Newsstand: Why Joel Klatt feels this Ohio State vs. Notre Dame game is ‘different’
The national media is finally ready to admit it. Notre Dame might have a team capable of shedding the “can’t win the big one” narrative by beating the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday in South Bend.
FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt went that direction with his comments Wednesday.
Klatt recognized that the Irish have reached the top five in major polls in five of the last seven seasons. But he also said he never felt like any of the Irish teams that ascended that high in the national rankings had a legitimate chance of making a run at the program’s first national championship since 1988.
This team, led by Heisman Trophy candidate Sam Hartman, could be different.
“In none of those seasons, did I feel like, you know what, they can beat insert above-the-line team here,” Klatt said. “Bama, Clemson, Georgia, even in a couple of those years, like Ohio State like in ’19. I never felt that. I think if you’re being honest, you would agree even if you’re a Notre Dame fan. Now this year is different because that line has moved and if they are able to beat Ohio State, don’t they feel like a national title contender? Yeah, yeah they do.
“That’s why this could be the most significant game that Notre Dame has played in at least 30 years because it’s been that long.”
If the No. 9 Irish (4-0) beat the No. 6 Buckeyes (3-0), realistically they could go 6-1 in their final seven games and qualify for the College Football Playoff. But a win over Ohio State would have Irish fans thinking 12-0, for sure. That’s a record the program has only laid down twice since 1989.
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Klatt said even the most memorable of those teams, the 2012 version that played for the BCS national title, was not a true title threat.
“You could be telling me all you want like, ‘No, Joel, they played for a national championship. They played against Alabama. That was an undefeated team with Manti Te’o. That was an above-the-line team,’” Klatt said. “I’m here to tell you they weren’t. They weren’t. There were two teams above the line, maybe a third, in 2012…None of us gave Notre Dame a chance in that national championship. None of us and, by the way, rightly so. And that’s how the championship game played out.”
Alabama won the title game, 42-14. It would be a complete shock if this Irish team lost a game by that margin to anybody. And that’s why this season — this game against Ohio State — feels different in South Bend.
Notre Dame tweets of the day
Former Irish quarterback Brady Quinn is feeling the hype, too.
Audric Estimé outtakes are everything.
The standard stays the same.
Quote of the day
“I already have my bye week, basically. So I’m ready to go.”
Headlines of the day
• At long last: A look back at the last time Ohio State played Notre Dame in South Bend in 1996
• Notre Dame shoots into the top 10 in 2024 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings
• Gimme Five: Looking back at the last five Notre Dame-Ohio State games
• Notre Dame point/counterpoint: What’s the biggest key to the Ohio State game?
• Notre Dame football: Looking at the Ohio State offense vs. Western Kentucky
• How Notre Dame will take ‘Irish wear green’ to a new level for Ohio State game
• Coach perspective: How Notre Dame WR target Talyn Taylor handles being the face of Geneva
• How Notre Dame shows trust in its secondary in 2023
• Reflecting on Deuce Knight’s Notre Dame commitment and a wild 2025 QB recruiting saga
