Notre Dame Football vs. Toledo: 3 Surprises in 2021 Week 2

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Sep 11, 2021; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Jack Coan (17) runs onto the field as quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) leaves the field in the third quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

Notre Dame Football vs. Toledo: 3 Surprises in 2021 Week 2

Irish have yet to show they can put lesser teams away

The Irish have gone into both of their first two games as the favorite, and in both games, it looked like they could break away from the lesser team. Against Florida State, they had a 38-20 halftime lead, and it appeared they would walk out of Doak Campbell Stadium with an easy victory over the Seminoles.

Well, that did not happen, as Florida State came all the way back and forced overtime. Against Toledo, it was a foregone conclusion that they would pull away, especially as a more than two-touchdown favorite, but the Rockets kept coming back. If the Irish can’t put away FSU and Toledo, how are they supposed to do it against the likes of Cincinnati and Virginia Tech?

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 01: Head coach Brian Kelly and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football players run on the field during player introductions before the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at AT&T Stadium on January 01, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 31-14. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

Notre Dame football: 5 Irish who won’t be underrated for long

Notre Dame football is always going to be known for its All-Americans and NFL Draft prospects, but there are also a bevy of underrated players too.

Maybe everything will click for the Irish on Saturday, and Purdue will come into Notre Dame Stadium, get punched in the mouth, and not get back into the game. However, it has been surprising how much the Irish let teams stick around, so I would expect it to be more of the same in Week 3.

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