The Notre Dame football team battles it out against the Navy Midshipmen in Week 10, and here are three things to keep an eye on in the matchup.
The Notre Dame football team goes into their Week 10 matchup against Navy with a 7-1 record, and a real shot at making another major bowl game appearance this season. It has been an up and down season for the Irish in 2021, but they are playing solid football right now, and appear to be picking up steam heading towards the final weeks of their season.
This weekend, the Irish take on the Navy Midshipmen, and we take a look at three things to keep an eye on.
Notre Dame football vs. Navy Midshipmen: 3 things to watch in Week 10
Lack of a Navy passing game
Incredibly, the Navy offense did not complete a single pass this past weekend, but despite that, were able to pick up the victory over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Of course, it helps when you can rush for over 300 yards a carry and average five yards a tote doing so, something to keep an eye on this weekend inside Notre Dame Stadium.
The Irish are a much better defense than Tulsa is, as they have playmakers on all three levels, and Marcus Freeman should have a solid game plan for a team that does not pass. Who knows, maybe Navy will surprise the Irish and come out throwing, but the game plan is likely to try and run it down Notre Dame’s throat.
Notre Dame football vs. Navy Midshipmen: 3 things to watch in Week 10
Can Kyren Williams continue torrid pace?
Over the past two games, the Notre Dame offense has looked better than it has all season, as they are finally getting solid play along the offensive line. The main beneficiary of the elite blocking has been running back Kyren Williams, who has shaken off a slow start to the season to absolutely catch fire as of late.
Williams ran for a season-high 138 yards against USC after the bye week, only to follow that up with nearly 200 yards on the ground against UNC. He dominated the Tar Heels defense, stiff-arming and running away from everyone who came in his path, something he will have to do on Saturday against Navy.
The Midshipmen have struggled on the defensive side of the ball all season long, as they have allowed 30 or more points on four occasions. The game plan for the Irish is simple, get Williams going on the ground, then open up the passing game on the outside, displaying the wide gap of talent between the two programs.
Notre Dame football vs. Navy Midshipmen: 3 things to watch in Week 10
Complete domination
Speaking of a gap in talent between the two programs, the Irish have to show just how much better they are against the Midshipmen on Saturday, dominating on both sides of the ball. They have done a nice job stacking wins the past two weeks, and only have a loss to No. 2 Cincinnati on their resume this season, but convincing wins have to be the goal from here on out.
The truth is, the Irish’s schedule is soft the rest of the way, so it is going to be hard to turn enough heads to get themselves back in the conversation for a College Football Playoff. They cannot afford a one-score victory against Navy this weekend, especially as a 22-point favorite, because those are the kind of games the voters look at.
Notre Dame football: Games to keep an eye on in 2021 Week 10 slate
The Notre Dame football team has a chance to continue to move up the rankings, and here are two games to keep an eye on this weekend.
This is a statement game for the Irish, who need to dominate this one from the outset if they want to continue to move up the rankings. Navy is one-dimensional, in the middle of a down year, and if the Notre Dame football team cannot make this one a laugher, it will be hard for them to move up in the next AP Poll.