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If it were a real fighting Irish against a cougar, it would be an entertaining match to watch. But No. 5 Notre Dame taking on BYU should be just as entertaining with the Cougars traveling to South Bend in attempt to bounce back from a disheartening loss to Oregon State.
The last time these two teams met was in 2005, also in Indiana, when then-No. 9 Notre Dame defeated the Cougars 49-23. Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly doesn't see this as an easy game, though, as BYU is ranked 5th in total defense.
Game Notes- BYU (4-3) at No. 5 Notre Dame (6-0)
- Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012 3:30 p.m. EDT
- Site: Notre Dame Stadium - South Bend, Ind.
- TV: NBC
- Radio: KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM 1160 AM
- Series Record: Notre Dame leads 4-2
- Last Meeting: 2005 (Notre Dame 49-23)
- Kickoff Weather: Partly cloudy, temps in the low 50s
No. 5 Notre Dame hosts BYU Saturday, October 20th. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. MT. BYU looks to dethrone the undefeated Fighting Irish for the first time since 1994.
Here's what coach Kelly had to say about the Cougars:
On BYU's overall team
“So BYU, physical football team. Again, we don't leave the Big Ten. It's another physical football team that plays great defense. They have won a couple of close games this year on the backs of their defense.
“Offensively, they have got some big-bodied wide receivers, a quarterback who is a senior who can certainly make plays, well coached, and certainly from our end, we'll have to play well or we'll get beat.
“Good, physical, offensive line. Big-bodied receivers that can put you in a tough position. It's a good football team. It's a solid football team. They have made some mistakes along the way — have had some close losses. They are 21-21 in the fourth quarter against Oregon State who is a Top-10 team.”
On underestimating BYU
“So you know, say whatever you want. Our kids turn on the film and look at BYU and go, that's a good football team. We are not turning on the film and looking at a team where the kids go, oh, these guys can't play. They are physical, play hard and play for four quarters.”
On Brandon Ogletree “First of all they put him in a position where he can play downhill, physical. Kyle Van Noy, the regular players are outstanding. They are not as big and as long as Stanford's players but play just as hard and just as physical. A little quicker, maybe a little bit better in space than the Stanford players, but play a very similar scheme.”
On knowing BYU well enough
“The hardest game for us to prepare for offensively was the Purdue game, because we had a new defensive coordinator, had no film, he had been in the Canadian Football League. We had no idea how it was going to go. Bronco (Mendenhall) has been the defensive coordinator for some time there. I mean, we know how they are going to play the game and conduct the game. So I think that's less of a concern.”
Alex Rivera is the assistant sports editor of the UVU Review. You can contact him at arivera.2011@hotmail.com or through his Twitter account @A_River_Uh.
