No. 11 Notre Dame returns from bye in playoff position as Stanford comes to town

Stanford (2-3) at No. 11 Notre Dame (4-1), Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Notre Dame by 23.

Series record: Notre Dame 23-14.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Notre Dame returns from its bye week in control of its own playoff destiny. Next up is Stanford on Saturday. With one loss already, the Fighting Irish must defend their home field against a Cardinal squad trying to gain traction during its toughest stretch of the season, following back-to-back losses to then-No. 17 Clemson and Virginia Tech.

KEY MATCHUP

Stanford run defense vs. Notre Dame ground game. It’s a classic strength vs. strength matchup. The Cardinal’s run defense enters the weekend with the nation’s No. 12 run defense and the second-best in the ACC, allowing just 88.2 yards rushing per game. Notre Dame is averaging 214.0 yards rushing per game behind Riley Leonard, whose seven TD runs rank second among power conference quarterbacks; Jeremiyah Love, who averages 6.5 yards per carry; and Jadarian Price, who averages 7.3 yards per carry.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Stanford: RB Running back Micah Ford. He rushed 15 times for 122 yards in the loss to Clemson, and now he faces one of the stingiest run defenses in the nation. The Cardinal needs Ford to play big again to have a chance in this rivalry game.

Notre Dame: Price. The third-year player from Texas seemed to be finding his groove before the bye week, carrying 29 times for 211 yards and two TDs. If Price continues playing that way after the bye, the Fighting Irish will pose challenges for any defense with its three-pronged rushing attack.

FACTS & FIGURES

Notre Dame won a 56-23 victory last year at Stanford, a game in which the Irish committed four turnovers. … Stanford’s opponents have gained more yards than the Cardinal in all fie games this season. … Notre Dame ranks fourth in the FBS in fourth-down conversion defense and ninth in scoring defense (12.6 points). … The Cardinal are 4-3 outside Palo Alto, California, since coach Troy Taylor arrived last season. … Irish S Xavier Watts, who led the nation in with se ven interceptions in 2023, picked off his second pass of the season in Notre Dame’s 31-24 victory over then No. 15 Louisville two weeks ago. Watts also sealed the win with a pass breakup.

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By The Associated Press