Previewing Vanderbilt’s first road trip of the season at Notre Dame on Saturday in South Bend (1:30 p.m. CT NBC).
History Lesson: Vanderbilt has played Notre Dame just twice in history, and it fell short in both matchups. The teams met in South Bend for a 41-0 Irish win in 1995 before Notre Dame took a tight 14-7 win in Nashville in 1996.
Names to Watch (Notre Dame):
QB Brandon Wimbush
The senior quarterback threw for a career-high 297 yards in last week’s 24-16 win over Ball State, but he has thrown just one touchdown pass against four interceptions thus far this season. Wimbush is also a dangerous runner out of the pocket.
WR Miles Boykin
Boykin amassed a career-high 119 receiving yards on just six catches in the win over Ball State, which included receptions of 20, 23 and 26 yards. He’s averaging 21 yards per catch through two games in 2018.
LB Te’von Coney
The senior linebacker led the Fighting Irish with 14 tackles, including 10 solo, with three tackles for loss and a sack in the win over Ball State. Coney is one of just four players in the nation to return in 2018 after recording at least 116 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss in 2017.
The Statistical
130
Receiving yards through two games for Vanderbilt tight end Jared Pinkney. The redshirt junior has stepped up as the Dores look to replace three senior wide receivers in 2018. Pinkney posted four catches for a team-high 98 yards against Nevada and remains a key target for quarterback Kyle Shurmur.
6
Turnovers forced by Vanderbilt’s defense through two games. In 2017, the Commodores didn’t record their sixth turnover of the season until their ninth game against Western Kentucky. Moreover, the 2017 Dores finished the year with just nine takeaways.
5.1
Average yards per play for Notre Dame through two games, which ranks 102nd among FBS teams. Wimbush and the Fighting Irish offense have yet to find their stride this season. In last week’s win over Ball State, the Cardinals outgained the Irish, 414-349, and won time of possession.
The Big Question: How will Vanderbilt handle a challenging road environment? Notre Dame is steeped in college football history, and a nationally televised matchup with the eighth-ranked team in the country is on tap for the Commodores. Head coach Derek Mason said Vanderbilt plans to take in a walkthrough at Notre Dame Stadium on Friday to acclimate to the new surroundings. Then, Saturday is business as usual, Mason said.
Vanderbilt Needs To: Impose its will early. The Commodores have outscored their two opponents 76-17 this season, but their offense has struggled to get going in both games. Vanderbilt can’t afford a similar lull against a talented Notre Dame squad on the road. Instead, offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig must find a way to get the Dores’ offense moving early and often in South Bend.
Did You Know? All four Vanderbilt teams to have played in bowl games since 2011 finished the year with a positive turnover margin. The Commodores currently hold a +4 turnover margin in 2018.
He Said It: “When you get between the white lines, it’s just a football field. It’s 53 and 1/3, 100 yards long. What you get a chance to do is play ball. That’s what I look forward to letting our guys see.” -Head Coach Derek Mason, on playing at Notre Dame.
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.
Pre-Snap Read: Notre Dame
