Notre Dame football vs. UNC: 3 Tar Heels who must be stopped in Week 9

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Oct 16, 2021; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Josh Downs (11) scores a touchdown as Miami Hurricanes cornerback Te’Cory Couch (23) defends in the first quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Notre Dame football vs. UNC: 3 Tar Heels who must be stopped

Josh Downs, Wide Receiver

When it comes to the UNC Tar Heels football team, all eyes are always on quarterback Sam Howell, a playmaking signal-caller who can get the job done on the ground, and through the air. Aside from rushing for nearly 500 yards this season, Howell has also had a nice season throwing the football, and that is because he has an incredible talent to throw to in Josh Downs.

So while Howell must be stopped, the real key will be taking away his No. 1 option in Downs, who has hauled in 60 catches for over 800 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Across his last five games, Downs has been unstoppable, including an 11-catch effort against the Hurricanes the last time out, as well as a 200-plus yard effort against Virginia.

Oct 23, 2021; South Bend, Indiana, USA; The Notre Dame Leprechaun carries a Notre Dame monogram flag after a Notre Dame touchdown in the fourth quarter against the USC Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame football: Reviewing our Week 8 bold predictions vs USC

Ahead of every Notre Dame football game, we take a look at three bold predictions, and here is how we did in their latest matchup against USC.

Downs has at least eight catches in every game this season, has gone over 100 yards four times, 200 yards once, and does not have less than 53 yards in any game. That is the kind of production that lands you in the NFL, but on Saturday night, he must be blanketed by Cam Hart, especially with Kyle Hamilton missing the matchup inside Notre Dame Stadium.

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