CFB: Notre Dame Fighting Irish Week 13 Preview

Army Black Knights (Yankee Stadium, New York City, NY); 7.00pm EST; 12.00am GMT

One hundred years after the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame ensured that an “Army team was swept over the precipice at the Polo Grounds” in New York City, the Fighting Irish and the US Military Academy at West Point will once again lock horns in the Big Apple, this time in the revamped Yankee Stadium. ND lead the series 39-8-4, with a 15-5-3 record in Yankee Stadium, including the legendary 0-0 tie in the 1946 ‘Game of the Century’. 

The Irish will take the field in the Bronx in special uniforms to commemorate the centenary and will hope to emulate that 1924 outcome when Notre Dame prevailed 13-7. Playoff aspirations are on the line for both teams as a loss would likely end hopes of playing on the third weekend in December. Though Army will, of course, be playing on the first two, with an AAC Championship Game and then the annual clash with Navy to look forward to. 

The Black Knights enter the game with a 9-0 record but a sense that they have only really had one challenging game, their last outing at North Texas. That saw them trail for the first time this season, courtesy of an early Mean Green FG, but the deficit lasted less than six minutes, en route to a 14-3 Army victory.

The cadets had scores over 40 points per game in their four previous outings, so their offensive struggles against the best defense they’ve faced should give Al Golden some hope and a few pointers. Their own defense has impressed as well – they’ve only allowed more than 14 points once so far.

On offense they will run and run and likely run again, and very rarely for negative yardage. They are second in time of possession, last in pace of play and will regularly go for it on fourth down, usually successfully: they’re 16 of 19 this season.

Everything runs through QB, Bryson Daily. He’s already rushed for over 1,000 yards and has 7 TD passes on just 51 attempts. Against their best opponent last week, he had a season high 36 rushes but at his lowest average for the year. The key, as always, in defending the option is to hit the QB early and often, ideally on virtually every play.

It’s been noticeable this season how often opposing players have been slow to get up after plays. Al Golden’s unit will be the biggest and most physical that Daily has faced in 2024. If he runs for 36 times again this week, I hope he has a long and much needed Radox bath planned for Sunday morning!

The Black Knights are not a one-man offense, however.  RB, Kanye Udoh, has over 850 yards at a very healthy 6.7 yards a time, and his colleague at the position, Noah Short, is a threat in both the run and pass games. He and WR, Casey Reynolds, both have three passing TDs this season, and longest plays of over 50+ yards each. Reynolds, like his ND counterpart, Jordan Faison, also plays for this school’s lacrosse team. 

On defense they are very much in the bend but don’t break mould and excel inside the red zone. In a game with fewer possessions than usual, the Irish cannot afford to settle for many FGs. Army will likely adopt the sensible strategy of most ND opponents and load the box to try to force Leonard to pass more often than Mike Denbrock would plan for or like, but they are susceptible in the pass game. 

This week would therefore be an excellent time for Collins and Faison to stop dropping passes, and for Greathouse and Mitchell to continue to form a greater part of the Notre Dame passing attack. Scoring early and often, and taking a two-score lead, is key to throwing Army out of their rhythm and game plan. Eschewing TD opportunities in a limited possession game on the other hand will make for a very nervous evening for the legions of subway alumni who will make their way to the Bronx to witness one of college football’s most storied rivalries.