Brian Kelly did not intend for Notre Dame to be among the nation’s leaders in time of possession this season. The Irish head coach simply wants to utilize the best personnel among available skill players.
As a result, tight ends Michael Mayer and Tommy Tremble, and running back Kyren Williams have combined for 33 catches, as many as all of Notre Dame’s receivers combined; and No. 4 Notre Dame (5-0, 4-0 ACC) ranks behind only Oklahoma in time of possession among teams to have played more than one game, a difference of 24 seconds per game separating the Irish from the Sooners.