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Week 12
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No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 22 Pitt are going through off in a important Week 12 matchup.
Comply with our writers for information, updates and evaluation on at this time's sport.
Examine out this week’s live coverage schedule on The Athletic.
Which implies it’s your final likelihood to ship in some sport predictions! Will the Preventing Irish hold rolling to a different playoff spot, or will the Panthers choose up an enormous resume win? Electronic mail us your ideas: live@theathletic.com.
Each of Notre Dame's working backs earned a spot in Dane Brugler's updated 2026 NFL Draft board — Jeremiyah Love all the best way up at No. 5; Jadarian Value at No. 39. Right here's Dane on Love:
💬: “NFL groups trying to change into extra explosive on offense are going to have Love excessive on their want lists in April. His explosiveness and skill to remain afloat as a ball provider are distinctive qualities, together with the worth he provides within the passing sport.”
Love at the moment leads all FBS working backs with 16 whole touchdowns (13 dashing, three receiving) and ranks third with 37 performs of 10-plus yards (28 carries, 9 catches).
GO FURTHER
2026 NFL Draft rankings: Which prospects earned a spot on newest top-50 board?
No. 9 Notre Dame (-10.5) at No. 23 Pittsburgh
Pitt has gone 5-0 and emerged as a contender for the ACC title since freshman Mason Heintschel took over at quarterback. The Irish, although, are 10-3 below Marcus Freeman since 2021 as a street favourite, and the Panthers are 9-13 as a house underdog below Pat Narduzzi since 2015. Among the Panthers’ finest gamers have been banged up, although, together with working again Desmond Reid and linebacker Rasheem Biles. Notre Dame’s protection shuts down Pitt’s working sport (lower than 100 yards) and forces Heintschel into a few mistakes to win by two scores and cover the spread.
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Notre Dame mailbag: ACC’s social media shot, rev-share budgeting and Narduzzi’s grudge
He’ll in all probability take some needling from former West Virginia kicker Pat McAfee, however count on Pitt legend Aaron Donald — who went onto change into one of many biggest defensive linemen in fashionable NFL historical past with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams — to get the gang fired up as he returns to Pittsburgh because the visitor picker on “Faculty GameDay” at this time.
Pitt was included within the Prime 25 on this week’s Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings. The Panthers have been twenty second.
Right here is our Ralph D. Russo on the significance of this week’s Notre Dame-Pitt sport:
💬 “The Panthers will possible play three CFP-relevant video games between now and the top of the common season. The one query is whether or not they’re contenders or simply spoilers by Thanksgiving weekend. A Pitt victory this weekend just about eliminates Notre Dame and breathes life into your complete ACC by clearing out an at-large spot and giving the convention some transitive-property credit score.”
The second Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings have been unveiled on Tuesday. Notre Dame slotted at No. 9.
How will Preventing Irish followers cheer this weekend with a variety of pivotal video games on faucet?
Our Notre Dame author, Pete Sampson, has all the small print under.
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Notre Dame Faculty Soccer Playoff rooting information: Irish eyes on the SEC and (after all) Miami
Notre Dame throttled Navy final week to enhance to 7-2. So what can the Preventing Irish be taught from such a dominant efficiency?
Right here is Notre Dame author Pete Sampson following the team’s rout against Navy:
💬“If each nice workforce is player-led, Notre Dame felt prefer it nonetheless wanted the pinnacle coach to carry its collective hand coming into November. Which may nonetheless be the case, however Freeman could possibly loosen his grip if the Irish can stack Saturdays like this one collectively.”
Here’s a statistical comparability for the 2 quarterbacks taking part in at this time:
It’s been one other incredible season for Jeremiyah Love. The Notre Dame working again has 988 dashing yards on 154 carries. His 13 dashing touchdowns lead the nation.
Love is among the causes for Notre Dame's resurgence. He will probably be an element at this time towards Pitt.
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi didn't wish to add additional pressure on his team forward of going through Notre Dame. He downplayed the magnitude of the matchup and its playoff implications.
