Marcus Freeman wants one thing to be clear.
No. 9 Notre Dame (7-2) is taking nothing for granted heading into Saturday afternoon’s game against No. 22 Pitt (7-2) in Pittsburgh. The Fighting Irish are thinking about the Panthers and nothing else, particularly not a potential run in the College Football Playoff.
Freeman clarified his team’s approach after someone he knew sent him a text message describing the matchup against Pitt as a “trap game.”
“I said, ‘This is not a trap game,'” Freeman recalled. “‘This is a challenge. This is a real challenge, a great challenge. So we have to understand the challenge we have ahead of us on Saturday and use that as a reminder to prepare the right way.”
Since losing its first two games of the season against Miami and Texas A&M, Notre Dame has reeled off seven consecutive wins and will look to make it eight straight this weekend. The Fighting Irish are coming off a 49-10 win at home against Navy last weekend.
Pitt also is on a roll with five straight wins, including a 35-20 win on the road against Stanford in their most recent game Nov. 1. The Panthers have a 5-1 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference and know that they also have a path to competing in the CFP tournament.
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi created a stir this week when he downplayed the matchup against Notre Dame. Narduzzi responded to a question about whether it was a “must-win” game for Pitt.
“Absolutely not,” Narduzzi said. “It is not an ACC game. I’m glad you brought that up. It’s not an ACC game. I would gladly be beat 103 or 110-10 in that game. They can put up 100 on us as long as we win the next two after that.”
It was not the only thing Narduzzi said, but the comment quickly circulated on social media and drew criticism from some fans who thought he was sending the wrong message to his players.
Other comments by Narduzzi reflected his confidence in his team.
“You could play this game at 7 a.m. over at the fieldhouse or in the parking lot,” Narduzzi said. “Doesn’t matter what time, doesn’t matter who we’re playing against. Our guys are coming to play, period.”
The same is likely to be true for Notre Dame.
Fighting Irish first-year starter CJ Carr has passed for 2,275 yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions. Jeremiyah Love has rushed for 988 yards and 13 touchdowns, and fellow running back Jadarian Price has rushed for 568 yards and nine touchdowns.
Pitt is led by quarterback Mason Heintschel, who has passed for 1,547 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. Kenny Johnson (37 catches, 573 yards, 4 TDs) and Raphael Williams Jr. (36 catches, 525 yards, 6 TDs) are his top targets in the passing game.
On the ground, Ja’Kyrian Turner leads Pitt with 399 rushing yards and a half-dozen touchdowns.
This will be the 74th meeting in series history between the programs. Notre Dame leads the series 51-21-1, including a 28-11-1 advantage at Pittsburgh.
