Notre Dame football at Ohio State: Bold predictions in Week 1
By Brad Weiss
![Sep 25, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Kendric Pryor (3) is under able to pull in a pass against Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Cam Hart (5) during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports Sep 25, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Kendric Pryor (3) is under able to pull in a pass against Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Cam Hart (5) during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/b95616e279c41d1507344e9886eb931391cb98a5d399e58002c1db2459f96608.jpg)
Notre Dame football at Ohio State: Bold predictions in Week 1
Irish defense nabs two interceptions
As stated earlier, the Ohio State Buckeyes have an elite quarterback in CJ Stroud, a player some believe could be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Stroud burst onto the scene last season, displaying the ability to hurt teams with his arm, and his legs, and is priority No. 1 for defensive coordinator Al Golden.
Truth be told, shutting down Stroud for four quarters at the collegiate level is an impossible task, and there will be times on Saturday night when he shreds the Notre Dame football team’s defense. However, the Irish also have one of the deeper secondaries in college football, so I could see him making a few mistakes in the passing game.
Isaiah Foskey and the front seven are going to lead a pass rush that should get Stroud off his mark a few times, and All-American candidates like Cam Hart and Brandon Joseph could end up picking one out of the sky. Hart will likely draw Jaxon Smith-Njigba in this one, which will be a tough matchup, but he has the size and strength to get the best of him on a few occasions and could nab INT No.1 of the new season.