Although the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have sputtered to a 2-3 start to the season, the offense has not been the problem. The Irish rank 23rd in the nation with 495 yards per game on offense and have been involved in several shootouts to make up for a lackluster defense.
The Wolfpack offense has been nearly as good, averaging 40 points per game, although the Wolfpack’s schedule must be taken into consideration. Either way, the game on Saturday is shaping up to have a lot of points scored as these two offenses go toe to toe.
Quarterback
NC State redshirt sophomore quarterback Ryan Finley has been an excellent surprise for the Wolfpack this season, having posted a 72.4 completion percentage and nine touchdowns through four games. Perhaps most impressive is that Finley has not thrown a single interception this season. He has been efficient and accurate early this season and without a serious pass rush from Notre Dame, the only thing that may trip him up this weekend is the weather.
Redshirt sophomore Jalan McClendon was once again used in goal-line sets but with less success as Wake Forest was more prepared in the red zone. We’ll see if Wolfpack offensive coordinator Eli Drinkwitz adds a new wrinkle to the red-zone offense or if he chooses to abandon it as the season moves on.
While the Wolfpack has gotten solid play from the quarterback, Notre Dame appears to be on another level. Redshirt sophomore DeShone Kizer could potentially be the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and he has done nothing in the first five games to discourage that notion. Kizer has thrown for 1,567 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. He is also the team’s second leading rusher, proving he is competent with his legs.
Advantage: Notre Dame
Running Back
Senior running back Matt Dayes continues to be a steady force in the Wolfpack backfield with 437 yards through four games this season, and is well on his way to being a 1,000 yard rusher.
The Irish will get senior Tarean Folston back from an injury that sidelined him against Syracuse last weekend. He will likely regain the starting job after sophomore Josh Adams scampered for 102 yards against the Orange. Opposing teams have attempted to bottle up the Irish running game with success this season, with the Irish ranking just 74th in rushing yards per game.
Advantage: NC State
Wide Receiver
The Wolfpack received great play from this position against Wake Forest, with redshirt sophomore Stephen Louis continuing his breakout season, freshman Kelvin Harmon becoming a legitimate threat as a freshman and sophomore Nyheim Hines returning to the field. This unit should have continued success against a porous Notre Dame secondary, although hurricane conditions could derail that plan.
The Irish are led by sophomore Equanimeous St. Brown, who has posted 25 catches for 541 yards and six touchdowns this season. If the recent trends continue, he should have a big day against the Wolfpack secondary.
Advantage: Notre Dame
Tight End
NC State junior tight end Jaylen Samuels scored another touchdown against Wake Forest and he now leads the team with seven total touchdowns on the year. His younger counterpart, freshman Thad Moss, had an amazing catch in the win and seems to be adjusting to the college game very nicely.
Irish senior tight end Durham Smythe has caught four balls this season for 52 yards and a touchdown. The Irish don’t have an athlete at tight end like Samuels or Moss on its roster.
Advantage: NC State
Offensive Line
The Wolfpack offensive line did well to continue to protect Finley and open up holes for the Wolfpack running game against Wake Forest. Penalties were an issue, but the fact that Wake Forest only managed one sack against the Wolfpack is a positive sign.
The Irish have an elite left tackle in senior Mike McGlinchey, who is garnering interest from NFL teams for the 2017 NFL Draft. The entire offensive line for Notre Dame is big and experienced.
Advantage: Notre Dame
Overall
Notre Dame wins the category battle 5-3, but this game is a lot closer on paper than many people suspected coming into the season. This is an opportunity for Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren and company to finally get a big win.
