PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Sam Hartman didn’t look poised at times against Boston College in the ACC opener, and the stakes will be big again with No. 8 Notre Dame arriving. Plus, veteran QB Kendall Hinton is eligible after a three-game suspension, so the Demon Deacons have other options.
–WR Greg Dortch was rather quiet for segments of the Boston College game after coming off a three-touchdown game when he scored twice on punt returns and another time on a reception against Towson. Still, he managed 93 receiving yards on nine catches. The Demon Deacons will look for him to help spread out the Notre Dame defense. He didn’t play last November against the Irish as he had a season-ending injury.
–RB Cade Carney eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in the past two games, but the rushing lanes could be congested against Notre Dame’s defense. The junior has four career games with 100 or more yards rushing, but none came in 2017.
–K Nick Sciba has made six consecutive field goals. The freshman missed his first attempt of the season but has been good on those kicks ever since. Yet five of his field goals have come from less than 30 yards out, underscoring the team’s offensive struggles in the red zone.
SERIES HISTORY: Notre Dame leads Wake Forest 4-0, winning last year 48-37 at home.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We ran the ball well. We marched down the field well. We did everything well except for score.” — RB Cade Carney on some red-zone shortcomings that hurt in the loss to Boston College.
