Fighting Irish Look to Tame Huskies in Home Opener

Noter Dame Fighting Irish | Collins making a big catch — © Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

The No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1-0) will host Northern Illinois (1-0) at 3:30 p.m. EST on Sept. 7 at Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish are coming off a statement win at Kyle Field against Texas A&M (0-1) last weekend. Their performance in the trenches against the Aggies proved many doubters wrong. The Irish will make their home debut on NBC.

What's at Stake?

Both teams are currently sitting at 1-0. So, aspirations of an undefeated season will have to end for someone on Saturday, more than likely the Huskies. Notre Dame pushed themselves into the AP top five after their win on Saturday. At the same time, Northern Illinois is coming off a 54-14 victory against Western Illinois (0-1). Coming out of Notre Dame Stadium with a victory would be an extraordinary accomplishment for a Group of 5 team.

With Notre Dame not in a conference, the Irish must take every week seriously if they want to be a playoff team. Coach Marcus Freeman seems to have lit a fire under this team following his emotional pregame address to his players at Texas A&M. Look for the Irish to tame the Huskies.

Key Players: Fighting Irish

Offense: Quarterback Riley Leonard and running back Jeremiyah Love. These two players were dominant in the run game on Saturday against the Aggies. However, Leonard has to show a little more as a passer going forward. Leonard was only 18 out of 30 through the air for 158 yards. Notre Dame looks to be a force in the trenches. If Leonard can air it out against an inferior opponent, he might acquire the confidence he needs to become an elite dual-threat QB this season. Love is coming off 14 carries for 91 yards and 1 touchdown last week. He needs to be a rock again for the Irish, and they will be just fine.

Riley Leonard post-game | Notre Dame Fighting Irish — © Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Defense: Xavier Watts. Watts received much hype this offseason for his ability to do it all as a safety. He did not necessarily have a bad game against the Aggies, but he logged only 3 tackles (2 solo), seventh-highest on the team, and he did make an interception. Watts was disciplined in his assignments but could add more this weekend and play a key role in defensive success against NIU. This game presents an excellent opportunity for the future NFL safety to deliver a standout performance.

Key Players: NIU Huskies

Offense: Ethan Hampton. Hampton is coming off a superb performance against an inferior Western Illinois team. Hampton logged a near-perfect 18 out of 20 in the Huskies' passing game, racking up 358 yards and 5 touchdowns. He must be near perfect again when facing a more challenging Notre Dame defense in the Huskies' bid to pull off the upset.

Defense: Roy Williams. Junior defensive end Roy Williams is an absolute unit of a player. Williams stands at 6-foot-6 and 251 pounds. He is coming off a 1-sack performance with 6 tackles total, and he might line up against Notre Dame's freshman tackle, Anthonie Knapp. Williams has to be a disruptive force to keep this game close for the Huskies.

Trends to Watch

For the Irish, look for a similar style of football. They should pound the rock and win the trenches. However, this may be an excellent chance to unleash Leonard as a passer against an inferior defense. Regardless, Notre Dame's rushing attack will be a focal point in the matchup. Expect NIU to lean on Hampton. He put up video game numbers last weekend and will have to do so again to pull off the victory. However, Notre Dame is not Western Illinois, and this will be no walk in the park for Hampton. The Irish will likely win this game in blowout fashion. They are favored by 28.5 points, per the Action Network.