.

CLEMSON TIGERS

Record: 4-3
Week 8 Result: Lost 28-20 at Miami

Recap: In what is quickly devolving into a lost season, Clemson blew a 17-7 fourth quarter lead to a Miami team playing its backup quarterback and fell 28-20 in double overtime. The first quarter provided a sign of things to come as RB Will Shipley fumbled on the one-yard line and Miami RB Brashard Smith took the ensuing carry 80 yards (before fumbling in the end zone but Miami recovered for a touchdown). Clemson was dominated in the trenches all game by Miami, rushing for just 31 yards on 34 attempts while Miami racked up 211 yards on the ground, a big reason why the Hurricanes had the ball for over 37 minutes. Despite all of that and three turnovers, Clemson still held a double-digit fourth quarter lead, but was let down by its defense, perceived as the strength of the team. Miami posted back-to-back fourth quarter scoring drives to force overtime and then won in the second frame. Clemson has a tricky trip to NC State before hosting Notre Dame on November 4th.

WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS

Record: 4-3
Week 8 Result: Won 21-17 vs Pitt

Recap: QB Santino Marucci kept Wake Forest’s hopes of bowl eligibility alive with a 15-yard strike to Cameron Hite with 7 seconds remaining. After 3 straight losses after starting the season 3-0, it has to feel good for the Demon Deacons to get back in the win column, especially in such dramatic fashion. Wake Forest rediscovered the running game that had been missing the past three weeks, posting 172 yards on the ground, with Demond Claiborne leading the way with 96 yards and 2 touchdowns. Dave Clawson’s team has a brutal finish to the season though, beginning with next weekend’s game against #4 Florida State.

STANFORD CARDINAL

Record: 2-5
Week 8 Result: Lost 42-7 vs #25 UCLA

Recap: That second-half offensive outburst against Colorado appears like a flash in the pan, as Stanford was dominated by UCLA in a 42-7 loss. The Cardinal were unable to find the end zone until late in the third quarter, posted just 24 yards rushing, went 1-11 on third down and 0-4 on fourth down, turned the ball over twice, and committed 10 penalties for 113 yards. The only bright spot for Stanford was that WR Elic Ayomanor followed up his incredible performance against Colorado with another 8 receptions for 90 yards. Stanford hosts #5 Washington next weekend in another game that could get ugly, especially as the Huskies attempt to rebound from their own poor offensive showing against Arizona State. 

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