Notre Dame football vs. Cincinnati Bearcats: 3 Irish players to watch

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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 27: Isaiah Foskey #7 and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah #6 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish pressure Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of their game at Kenan Stadium on November 27, 2020, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame football vs. Cincinnati Bearcats: 3 Irish players to watch

Isaiah Foskey, Edge Rusher

During the 2021 NFL Draft, the Notre Dame football program lost two key edge rushers in Daelin Hayes and Ade Ogundeji. In their place, the Irish have gotten some good pass rush this season, especially from Isaiah Foskey, who leads the team with 3.5 sacks on the young season.

Against Cincinnati, the Irish need a monster game from Foskey, especially with how dynamic a quarterback Desmond Ridder is. If Foskey can get in his face early and often, it could throw Ridder off balance, forcing the Bearcats to turn to the run game more, where the Irish can limit this offenses’ big-play ability.

Sep 25, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly talks with a referee during the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame football game Saturday: Notre Dame football vs Cincinnati odds and prediction for NCAA Week 5 game

The Notre Dame football team will look to run their record to 5-0 this Saturday, facing what could be their toughest opponent in the Cincinnati Bearcats.

If these three Irish players can step up and make plays, it is going to make this huge matchup must-see television inside Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday. The Irish have more than enough talent to pull off the upset win against the Bearcats, but it is going to take all hands on deck on both sides of the ball to do so.

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