Improving Irish Host Struggling Stanford

Notre Dame (3-2) will play on its home field for the first time in a month on Saturday night while hosting the Stanford Cardinal (1-4). The Fighting Irish have won three straight after a rough start and are beginning to develop an identity based on power running and a physical defense. The Cardinal are coming off a heartbreaking 28-27 home loss to Oregon State and are badly in need of a victory. This game will be nationally televised by NBC starting at 7:30 pm Eastern time.

Coach David Shaw is in his 12th season at The Farm. He is 94-49 overall and 5-5 in ten games against Notre Dame. Shaw has enjoyed job security at Stanford but a recent spate of losses dating back to last season has…