Notre Dame returns to action Saturday riding a three-game winning streak that’s featured steady progress in every phase. Marcus Freeman’s team has found rhythm behind freshman quarterback CJ Carr and a defense that’s quietly started to resemble last year’s unit that carried Notre Dame through the playoffs and onto the doorstep of a national championship.
But this week’s opponent, NC State, presents a real challenge even if the point spread doesn’t suggest so. NC State has a veteran and is a schematically sound team that loves to create confusion with its 3-3-5 defense and balanced offense.