Notre Dame football: 3 big questions to answer against UNC in Week 9

Nov 27, 2020; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell (7) is sacked by Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Marist Liufau (35) and linebacker Drew White (40) in the second quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2020; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell (7) is sacked by Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Marist Liufau (35) and linebacker Drew White (40) in the second quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Notre Dame football
Notre Dame football safety DJ Brown (2) celebrates during the fourth quarter of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. /

The Notre Dame football team takes on the UNC Tar Heels in Week 9, and here are three big questions they must answer in the matchup.

Tonight inside Notre Dame Stadium, the Notre Dame football team will play their eighth game of the season, this time against the UNC Tar Heels. UNC came into the season with a lot of buzz, but have been very inconsistent, getting out to a 4-3 record, including big losses to Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, and Florida State.

The Irish, on the other hand, have one loss, and that came to the No. 2 team in the country in the Cincinnati Bearcats. UNC is going to be a solid test, and the Irish must answer these questions in a positive light to move to 7-1.

Notre Dame football: 3 big questions to answer against UNC in Week 9

Can DJ Brown step in for Kyle Hamilton?

With Kyle Hamilton out, it is going to be all hands on deck in the secondary, as DJ Brown will step in and start alongside Houston Griffith. This is a pretty solid duo, and Brown has experience against Sam Howell and the UNC offense, as he stepped in for Hamilton last year when the star was ejected for targeting against the Tar Heels.

In 2021, Brown and Griffith have to have a solid game, as there is little depth behind them, and the Tar Heels love to try and throw the football. Brown is one of the bigger question marks in this game, but he should have a lot of confidence, as he stepped in and did a nice job last season in a tough spot.