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Notre Dame better in Texas, but loses again in semifinals
Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) is sacked by Alabama defensive lineman Byron Young (47) in the second half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)ARLINGTON, Texas โ Ian Book had Notre Dame moving with a chance to get within a touchdown of No. A few plays later, the Irish quarterback was out of the game after 310-pound defensive tackle Christian Barmore fell on top of Book on a 14-yard sack. On the next Irish possession, Book ended up in the medical tent after Barmore's sack, replaced by freshman Drew Pyne. Notre Dame beat the Tigers 47-40 in November while Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence was sidelined because of a positive COVID-19 test.
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Alabama to meet Notre Dame in relocated CFP semifinal game
4 Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinal originally scheduled to serve as the 107th Rose Bowl, the playoff committee announced Sunday. โOur guys recognize what theyโll need to do relative to the mental preparation of playing a great football team in Alabama. But instead of a week amid the pomp and pageantry of the Rose Bowl, the teams will spend their semifinal week in Arlington, Texas. Oregon State beat Duke in Durham, North Carolina, in that version of the Rose Bowl. The festive week of genteel celebrations around the Rose Bowl game had already been mostly canceled.
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Kelly, Swinney express concern about no families at playoffs
โWhy would we play if you canโt have families at the game?" "If you canโt have families at bowl games, why would you go to a game where your families canโt be part of it? โWhy canโt it be the Rose Bowl in Las Vegas or can it be the Rose Bowl in another town?โ Kelly said. "They canโt be around their families for Christmas, and youโre going to tell me weโre going to have a playoff and maybe one site can have families and the other canโt? I am so sick and tired of this playoff committee talking about having sites where you canโt have parents at and their families.
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Book leads No. 2 Irish past Syracuse 45-21; Clemson next up
It was Bookโs 30th victory as a starter, the most ever for a Notre Dame quarterback. โItโs a dream come true to be able to attend Notre Dame and have a good career,โ Book said. Notre Dame started its run thanks to a roughing the passer by Syracuse that Book later turned into a 28-yard TD run. Book finished with 348 total yards, becoming only the second Irish player to move past 10,000 yards (10,008) in total offense. Notre Dame: The Irish have an extra week to rest up for Clemson after the conference adjusted the schedules earlier this week, canceling their last game.
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Kelly earns 100th win, No. 2 Notre Dame rolls past BC 45-31
(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)BOSTON โ Notre Dame has a history of following big wins with letdowns against rival Boston College. Iโm fortunate to be at Notre Dame that long. 1 Clemson, Notre Dame (8-0, 7-0 ACC) racked up a season-high 561 total yards against BC. The last time Notre Dame beat a top-ranked team was 1993, and then following week the Fighting Irish were upset by BC on a last-second field goal. It was recovered by Notre Dame defensive end Daelin Hayes on the Eagles 49 with 2:05 left in the quarter.
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No. 4 Notre Dame sacks No. 1 Clemson 47-40 in double OT
4 Notre Dame shut down top-ranked Clemson with a couple of sacks to seal a 47-40 win Saturday night. 1 for the first time since taking down Florida State in 1993 at Notre Dame Stadium. Uiagalelei, starting in place of Trevor Lawrence for a second week, passed for 439 yards, the most ever by a Notre Dame opponent. Notre Dame: Avery Davis came to South Bend as a quarterback and has been moved to running back, receiver and defensive back. Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish are at Boston College, which might bring back some bad memories for Notre Dame fans.
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Week 10: Pac-12 begins in first monster schedule of season
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)The final major college football conference to begin its season gets going Saturday. The Pac-12 kicks off at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) with Arizona State at No. Instead of Pac-12 after dark itโs Pac-12 for lunch. The Hawkeyes will try to avoid that in this unique conference-only season at home against Michigan State. Arkansas State also had a marquee upset early in the season, beating Kansas State.
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On other side of an outbreak, teams can find some relief
We might be good for two weeks, three weeks, four weeks, five weeks. On the other side of an outbreak, though, things can be less stressful for teams and their coaches. When Florida gets past this, all those who tested positive will be in the clear for the rest of the season. Notre Dame had 25 players test positive. Maybe have him sit closest to your previously infected players on the team bus or plane.
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Williams, Crawford lead No. 5 Notre Dame past Florida State
5 Fighting Irish beat Florida State 42-26 on Saturday night. I just kept that mindset after I fumbled.โโWe just reminded (Kyren) about ball security,โ said Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly, whose team lost several workouts due to the pandemic. Notre Dame: The Irish offense was often lethal, especially once it stopped hurting its own cause. Notre Dame had five touchdowns and 365 yards in the first half and finished with 554 yards. Notre Dame is home for the fourth straight game to start the season when Louisville visits Oct. 17.
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Notre Dame extends coach Brian Kelly's contract through 2024
Notre Dame and coach Brian Kelly have agreed to a contract extension that runs through the 2024 season. Kelly is entering his 11th season as Notre Dame coach, and 30th season as a head coach in college football. โWe are pleased to be able to have Brian lead our football program for the foreseeable future,โ Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said in a statement. Kelly is approaching Lou Holtzโs Notre Dame record for most games coached in program history. He has already matched Holtz with five double-digit victory seasons at Notre Dame.
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Notre Dame opens ACC play against Duke, won't play Navy
The Atlantic Coast Conference and Notre Dame are considering whether the Fighting Irish will give up their treasured football independence for the 2020 season play as a member of the league. The ACC had announced plans last week for a 10-game league slate with one nonconference game and its championship game played either Dec. 12 or 19. Now Notre Dames lone nonconference game will be a previously scheduled visit from Western Michigan on Sept. 19. Notre Dame, a member in all other league sports, already had a scheduling agreement to annually play five or six games with ACC teams as an independent. The Irish were set to play five-time reigning ACC champion Clemson, Wake Forest, Pittsburgh, Duke, Georgia Tech and Louisville this year.
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NCAA finalizing plan for extended college football preseason
After the pandemic wiped out spring practice for most major college football teams, an NCAA plan to extend the preseason by two weeks could help coaches and players make up for the lost time. Schools have started this week bringing their football players back to campus for voluntary workouts mostly weight training and conditioning in team facilities. Lyons said teams will be required to complete at least the four weeks of standard preseason before playing a game. Todd Berry, executive director for the American Football Coaches Association, said he would expect some coaches to segment their teams, holding multiple practices per day. If facing coverings are needed for players, Stewart said neck gaiters stretchy scarves made of lightweight, breathable material could be the way teams go.

UF coach Dan Mullen lands on Dodd Trophy watch list
Getty ImagesJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Floridas Dan Mullen was one of 23 coaches named to the preseason watch list for the Dodd Trophy on Thursday. Mullen is one of five coaches from the SEC to be named to the watch list, joining Texas A&Ms Jimbo Fisher, Auburns Gus Malzahn, Alabamas Nick Saban and Georgias Kirby Smart. Mullen went 10-3 in his first season with Florida, leading the Gators to a 41-15 blowout of Michigan in the Peach Bowl. The Dodd Trophy is presented to the coach of a team which enjoys a successful football season, while also stressing the importance of academic excellence and character.The list will be refreshed in midseason, either narrowed or added to. The Dodd Trophy, named after former Georgia Tech coach Bobby Dodd.