When you get to the stadium this week, most coaches are giving the same casual “let’s focus on what we control” talk. But the real talk—what matters in this game—is about imposing your will, handling adversity, and executing with sharpness in a hostile environment. In Pittsburgh, with College GameDay in town and legends in the stands — including Aaron Donald’s halftime number retirement — this isn’t just a game. It’s a test.
Notre Dame defense must launch with authority
Coach Freeman and Denbrock must treat the opening drives like championship football. You go out, you take initiative, you fast-start. On offense: run the first few plays to test their front, then mix in play-action or shot vertical to keep them honest. If you score on the first drive, you set a tone. On defense: limit big plays. Heintschel is a true freshman but he’s shown he can move and distribute; in his 35-20 win over Stanford, he threw 304 yards and 3 TDs. Force him into third-down uncomfortable situations, make the pass-rush win early, don’t let him breathe. If you stop them and the crowd is unsettled — you’ve won the first phase.
Exploit the mismatches
By quarter two, fatigue, crowd, noise, and adjustments begin to show. This is where Notre Dame must attack their favorable matchups: their passing game against Pitt’s secondary, and use their skill at receiver to stretch coverage. Notre Dame’s offense is elite: 466.1 yards per game. QB CJ Carr (true freshman) has put up big numbers (2,275 yards, 19 TDs, 4 INTs; 67.6% completion) and must take advantage of single coverage. Receivers like Jaden Greathouse, Jordan Faison, Malachi Fields, Will Pauling — Denbrock should dial up 3-wide sets, maybe even 4-wide to spread them out, isolate corners, and let Carr drive. On defense: Chris Ash should mix cover-0 and cover-2, run disguised blitzes, and keep heat on Heintschel so he can’t sit back and pick apart defenses. If ND can create hesitation and force poor reads, take advantage.
Win the hidden battles turnovers, field position & momentum
College football isn’t always decided by Xs and Os — sometimes the hidden game wins it. Notre Dame must dominate the turnover margin. Get their offense to protect the ball while the defense hunts for takeaways. On punts, the Irish can leverage their special-teams discipline: pin Pitt deep, limit returns, and make sure every flip is in your favor. After a stop, capitalize quickly: if you get the ball in the red zone or at midfield, score touchdowns — don’t settle for field goals. Use scripted two-minute sequences even mid-half to beat them on tempo. The goal: make the momentum swing feel like yours, not theirs. If you knock off a few third-down conversions, turn up the pressure, you force them to play reactionary. That’s where you take over.
Longevity & mental Edge — second half game management
After halftime comes the real test of discipline and mental strength. Pitt’s coming out with emotion — Patt McAfee & College GameDay, the legends, the crowd — they will lean into it. Notre Dame cannot blink. In quarters three and four, the coach script should lean on patience: run the ball wisely (mix in Love, use Carr’s legs if needed), keep drives alive, stay balanced. When the Panthers throw their kitchen-sink looks or blitz packages, ND must be ready with audible protections, quick game, screens, and perhaps late-down misdirection. Defensively, Ash should sub in his more disciplined personnel to avoid fatigue breakdowns late. Pressure must remain constant; you don’t let them get comfortable. By keeping control of the clock, forcing them to sustain drives, and making the right calls in critical moments, you close this game on your terms — not theirs.
Key matchups & personnel battles
- QB duel — CJ Carr vs Mason Heintschel: Carr is a true freshman but has handled pressure and made big throws. Heintschel, also a freshman during this breakout, has proven he can lead (304 yards, 3 TDs vs Stanford). Carr’s willingness to throw into tight windows and use his receivers’ speed could exploit mismatches.
- Notre Dame WRs vs Pitt DBs: Greathouse, Faison, Fields, Pauling — these receivers offer route diversity, speed, and contested catch ability. Pitt’s secondary has been solid, but if ND isolates well, the WR corps can make big plays.
- Irish OL vs Panther front: Pitt’s defense is gritty; their defensive line will test ND’s protection. ND must win at the line of scrimmage, especially on passing downs, to give Carr time and open lanes for Love.
- LB/DB battle: Ash’s linebackers and safeties will be critical to disrupt Heintschel’s rhythm. Communication and coverage discipline + timely blitzes will make or break the defense. (This would be a great game to bring the Viper back)
- Special Teams: Punting and field position will matter. ND needs to avoid short punts, limit returners, and perhaps pin Pitt inside the 20. On kickoffs, coverage must be tight.
Pressure points & risk factors
- Complacency: Notre Dame has dominated this series recently — but Pittsburgh is fueled by a week off, a home crowd, legends, College GameDay, and a chance to make a statement.
- Young QB Mistakes: Carr is talented, but this environment could rattle a freshman. Turnovers, sacks, or misreads could swing momentum.
- Third-Down Efficiency: If Pitt sustains drives, especially in the second half, they can lean on their offense and wear down ND’s defense.
- Big-Play Vulnerability: If ND gives up chunk plays — deep shots, broken coverages — the atmosphere could get out of hand.
- Fatigue / Depth: Late in the game, if ND doesn’t rotate or manage personnel, they could tire, and mistakes could creep in.
Final words from Coach Joe
We walk into Acrisure not to survive — but to dominate. This is not a “nice-win,” it’s a statement. From the first snap, you’ve got to lay a foundation. You’ve got to show them you came to win, not to just be in the headline show. On offense, you establish balance and punish mistakes. On defense, you disrupt, you harass, you make them uncomfortable. On special teams, you hide no edge — every yard, every return, every punt counts.
You must prepare for the long haul. You don’t flip into cruise control if you get up early. You don’t panic if they make a big play. Your third-and-long defense, your two-minute offense, your red-zone discipline — that’s where games get won. And when the lights shine brightest — GameDay, halftime, crowd roar — you respond like a veteran group, not a freshman show.
This is your road test, Notre Dame. Go own it.