NCAAF
School Soccer
Week 12
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No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 22 Pitt are dealing with off in a vital Week 12 matchup.
The sport is scoreless early within the first quarter. Observe our writers for information, updates and evaluation.
Verify out this week’s live coverage schedule on The Athletic.
Q1 12:27 – Notre Dame 0, Pitt 0
Following the massive Shuler deal with on third down, Pitt goes for it on fourth-and-8. However Mason Heintschel will get sacked, leading to a turnover on downs.
Notre Dame begins on offense with favorable subject place.
Q1 12:31 – Notre Dame 0, Pitt 0
On third-and-8, Mason Heintschel throws over the center of the sector to Cataurus Hicks. However Hicks will get introduced down with a monstrous deal with courtesy of Notre Dame security Adon Shuler.
What a deal with!
Q1 14:44 – Notre Dame 0, Pitt 0
Desmond Reid is likely one of the big-play working backs within the nation. He reveals that with a 19-yard reception as he turns and runs upfield on the primary play of the sport.
Nice begin for the Pitt offense!
Q1 15:00 – Notre Dame 0, Pitt 0
We’re underway from Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. Pitt will get the ball to start out the sport.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman leads the Combating Irish onto the sector to a refrain of boos. Not lengthy now till kickoff.
Get excited, soccer followers!
Which suggests it’s your final probability to ship in some recreation predictions! Will the Combating Irish hold rolling to a different playoff spot, or will the Panthers decide up an enormous resume win? E-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 Worth 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 recreation.”
Love at the moment leads all FBS working backs with 16 whole touchdowns (13 speeding, 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 beneath Marcus Freeman since 2021 as a street favourite, and the Panthers are 9-13 as a house underdog beneath Pat Narduzzi since 2015. A number of 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 recreation (lower than 100 yards) and forces Heintschel into a few mistakes to win by two scores and cover the spread.
GO FURTHER
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He’ll most likely take some needling from former West Virginia kicker Pat McAfee, however anticipate Pitt legend Aaron Donald — who went onto change into one of many best 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 “School GameDay” as we speak.
Pitt was included within the High 25 on this week’s School 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 recreation:
💬 “The Panthers will possible play three CFP-relevant video games between now and the tip 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 entire ACC by clearing out an at-large spot and giving the convention some transitive-property credit score.”
The second School Soccer Playoff rankings have been unveiled on Tuesday. Notre Dame slotted at No. 9.
How will Combating Irish followers cheer this weekend with plenty of pivotal video games on faucet?
Our Notre Dame author, Pete Sampson, has all the small print beneath.
GO FURTHER
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Notre Dame throttled Navy final week to enhance to 7-2. So what can the Combating 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 crew is player-led, Notre Dame felt prefer it nonetheless wanted the pinnacle coach to carry its collective hand getting 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 as we speak:
It’s been one other improbable season for Jeremiyah Love. The Notre Dame working again has 988 speeding yards on 154 carries. His 13 speeding touchdowns lead the nation.
Love is likely one of the causes for Notre Dame's resurgence. He shall be an element as we speak towards Pitt.
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi didn't wish to add additional pressure on his team forward of dealing with Notre Dame. He downplayed the magnitude of the matchup and its playoff implications.
💬 “Completely not,” Narduzzi mentioned when requested whether or not as we speak’s recreation is a must-win. “I’m glad you introduced that up. It’s not an ACC recreation. I’d gladly get beat 103 or 110 to 10 in that recreation. They might put up 100 on us so long as we win the subsequent two after that.”
GO FURTHER
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi not centered on Notre Dame: ‘They might put up 100 on us’
Per our Austin Mock, Notre Dame has a 93 % probability to make the School Soccer Playoff. Pitt's possibilities of making the CFP are slimmer.
The Panthers have a 12 % probability to make the School 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 based mostly on total file 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 true there, which makes this recreation towards Notre Dame large.
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 recreation), the Panthers have Notre Dame, at No. 16 Georgia Tech and No. 15 Miami the remainder of the best way. Pitt’s finest probability 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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Final week was a convincing win for Notre Dame. The Combating Irish trounced Navy 49-10 at house.
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.
