Welp, our entire season depends on this one. Win and get talked about nationally, lose and we fade into the sunset of another no name bowl.
BYU football: Cougars’ cornerback eligible to play against Notre Dame - Deseret News
Good news is that the Targeting call against cornerback Gabe Jeudy-Lally, who was ejected for targeting in the second half of last Thursday’s 38-26 [win over Utah State]
The Vanderbilt transfer will be allowed to play the entire game on Saturday against Notre Dame because his appeal to the NCAA to have the on-field ruling overturned was successful
Coincidentally, Notre Dame was hoping to get a targeting call on linebacker JD Bertrand in its win over North Carolina on Sept. 24 overturned as well, but coach Marcus Freeman said Monday the appeal was denied.
ND has had its problems with their starting QB out with shoulder injury. Pyne was not ready for primetime but has since found his game. On the other hand, BYU concerns me. we were 4-12 on 3rd down conversions against USU. after digging, ND was 6-14 on 3rd down conversions @ NC.
ND wants to rush 1st, throw once their ground game is solid. BYU’s identity is, we would like to be a run 1st but have sucked at it. But are happy to be a pass 1st, that is our talent.
Hall vs. ND’s Pyne. No contest, Hall is an NFL talent. Pyne @ 5’11 played well against NC, threw for 3 TDs, so also mobile. Big Advantage, Hall
Offense
I say toss up. BYU is better because of our QB and Receivers but ND has an NFL talent, Mayer, possibly the best TE in football and NFL talent at RB, Esteme, has elite speed reminds me of Algiere.
On Defense:
Tuiaki’s rush 4 vs. ND’s 6 will be a disaster. They will pound out 5 yds per until Sitake takes over on calls and we get creative. We certainly have the talent on D to stop ND with plenty of cover speed in the secondary but will we be creative enough? Not holding my breath.
Vegas has this ND -4, interestingly, they started -9.5 over/under 52.
I say, if BYU can run the ball and be creative at slowing down ND’s rush, BYU wins.