College Football Game of the Week: No. 15 Louisville at No. 16 Notre Dame

Week 5 of the college football season brings us some enticing matchups across the country.

Game preview:

South Bend, Indiana is the site for this one in a matchup where the No. 15 ranked Louisville Cardinals hit the road for the first time this season to take on the No. 16 ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

This is a contest between two playoff hopefuls who both currently sit just outside the top 12.

Louisville is 3-0 so far in 2024 coming off a convincing win over ACC foe Georgia Tech a week ago. Six-year senior quarterback Tyler Shough has had an impressive start to the season, with 850 yards through the air and eight touchdowns to go with it.

Shough’s favorite target early this season is former Alabama wideout Ja’Corey Brooks, who has 17 grabs for nearly 300 yards and two TDs. Louisville’s offense has been lighting up opposing defenses so far, scoring at least 30 points in all three games.

The Cards also have six different players who have scored a rushing touchdown through just three games this season. The three-headed monster of freshman running backs Keyjuan Brown, Issac Brown (true freshman) and Duke Watson (true freshman) have led the way.

Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm said in his weekly press conference, “This is a huge stage for our team to go up there and play in this atmosphere against a really good opponent”.

On the other side of the ball, Notre Dame enters this Week 5 matchup 3-1 after slowly pulling away in the second half against Miami of Ohio and winning by a final score of 28-3.

Riley Leonard and the Irish offense have still yet to really figure things out through the air. Last week, Leonard only threw for 154 yards and one touchdown (first of the season) while throwing the ball 25 times.

Leonard has thrown for 587 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in four games in 2024. The numbers in the passing game for Leonard have been abysmal considering all the hype following his transfer from Duke.

The Irish rushing attack has been nothing short of stellar through four games. Sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love has 46 carries for 339 yards and 4 TDs, averaging 7.4 yards a carry.

Riley Leonard has also contributed to the ground game, adding 322 rushing yards and six touchdowns making him a big-time threat on the ground. However, until he starts to show flashes through the air, the Notre Dame offense won't scare anybody this season.

Game prediction:

The keys to this game are within the trenches. If Louisville's o-line can hold up and protect Tyler Shough, we've seen his ability to be able to pick apart defenses. It will be a tough task due to the fact that Notre Dame has one of the best secondaries in the nation.

When it comes to the Notre Dame passing attack, there is nothing threatening about it. If the Louisville defense can force Riley Leonard to use his arm, then it will be a long day in South Bend.

I don't love Notre Dame in this matchup, give me Louisville 27-17 to remain unbeaten.

Austin Moran is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him email, acm6506@psu.