\u201cWe\u2019re really motivated for the opportunity to play for the Legends Trophy,\u201d Irish head coach Marcus Freeman<\/strong> said in his weekly press conference. \u201cFor many of the guys that were here last year, I understand how disappointing that loss was to them, and there won\u2019t be a lack of motivation this week to compete for that trophy.”<\/p>\n \u201cThis great rivalry dates back for many years and we understand how important this rivalry is to this university,\u201d Freeman continued. \u201cObviously, two of our three losses have been on the road. We haven\u2019t performed to our standard on the road. As I told the coaches, I don\u2019t want to make this only a road issue, but we haven\u2019t performed to our standard. We\u2019ve got to start better. We\u2019ve got to go from the first play of the game. We can\u2019t ease into any game. It\u2019s my job to make sure we are mentally and physically prepared. I told them all it\u2019s their job to make the choice that we\u2019re going to be mentally ready to go. There\u2019s no one answer that can guarantee it\u2019s going to happen, but it won\u2019t be from a lack of effort by myself or our coaching staff.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Irish\u2019s offense has sputtered on the road this year. Despite the struggles, quarterback Sam Hartman<\/a> and running back Audric Estime<\/a> will anchor a methodical Irish offense that should be enough to outscore a struggling Stanford team that has not won a single home game this season. Stanford is the only team in the FBS that can stake a claim to that unenviable feat. Between Hartman, Estime, and plenty of playmaking talent on offense, Notre Dame will put points on the board.<\/p>\n The offense is led by Estime<\/a>. The Junior running back has rushed for 1,103 yards (6.0 yards per carry) and scored 14 touchdowns in a stellar season. He also has 17 receptions out of the backfield for 142 receiving yards (12. Receiving YPG).\u00a0 In last week\u2019s 45-7 dominating win over Wake Forest, Estime rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. He has scored a touchdown in four consecutive games and has rushed for 100 yards twice in that span. Estime had a costly fumble in last year\u2019s loss to Stanford. He will want to go out on a high note, especially if it is his final game in a Notre Dame uniform.<\/p>\n Hartman has accumulated 2,549 passing yards (63.8%) and he has thrown for 22 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. He has also rushed for 76 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns. Hartman needs just three touchdowns to overtake Graham Harrell (134) for third on the college football career list for touchdown passes. Facing his former team a week ago, Hartman finished 21 of 29 for 277 yards and four touchdowns against Wake Forest. He finished the game with a QB rating of 198.2.<\/p>\n On the other side of the ball, the Stanford defense has allowed 37 points per game in its last three home games. The Cardinal has allowed 143.9 rushing yards per game and 24 rushing touchdowns this season. The Irish average 37.4 points per game and average 163.4 yards on the ground. Notre Dame has scored 26 touchdowns through the air and 21 touchdowns on the ground.<\/p>\n Stanford is rebuilding after longtime head coach David Shaw<\/strong> stepped down last year. First-year head coach Troy Taylor<\/strong> has had highs and lows in 2023. The Cardinal lost a week ago to the California Golden Bears, losing 27-15. Dual-threat quarterback Ashton Daniels<\/a> carried the football 12 times in the defeat for 67 yards. He ended the game with 188 yards passing, going 18 for 35 with a quarterback rating of 106. All told, Daniels has thrown for 2,095 yards (58.3%) this year with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has run for 195 rushing yards with three touchdowns on the ground.<\/p>\nNotre Dame’s Offense Should Run Free<\/h3>\n
Rebuilding Stanford Enters After a Loss<\/h3>\n
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