Notre Dame football dominates Stanford: Rapid Reactions in Week 13
By Brad Weiss
Notre Dame football dominates Stanford: Rapid Reactions in Week 13
Second Half
Here are some rapid reactions from the second half.
Kevin Austin Jr. is becoming a star
In the second half of the matchup against Stanford, we saw Coan and the offense continue to attack the Cardinal deep, and Kevin Austin Jr. was the main beneficiary. In fact, he finished the first three frames with 118 yards on five receptions, including a beautiful 60-yard catch and run that set up a Kyren Williams touchdown.
Across his last few games, Austin has shown that he can beat teams deep, and that is going to bode well for the Irish in the CFP or New Year’s Six bowl game.
Tyler Buchner is a difference-maker
While Jack Coan is the unquestioned leader of this Irish offense and rightfully is the starter, you have to love what Tyler Buchner brings to the table. Teams have to respect his ability to get the job done with his legs, and his fake to Chris Tyree led to a long gain in the third quarter, and in the fourth, he rushed for a 33-yard touchdown of his own.
This is a CFP team
One thing is for sure, especially after seeing another dominant effort by the Irish on both sides of the ball, and that is they are a College Football Playoff team. They can hurt you on the ground, and through the air offensively, and the defense is playing possibly the best football of any unit in the country right now.
They should not be judged by the struggles earlier in the season, and when they decide to vote for the final four teams, the previous month should be an indication that this team can hang with the best of the best in the country.
This was the kind of win that the Irish needed, especially due to the fact they are not playing in a conference title game, and this was the last audition for a possible College Football Playoff spot. Notre Dame is one of the best four teams in the country right now, but all we can do is wait and see where they land.