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

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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: 3 big questions to answer against UNC in Week 9

Can the defense shut down UNC quarterback Sam Howell?

Coming into the 2021 college football season, there was not only a lot of buzz around the UNC program but also quarterback Sam Howell. Some 2022 NFL Mock Drafts had him as the No. 1 player taken, and while that has subsided, and some do not even list him in the first round, he is still a quarterback with a ton of talent.

UNC lost a lot on their offense from a year ago, including their top two running backs and wide receiver, and Howell has had to make do with what remains. Josh Downs is a solid player, as is running back Ty Chandler, but the offense revolves around No. 7, and stopping him is key if the Irish want to win this one.

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

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Notre Dame football found its balance and rhythm against rival USC, but how did that translate to their individual grades in each unite?

The Irish are the better team in this game, and all signs point to them coming away with the victory. Notre Dame football is still a longshot to make the College Football Playoff, and all they can do is continue to stack wins, starting with the UNC Tar Heels tonight inside Notre Dame Stadium.

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