With Notre Dame vs Pitt about to kick off, this is a massive contest for the Fighting Irish. They're going to need to show they can be a dual-threat attack with Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, and CJ Carr all needing a big game. Unfortunately, a solid Panthers defense got a boost on Saturday morning when Pete Thamel announced that Rasheem Biles will play for the first time in over a month.
Biles is an All-ACC caliber defender who suffered a lower-body injury against Florida State on October 11. Even before he got hurt, he was all over the field, recording 8 tackles. Despite playing in just 6 games so far this year, he's already got 52 tackles, 2 sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception returned 75 yards for a touchdown. He's also had more than 10 tackles in a game three times this year.
Now, he's returning to the field to try to shut down the Notre Dame running game, but he can also be quite the problem in the passing game.
Rasheem Biles returns for Pitt for the first time in a month against Notre Dame football
Pitt's linebacker group of Biles, Braylan Lovelace, and Kyle Louis is one of the best in the ACC, and they will be tested against Notre Dame, which has two of the best running backs in the country in Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. That they will have all three defenders back has to make Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi quite geeked up.
While Carr can certainly hurt teams through the air, a clash between one of the best rushing offenses and one of the best rushing defenses is what everyone is focusing on.
The Panthers are allowing just 2.4 yards per carry, the fewest in the country, while Notre Dame is averaging 5.3 yards per carry, the 17th most in the country. With Rasheem Biles back on the field for the first time in a month, it will be even tougher sledding for Love and Price.