Notre Dame football vs. Oklahoma State Fiesta Bowl: 3 Studs, 3 Duds

Notre Dame football vs. Oklahoma State Fiesta Bowl: 3 Studs, 3 Duds

Duds

Notre Dame’s Rush Offense

The lack of rushing attack was both inability and intentional. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees elected to throw the football at nearly a 2-to-1 clip. However, on those downs when Notre Dame did run the football, they were almost entirely ineffective. The Fighting Irish finished the game with 42 yards on 21 carries. This rushing attack included a fumble by freshman running back Logan Diggs late in the contest that may have destroyed Notre Dame’s chances of winning the game.

Situational Execution

The period immediately following Notre Dame’s touchdown to make the score 28-7 allowed Oklahoma State to get back into the game. Michael Mayer’s touchdown reception occurred with 1:16 remaining in the first half. The Cowboys scored 39 seconds later to make it a 28-14 contest. To begin the second half, Oklahoma State scored to make the score 28-21. This short period allowed Oklahoma State to regain momentum and ultimately win the football game. The Cowboys ended the game on a 30-7 run.

Clarence Lewis and the Notre Dame Secondary

Clarence Lewis played well in 2020 and will likely play better in 2022. However, his performance in the Fiesta Bowl put the Notre Dame football team at a disadvantage. Oklahoma State senior wide receiver Tay Martin erupted for 3 touchdowns on 10 receptions. The vast majority of those receptions were against the aforementioned Lewis. During the game, Lewis looked confused and hesitant.

Notre Dame football: Breaking down Marcus Freeman’s key decisions in the Fiesta Bowl

The Notre Dame football team lost their bowl game against Oklahoma State, and here, we look at the key decisions by Marcus Freeman.

The secondary did not do anything to help him either. Safety D.J. Brown struggled to cover and tackle in space. This was probably the first time that the Notre Dame football team truly felt the loss of Kyle Hamilton.