Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire (8) hands the ball off to running back Tarean Folston (25) during the first half against the LSU Tigers in the Music City Bowl at LP Field. (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)
SOUTH BEND, IN — No. 11 Notre Dame and unranked Texas are two of college football’s legendary programs but haven’t met in nearly 20 years.
The Irish are second in all-time college football victories with 882 but the Longhorns are right behind with 881 as the teams clash in a season opener for both on Saturday night at Notre Dame Stadium.
Notre Dame owns a lopsided 8-2 series edge and have won four straight. The Irish beat Texas 27-24 in 1996 in Austin and 55-27 in 1995 in South Bend.
Irish coach Brian Kelly said there’s little to go on from the past other than history. They’re facing a Longhorn team with a second-year coach (Charlie Strong) and coming off a 6-7 season.
“They (Irish players) know about Texas and the history and the tradition of their program and what a great opponent they are,” Kelly said this week “But we were preparing ourselves, our football team, mentally and physically, for the season, and not just this opponent.”
Notre Dame features speed, depth and experience throughout the lineup. Twelve returning offensive players have starting experience while 20 on defense had starts at various points of the season.
There’s also no quarterback controversy.
With the departure of Everett Golson (to Florida State), backup Malik Zaire is in command.
Zaire played in seven of the 13 games and earned first career start in a 31-28 Music City Bowl victory over No. 22 LSU to earn most valuable player honors
Texas featured 11 returning starters from a 6-7 team under second year-coach Charlie Strong, include six on offense and five on defense.
Notre Dame senior defensive lineman Sheldon Day, graduate cornerback Matthias Farley, graduate center Nick Martin, graduate linebacker Joe Schmidt and junior linebacker Jaylon Smith have been named captains for the 2015 team.
It’s the largest captain contingent for the Irish since 2007.
It’s a rare night game for the Irish and Kelly said the atmosphere will be different.
“It’s just electric,” he said. “Whether it’s Texas or USC or Michigan, the ones that I’ve experienced, it’s just a different atmosphere.”
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH
–RB Tarean Folston is expected to carry a larger backfield role after rushing for 889 yards and six touchdowns last season.
–WR receiver Will Fuller had 76 receptions for 1,094 yards and 15 touchdowns.
–QB Malik Zaire. Can the WHAT YEAR step into the high visibility role after doing what as backup to Everett Golson?
–OLB Jaylon Smith was team leader with 112 total tackles, including 65 solo last year. He’s eyed by NFL teams as a potential leading pick in next year’s draft.
–OT Ronnie Stanley is projected as a first round NFL draft pick. He was Notre Dame’s offensive lineman of the year in 2014 started all 13 games at left tackle after successfully moving from right tackle.
–C Nick Martin is among five captain and on the Rimington Trophy and Lombardi Award watch lists. He played and started all 13 games last year.
SERIES HISTORY: Notre Dame leads the series 8-2, the Irish beat the Longhorns 27-24 in the most recent meeting in 1996 in Austin. Texas’ last series win was a 21-17 decision in 1969.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s a totally different Malik Zaire. … His development has been so much more since that game through the spring, through the summer and now in pregame, he’s much more developed in all phases of the game, a lot more confident and certainly a lot more in tune with all of the receivers and the offensive line and just much more comfortable.” — Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly on starting quarterback Malik Zaire.
