Mike Roach
The sports books in Vegas predict this to be a very close game, but I just can’t buy in to what the line is telling me. I think this Texas team will be improved from last season where they were absolutely embarrassed by the Irish, and I think Notre Dame will have to adjust to a huge loss in talent. The Longhorns will have appetizing matchups in the Notre Dame secondary to throw against, and if the offensive line can play above their heads they could wear down the Irish front seven. Texas will struggle with the best offensive line they will see this season, and Brian Kelly has two quality quarterbacks at his disposal. I see it as a close game into the third quarter before Notre Dame pulls away near the end. There will be some things to build on from this game, but I don’t see Texas winning it outright. The running game (Swoopes/Foreman/Warren) will tally both scores, and new kicker Trent Domingue delivers two field goals to give fans hope in special teams.
Score Prediction: Notre Dame 31 Texas 20
Chris Flanagan
The time is now. No more talk, no more speculation, it’s actual football time. Texas fans have certainly turned up the hype to 11 with the addition of Shane Buchele to the team.
However, Notre Dame is strong, experienced, and very talented. They have the Sunday night spotlight as well which will help their case to be included in the CFB playoff conversation. They will take that opportunity and win comfortably. Texas might keep it close at halftime, but Notre Dame will win by 3 scores and it won’t be surprising.
Score Prediction: Notre Dame 38 Texas 20.
Daniel Seahorn
Last year’s matchup in South Bend was a perfect storm of bad for the Longhorns. Tons of youth, road opener in a hostile environment, dysfunction at quarterback, and offensive coordinator who was in over his head. A year later, the youth in this Longhorn squad is more experienced and still plenty talented, but is still trying to find its way at the quarterback position. This time around Texas will have the benefit of playing in their own stadium, but this will still be a tough task. With guys like Will Fuller, Jaylon Smith, Ronnie Stanley, Nick Martin, and many others gone to the NFL combined with other offseason occurrences the talent gap isn’t nearly as wide between the two squads this year in my opinion. Texas will still have to find a way to slow down the talented quarterbacks of the Fighting Irish in Malik Zaire and Deshone Kizer, which is something they were unable to do a year ago.
I think this game has the potential to be a much tighter ball game this year, but I still think Notre Dame comes out on top, as Texas still tries to figure out who they are going to roll with at quarterback this year. I think if this game came in week three or four rather than week one, that the results could be different.
Score prediction: ND 31 Texas 24
Ryan Bridges
Texas will look very different this year compared with last year, and I expect a more competitive game. The Irish picked up a ton of easy third-down conversions last year because of coverage busts and a nonexistent pass rush — they’ll have to earn some of them this time. The offense SHOULD be more explosive — more plays, more space and better playmakers. But Texas isn’t equipped to win on either line of scrimmage. Having Hill and Davis in the secondary instead of Bonney and Echols should enable Vance Bedford to throw more rushers at the Irish quarterbacks, but anyone who reaches the QB still has to finish the play, something they struggled with especially early last year. And don’t underestimate the challenges of running a new offense — with multiple freshmen — against a talented opponent. It doesn’t matter how fast the receivers are or how tough to tackle the backs are if the offensive line can’t hold up. Texas will get a score over the top and probably break another off a missed tackle in space, but I don’t expect them to be able to sustain drives.
Score Prediction: Notre Dame 31 Texas 17
Will Baizer
What a match up. Two heavy weight college football power houses on a Sunday night with a packed house. Like an actually packed house. Just take a second to let that sink in.
As for the actual game on the field, Texas will be fighting an uphill battle. Despite having lost a lot of talent on the defensive line, Notre Dame returns 79 starts and plenty of production. They have two insane quarterbacks that would have many people do unspeakable things to bring to Texas. They are a run first team working against a very weak defensive line. They may only be returning 4 starters on offense, but the ones that are replacing them are not to be overlooked by any means. Tarean Foster and Josh Adams are an incredible tandem at RB. Torii Hunter Jr. is one of the next big things at WR and has already shown he can fill Will Fuller’s shoes. In his seven years, Brian Kelly has built a machine at an institution where, unlike Texas, he is not given a blank check.
There are plenty of spots where Texas has the advantage. That advantage lies within the skill players. Notre Dame has not seen a team this fast since 2014 when UNC put up 43 points on them on the road. Notre Dame’s secondary does not match up well against the speed of the Longhorn WRs. They will be playing two box safeties against the likes of Burt, Duvernay, and Johnson. Their LB depth is very shallow. If the Longhorns’ RB get into the second level then those LBs are toast. The Longhorns have the talent and depth on defense to run with any offense. The secondary the Longhorns have is better than the Notre Dame WR, and at LB… well, we have Malik and Anthony Wheeler.
In the end, the game is won in the trenches. Unless Texas can hold the Notre Dame defensive rush and get some pressure on the Notre Dame offense in order to let the Longhorns skill positions shine, the Longhorns will not be able to get much production. Longhorns win this by holding in the trenches, going to the air early and often, and scoring first.
Vegas give the Longhorns 40% chance at winning the game. I will do the same.
Score Prediction: Notre Dame 38 Texas 27
Taylor Smith
I am going to be the bold person that says Texas beats Notre dame behind freshman quarterback Shane Buechele. The Longhorns need to prove themselves after last year in South Bend, and I believe the Fighting Irish will be in for a rude awakening coming to Austin. Texas offense will struggle the first drive but will lock in after that. D’Onta Foreman will bust out from the beginning and finish with at least 80 yards. Chris Warren will also put on a show, and the Longhorns defense will surprise everyone, making a stop at the end of the game to win the contest for Texas.
Score Prediction: Texas 28 Notre Dame 24
Aaron Carrara
We will see a faster and improved Texas team take the field against Notre Dame this season, but there are still a number of questions to be answered. Can Texas get solid quarterback play from Swoopes/Buechele? Has the offensive line improved enough to be a force and help change the outcome of games?
Notre Dame will throw and throw often on the Longhorns and the secondary will be tested all night. Texas will counter with heavy doses of Chris Warren III and D’Onta Foreman and should see success running the ball, but in the end Notre Dame’s experience and efficient quarterback play will be the difference.
Texas stays in this game in the first half but the Irish pull away late and win by a touchdown.
Score Prediction: Texas 31 Notre Dame 38