💬 “Completely not,” Narduzzi stated when requested whether or not at this time’s sport is a must-win. “I’m glad you introduced that up. It’s not an ACC sport. I’d gladly get beat 103 or 110 to 10 in that sport. They might put up 100 on us so long as we win the following two after that.”
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Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi not targeted on Notre Dame: ‘They might put up 100 on us’
Per our Austin Mock, Notre Dame has a 93 % likelihood to make the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Pitt's possibilities of making the CFP are slimmer.
The Panthers have a 12 % likelihood to make the Faculty Soccer Playoff and win the ACC.
Pitt is tied for first place within the ACC. The Panthers are even with Georgia Tech and Virginia, whereas SMU is a half-game again.
However Pitt sits third within the ACC primarily based on general report this season at 7-2. The Panthers sit one again of chief Georgia Tech however co-lead in level differential with Miami (161).
Pitt is correct there, which makes this sport towards Notre Dame huge.
No. 3 Notre Dame (7-2) at No. 22 Pittsburgh (7-2), Midday, ABC
Enable us to introduce the most influential team in the CFP rat race: Pitt! Winners of 5 straight and the highest scoring offense within the ACC (39.7 factors per sport), the Panthers have Notre Dame, at No. 16 Georgia Tech and No. 15 Miami the remainder of the best way. Pitt’s finest likelihood to make the CFP is profitable the ACC crown, which has nothing to do with Saturday’s non-conference showdown, as Pat Narduzzi (hilariously) acknowledged this week. Nonetheless, taking down Notre Dame widens the trail for the ACC and everybody else — the Irish are a close to lock for the Playoff with a win, however their odds drop to 30 % with a 3rd loss, based on our mannequin.
Line: Notre Dame -12.5
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Listed below are Week 12’s faculty soccer video games with the largest Playoff implications
Final week was a powerful win for Notre Dame. The Preventing Irish trounced Navy 49-10 at residence.
CJ Carr balled out, going 13-of-16 passing for 218 yards and three touchdowns. Jeremiyah Love had one other stellar efficiency on the bottom, going for 94 yards on 13 carries with two touchdowns.
Contemplating Notre Dame is playing for its College Football Playoff life today, it felt unusual for Marcus Freeman to reply questions on independence and his personal job prospects this week. But, when No. 9 Notre Dame (7-2) faces No. 23 Pittsburgh (7-2) at Acrisure Stadium (Midday, ABC), there will probably be chatter past what occurs after kickoff.
Freeman didn’t take the bait earlier this week when requested about his place on independence after Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire zinged Notre Dame final weekend. He didn’t have a lot to say about job prospects exterior of Notre Dame both, at the same time as he continues to pop up on scorching boards and speculative lists round faculty soccer and the NFL. Freeman signed a profitable contract extension with Notre Dame lower than a 12 months in the past.
“I’m certain I’ve stated earlier than, like simply because any person else could be saying my title’s up for no matter job or being thought of, that isn’t the noise that I’m going to place in my head or I would like, that ain’t my noise,” Freeman stated. “And so, I can handle it immediately, not directly. If I’m going to spend time speaking about one thing like that, I’ve received to ensure it’s in a method that it’s useful for the gamers, proper? Your time in entrance of the gamers is so restricted.”
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Notre Dame vs. Pitt: Panthers’ passing, defensive entrance pose stiff check for Irish
The Pitt Panthers enter this week coming off their bye. In Week 10, Pitt dominated the Stanford Cardinal 35-20.
Mason Heintschel went 23-of-38 passing for 304 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. Ja'Kyrian Turner ran for 127 yards on 22 carries.
At the moment would be the 73rd assembly between Notre Dame and Pitt. The Preventing Irish lead the seried 50-21-1.
Notre Dame is trying to win its fifth straight sport over Pitt. The longest profitable streak for Notre Dame over Pitt was 11 video games from 1964 to 1974.
That is the primary assembly between Notre Dame and Pitt since October 2023, when the Preventing Irish dominated 58-7.
At the moment’s sport will happen at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. It isn’t solely the house of the Pitt Panthers but in addition the Pittsburgh Steelers within the NFL.
It opened in August 2001 and has a capability of 68,400.
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