When does Notre Dame vs. Nevada kick off and other questions

A basic rundown of all the key facts related to Notre Dame’s home opener against Nevada. All your quick questions about this weekend answered.

Who: No. 18 Notre Dame vs. Nevada

After its season-opening loss to Texas, Notre Dame plummeted in the rankings, from No. 10 to No. 18 in the AP poll and from No. 9 to No. 21 in the coaches poll. However, the Irish are still heavy favorites against Nevada, who is unranked and won its first game of the year against an FCS opponent, Cal Poly, in overtime. According to OddsShark, the Irish are favored by 28 points.

Related Story: How Notre Dame's 2016 opponents fared in Week 1

When: Saturday, Sept. 10, 3:30 p.m. EDT

It’s been seven years since the Irish last played Nevada, in the only matchup ever between these two teams. Back in 2009, Notre Dame opened its season against the Wolf Pack and romped to a 35-0 victory.

Where: Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, Indiana

It’s been a while since Notre Dame opened its home slate after losing on the road. In fact, that situation hasn’t happened since 2004, due in part to the fact that Notre Dame’s last true road opener was in 2006. Regardless, the last time the Irish lost a home opener was in 2011 against South Florida. In the past decade, the Irish are 8-2 in their first game of the season at Notre Dame Stadium.

It’s also worth noting that this game will mark the 250th straight sellout of Notre Dame Stadium. That’s second only to Nebraska, with 347.

TV: NBC

Mike Tirico and Doug Flutie will be in the broadcast booth for NBC, while Kathryn Tappen will report from the sidelines. Tirico, who recently joined the network from ESPN, will also call Sunday Night Football and is filling in for usual announcer Dan Hicks.

The game will also be the first ever college football contest broadcast in 4K, which is basically ultra HD.

Radio: Sirius XM Satellite Radio, channel 129, or on any of the full list of Notre Dame radio affiliates available here

Don Criqui and Allen Pinkett will be calling the game for radio on all these broadcasts.

Stats: CBSSports’s Gametracker App will have live updates once the game starts.

Three storylines to watch for:

1. Can Notre Dame’s defense pull itself together? Brian Kelly insisted this week that his team can win under defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder’s complex scheme, but giving up 37 points in regulation to Texas is not an encouraging sign, and the loss of Avery Sebastian makes an already shaky secondary even more inexperienced. Nevada is unlikely to challenge the Irish defense in the same punishing way that Texas did, but perhaps the Wolf Pack might try to imitate the Longhorns’ tempo and ruffle the defense.
2. Will the offensive line improve? It was a bit surprising to here Brian Kelly express disappointment in the performance of the left side of the offensive line after Texas. After all, the combo of Mike McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson is one of the most fearsome in the nation. But the O-Line was not at its best against the Longhorns, and that will most likely change this Saturday. Expect to see the Irish pound Nevada’s inexperienced front seven on the left side.
3. Will Malik Zaire play? Brian Kelly has announced that DeShone Kizer will start against Nevada, which is hardly surprising given how well Kizer played against Texas. But he has been tight-lipped about the role of senior Malik Zaire now that he has officially lost the QB competition. Will Zaire really just be a permanent backup? Or will he be inserted into the game at strategic points? If Notre Dame plays well and goes up big, how soon will he take over for Kizer, and could his performance possibly sway Kelly at all?

Notre Dame’s key player: Devin Studstill

The true freshman is now officially the starting free safety for Notre Dame, thanks to the dismissal of Max Redfield and a concussion to Avery Sebastian. However, you shouldn’t think Studstill didn’t earn the spot, as the rookie had four tackles against Texas in limited time and played well.

His backup on the depth chart is another freshman: Jalen Elliott. That only increases the pressure for Studstill to perform above his age and act as a steadying force in an Irish secondary that was burned multiple times against Texas.

Nevada’s key player: James Butler

The key to Nevada’s offense, and the guy who should worry Notre Dame fans the most is running back James Butler. The junior rushed for 1,345 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, and he picked up right where he left off in this season’s opener, going for 123 yards and two scores. His career average is 5.7 yards per carry, and he was named to the Maxwell and Doak Walter Award watch lists this offseason.

Seeing how Texas gashed the Notre Dame rush defense last week, Irish fans should be nervous about how to handle another great back. While he lacks the size of the Longhorns’ rushers, he’s just as explosive.