Alabama and Notre Dame will face each other on Friday in the Rose Bowl.
It is the first of two College Football Playoff semifinal games, as the Crimson Tide drew the Fighting Irish at AT&T Stadium on New Year’s Day in Arlington, Texas. The last time the two story-filled programs battled on the field was in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game off the 2012 season. Brian Kelly was in his third year as Notre Dame’s head coach, while Nick Saban was in his sixth season for the Tide. Alabama dominated the Irish in a 42-14 victory, behind the performances of AJ McCarron, Amari Cooper, Eddie Lacy, T.J. Yeldon and a fearsome defense.
It was Saban’s third national title with the school and his second straight one after defeating LSU in the 2012 BCS title game (2011 season).
In comparing this Notre Dame group to the 2012 one, there are some similarities. However, there are a few difference as well — especially on the offensive side of the football for Kelly’s bunch.
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Notre Dame could not pass the ball effectively in the 2013 title showdown.
Everett Golson, who struggled the entire season, completed 58.3 percent of his throws (21-for-36) for 270 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Despite getting a few big plays and having a 100-yard receiver (DaVaris Daniels), Alabama’s defensive secondary kept the Irish’s big-play threat — Tyler Eifert — under control for the most part. This year, Notre Dame has a much better quarterback with Ian Book. After being a 3,000-yard passer (3,034) in 2019, Book finished in the top-10 in terms of Heisman finalists.
He has tossed for 15 touchdowns to two interceptions, and earned a huge win (47-40) over Clemson this year.
With Book, Notre Dame is averaging 35.2 points per game — including six matchups with at least 40 points.
Although it did not have a 1,000-yard running back in 2012, the Irish have one now.
Kyren Williams, a sophomore, has 1,061 yards with 12 touchdowns on 195 carries. He averages 96.5 yards rushing per game and Book even has eight rushing scores. One thing it has in common with its 2012 roster is a lack of explosive options at receiver.
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Eifert was its primary target in 2012 and Javon McKinley is Notre Dame’s big weapon this season. McKinley, a senior, leads the Fighting Irish for receptions (40) and receiving yards (697) while having three scores. Ben Skowronek, a senior, leads the receiver room for touchdowns (five), but the Irish do not have a player that can vertically stretch the field. Williams even helps out with 27 catches for 282 yards and one touchdown. Notre Dame has five players with a least 20 receptions on its roster to face Alabama.
Having a strong defense is the other thing this group has in common with the 2012 Irish team.
Coach Kelly had a stacked defensive front in 2012 that included names such as Manti Te’o, Stephon Tuitt, Louis Nix III, Kapron Lewis-Moore, Sheldon Day and Prince Shembo. Notre Dame also had a solid defensive secondary with Zeke Motta and Bennett Jackson. The unit allowed 10.3 points per game, until the Tide blasted for 42 points in the 2013 BCS national title matchup.
As for this year’s team, the Irish has allowed 18.6 points/game.
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Dec 19, 2020; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) with the ball as Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) defends in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, a senior at linebacker, is a finalist for the Dick Butkus Award. He shares the team lead for total tackles (56) and chimes in with 11 tackles for loss (team-high), 1.5 sacks, three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and one interception. Adetokunbo Ogundeji, a senior defensive lineman, leads Notre Dame in sacks (6.5) and totals 6.5 tackles for loss with seven quarterback hurries. The Irish also have Drew White, Kurt Hinish, Daelin Hayes, Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, Isaiah Foskey and Bo Bauer bringing production in tackles for loss and sacks along its defensive front.
Three of Notre Dame’s seven interception come via its secondary, while Nick McCloud has eight breakups.
Can the Irish affect Mac Jones in the pocket and create turnovers?
This is the question for Kelly and his defense to answer. Alabama will not have Landon Dickerson (knee) for the CFP and while Chris Owens has experience, he is not Dickerson at center.
If Notre Dame can consistently get to Jones and stalemate the Tide’s offensive line a few times, in limiting its rushing attack, the Irish would be able to keep the game closer than what experts think.
It is a much better group that it was eight years ago; nevertheless, Notre Dame cannot afford to fall behind.
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Alabama can score quickly and its defense will have success playing man-to-man against the Irish.
The Tide is going after its 18th national championship in school history, and it will be interesting to see how it goes about attacking Notre Dame.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
