Whereas main media shops are falling over themselves to slurp Deion Sanders, there was an actual marquee matchup on Saturday with actual penalties for the Faculty Soccer Playoff. The No. 6 Ohio State and No. 9 Notre Dame is ready to complete their home-and-home stand in South Bend, and it must be a way more entertaining sport than the opening week slugfest a 12 months in the past, and can check each quarterbacks.

The Struggle to the Irish Sam Hartman has been in lots of nice episodes, however not like this one, and never on a group pretty much as good as Marcus Freeman’s group. There’s even Heisman buzz across the Wake Forest switch, who to date has accomplished 71 % of his passes for 13 touchdowns to zero interceptions.

NC State was the one opponent of (semi) excessive rep the Irish confronted, they usually crushed the Wolfpack in a sloppy, late-season contest in Raleigh. Early season ACC monsoon video games are all the time powerful, and whereas Hartman actually has his justifiable share of expertise with them, every thing is completely different below the strain and scrutiny of the Golden Dome.

Now, the sixth-year QB will go up in opposition to an Ohio State protection that is loaded with expertise, however — at the least based on the restricted pattern measurement — as a lot of an unknown as the brand new Buckeye quarterback. that Kyle McCord. (Extra on him in a second.) The explanation I am so excessive on Notre Dame is due to Hartman.

Working again Audric Estime is not at eight yards per keep it up Saturday, and it’ll inevitably come all the way down to the passing sport to maintain drives, and get into the endzone. Now with somebody he can belief to be greater than only a sport supervisor, the Irishman is balanced, explosive, and places up 50 factors per outing.

Hartman’s arrival for the Irish is what Russell Wilson did for the Wisconsin group: A reputable QB, combined with that stage of expertise, is a recipe for a playoff contender.

What did McCord get at Ohio State?

In his first three begins for the Buckeyes, the junior quarterback has proven flashes. Any Ohio State QB this century has the mandatory instruments to place up Heisman numbers and win 10-plus video games per season, in order that’s no shock. What worries me is that it will not be as simple because it has been for the previous 150 quarterbacks below Ryan Day.

McCord did not break 300 yards till final week, did not throw for a landing in opposition to Indiana in Week 1, and he was formally named QB1 earlier than the Western Kentucky sport, which is uncommon for that program. If McCord struggles like he did in opposition to the Hoosiers, and the Irish beat them, analysts will ask questions, and deal with it like Jalen Milroe and Alabama.

Anticipate to see lots of working again TreVeyon Henderson as a result of I do not understand how a lot of a snap McCord can take at night time, on the highway, and in a foul surroundings. A season in the past in Columbus, Notre Dame’s protection held CJ Stroud to 223 yards passing, Henderson to 91 yards dashing, and the Buckeyes to 21 factors.

Sure, that was sufficient to win with Tommy Rees calling the performs and Tyler Buchner working it, but it surely wasn’t going to be a simple Saturday. The timing of this sport — Week 4 as an alternative of the beginning of the season — additionally means it must be a crisper affair than in 2022, and that is good for the viewers in addition to the offense.

Marvin Harrison Jr. grew to become McCord’s greatest buddy throughout this time, and later, it is tight finish Cade Stover. These two must play laborious and persistently win no matter protection as a result of Notre Dame will make McCord beat them. I would be shocked if both squad goes wild on the bottom, and the Buckeyes must do higher than their season common on third down (35 %) to take management of this sport.

It appears apparent to say, “The group whose quarterback performs higher wins,” however is not that the case 9 occasions out of 10? That is why Saturday’s sport is so scrumptious. This could function a barometer for each quarterback in this system, and thus, playoff probabilities.