No. 9 Notre Dame is on a mission to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff as they prepare to face a struggling Syracuse team. With an 8-2 record, the Fighting Irish are optimistic about enhancing their playoff ranking with a significant victory against the Orange, who sit at 3-7, during their senior day matchup.
Coach Marcus Freeman is focused on ensuring that his players maintain their competitive edge amidst the emotional atmosphere of senior day. “You run out there for what you know could be your last time in Notre Dame Stadium, but after you see your families and you get back to that sideline, you have to flip the switch back to competition mode,” Freeman stated. He emphasized the importance of preparation in keeping the team focused.
Senior tight end Eli Raridon expressed the desire of his teammates to prolong their football journey. “Our seniors want nothing else than to keep playing games, and it”d be awesome if we had one more home game in December,” Raridon noted, reflecting on the possibility of a top-eight ranking in the CFP.
On the other hand, Syracuse has struggled since their promising start to the season. Initially, they recorded a 3-1 record before losing six consecutive games. The team”s troubles escalated when quarterback Steve Angeli, a transfer from Notre Dame, sustained a torn Achilles tendon during a victory over Clemson. Angeli had thrown for ten touchdowns in just four games, but since his injury, Syracuse has averaged only 11.7 points per game and has managed just seven touchdown passes.
Syracuse head coach Fran Brown plans to start freshman walk-on Joe Filardi, who also plays lacrosse for Syracuse, in place of redshirt sophomore Rickie Collins. Filardi”s previous performance included a rough outing against North Carolina, where he completed four of 18 passes. However, he did throw a touchdown against Miami, marking their first touchdown in several weeks. “Joe”s a guy that”s going to be that quarterback, and I feel like he should go in because of being able to put some points on the board,” Brown explained.
In a roster adjustment, Freeman indicated that wide receiver Jaden Greathouse is unlikely to play against Syracuse or in the regular-season finale against Stanford due to a right thigh injury. The team is considering a redshirt option for Greathouse, who has participated in four games this season, averaging 18.3 yards per catch.
After a 27-10 loss to North Carolina, Brown announced changes to his coaching staff, including the replacement of wide receivers coach Myles White with Josh Gattis, who previously served as the offensive specialist. Other shifts included Mike Johnson moving from tight ends coach to quarterbacks coach, and Nunzio Campanile transitioning from quarterbacks coach to tight ends coach. “I think moving coach Gattis to the receiver room is helping out,” Brown commented on the modifications.
As the game approaches, both teams have clear objectives: Notre Dame aims for a playoff berth, while Syracuse seeks to find its footing and end the season on a positive note.
