Notre Dame Overcomes Boston College, But Special Teams Concerns Loom Large
Notre Dame maintained its College Football Playoff aspirations with a hard-fought victory over Boston College, but lingering issues in the kicking game and inconsistent offensive execution raise concerns as the season progresses. While the Irish offense showed flashes of explosive potential, particularly through the arm of quarterback Steve Angeli, special teams miscues threatened to derail the team’s momentum.
Notre Dame is projected to be heavily favored in its remaining regular season games against Navy, Syracuse, and Stanford. A double-digit spread is also anticipated for their upcoming contest at Pittsburgh. These matchups present opportunities for wins, but may not necessarily demand a flawless performance. However, the team’s ability to demonstrably improve as the season concludes will be a critical factor in their consideration for the CFP.
Angeli delivered a strong performance against Boston College, completing 18 of 25 passes for notable yardage. He connected on touchdown passes of 44 yards to Will Pauling and 40 yards to Malachi Fields,and a 46-yard reception by Jordan faison highlighted his ability to stretch the field. A 30-yard completion to Eli Raridon during a crucial third-quarter drive further showcased his arm talent.
The Irish offense demonstrated its capacity to punish defenses that focus on containing running backs Audric Estime and Jeremiyah Love. Estime, despite not having a standout game, remains a key component of the offense, while Love contributed a 94-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. However,fellow running back Cody Price struggled,finishing with nine carries for just 12 yards and being largely ineffective,leading to him being benched for much of the game.
Despite the offensive improvements, Notre Dame continues to grapple with a problematic kicking situation. Head Coach Marcus Freeman faced a strategic challenge from Boston College offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, who seemingly dared Notre Dame to attempt a field goal late in the first half, anticipating a missed attempt. Freshman kicker Erik Schmidt later missed a 35-yard field goal attempt. This followed a missed extra point earlier in the game by Noah Burnette, exacerbating the team’s ongoing kicking woes.
Notre Dame’s kicking woes have been a season-long issue. The team’s kickers have converted 34 of 38 extra point attempts, including a failed attempt due to a fumbled hold against Texas A&M. Schmidt is currently 0-for-2 on field goal attempts,while Burnette,hampered by a lingering hip injury,has made 5 of 6 field goals but has seen limited opportunities since the Texas A&M game,converting only two field goals in the subsequent games against NC State. The team’s only other kicking option, walk-on Marcello Diomede, has not been utilized for field goal attempts.
The special teams struggles, rather than being masked by the victory, underscored their potential to hinder Notre Dame’s playoff chances. The kicking issues represent a significant vulnerability that opponents will likely exploit, and resolving them will be crucial for the Irish to contend for a national championship.
