A review of what the media is saying, what is being said to the media, and visiting recruit reaction following Notre Dame's 24-13 loss at home to Cincinnati.
Mike Singer & Greg Ladky, BlueandGold.com: Notre Dame post game show after the Cincinnati game
Patrick Engel, BlueandGold.com: Notre Dame needs QB directions, and the answer is becoming clearer
It was the latest move in a carousel of quarterback decisions and happenings in recent weeks. Some were performance related. Injuries prompted others.
Whatever the reason, it’s time to set a course. Notre Dame’s offense needs direction, not continual duct-taping with temporary hopeful fixes.
“Clearly, we can't continue down this road of, ‘Who's the flavor of the week here?’” Kelly said. “We're going to have to sit down and figure this out and decide which direction we want to go, because it doesn't give us the kind of continuity and consistency on offense that we need.”
The absence of continuity and consistency on offense made a 4-0 start feel more like a house of cards anxiously awaiting a gust of wind rather than a steady climb toward a third College Football Playoff appearance in four years. Notre Dame has rampant issues on the offensive line and an unreliable run game. It entered Saturday’s top-10 matchup averaging 4.3 yards per play in its last two games.
A dud felt inevitable.
Tyler Horka, BlueandGold.com — Report Card
Notre Dame Coaching: D
It just wasn’t a winning effort from the Notre Dame coaching staff. There is no reason for zone reads to be in the playbook as long as Coan is behind center, but there were a few called while he was still in the game. There is no reason for this Notre Dame team to call consecutive rushing plays, but it happened multiple times.
It’s no coincidence Notre Dame’s smoothest drives seem to occur at the beginning of each game. The Irish seem just fine offensively while operating on a script. Then they go off the rails.
The product on the field reflects coaching in the end, too. Head coach Brian Kelly said after the game his staff needs to do a better job. Take it from the head man himself. This isn’t just a player problem. There are issues from top to bottom.
Adam Rittenberg, ESPN: Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell says win over Notre Dame “a big step” for team’s playoff profile
Cincinnati left the field late Saturday afternoon with no doubt about its status, after outlasting Notre Dame 24-13 before a crowd that included a vocal group of Bearcats fans, whom quarterback Desmond Ridder said made it sound “like a home game.”
The Bearcats became the first Group of Five team to record a road win against an AP top-10 opponent from the Power Five in the CFP era.
Postgame Press Conferences:
Social Media Reaction:
Tweets from Notre Dame's visiting recruits
Extended Highlights: Cincinnati 24, Notre Dame 13
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