Notre Dame football at Ohio State: Bold predictions in Week 1

4 of 4

Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Lorenzo Styles Jr. (21) scores a touchdown in the first half Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Mandatory Credit: Cheryl Evans-Arizona RepublicNcaa Football Fiesta Bowl Oklahoma State At Notre DameSyndication Arizona Republic /

Notre Dame football at Ohio State: Bold predictions in Week 1

Lorenzo Styles Jr. outplays Jaxon Smith-Njigba

When it comes to the 2023 NFL Draft, one wideout who stands above the rest is Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was the No. 1 option for the Buckeyes last season. He was able to lead the Buckeyes in receptions and receiving yards despite playing alongside two first-round picks in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson.

There is no doubt that Smith-Njigba is the WR1 for the Buckeyes, and his counterpart, Lorenzo Styles Jr. is going to be a tough matchup for the Ohio State defense as well. Styles Jr. had a solid true freshman season in 2021 but stood out in the Fiesta Bowl, where he went off against Oklahoma State.

May 1, 2021; Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) leaves the field after the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame football: Reasonable expectations against Ohio State

The Notre Dame football team takes on Ohio State on Saturday night, and here are some realistic expectations for the Irish in Week 1.

The Irish are severely depleted in the wide receiver room, but Styles is a legitimate WR1, and could eventually be a first-round talent. If Buchner goes to the air, he is likely to target Styles and Michael Mayer, so when all is said and done, Styles could put together a better stat line than Smith-Njigba in primetime.

Home/Notre Dame Football