Notre Dame's defense entered the weekend of November 7 with tons of questions around their ability to step up in the biggest moments. After multiple disappointing performances, the Fighting Irish defense stepped up against the No. 1 team in the country, got the stops they needed to and shut the door on the Hurricane's offense during their final drive of the game. This weekend, they're playing an offense that, statistically, doesn't compare to the one they faced last Saturday. But this unit can hurt Notre Dame if they aren't disciplined. 

The Irish are in prime position now to make the final 12-team College Football Playoffs but their defense isn't quite a finished product. This weekend, they have the opportunity to shut down an inconsistent Boston College offense and if they're going to do that, defensive coordinator Chris Ash will have to rely on his players to win in these key matchups against the visiting Boston College Eagles. 

Notre Dame defensive end Boubacar Traore is starting to make a name for himself nationally. The 6-5, 253-pound Boston native now has 29 total pressures and 11 hits plus sacks on the quarterback this season after racking up seven total pressures and one sack against the Miami offense this past weekend. Traore was one of the top players that needed to get back on track against the Hurricanes and his performance certainly did not disappoint. He entered the 2026 season with tons of hype, and first round NFL draft pick potential. Now, Traore is back in the lime light and has the opportunity to continue his dominant streak this weekend. 

Matchup To Watch: The Boston College offensive line has struggled this season protecting the quarterback. They rank 110th in the country in sacks allowed on the season (24) and 130th in the country in tackles for loss allowed (61). Right tackle Kristian Phillips has had his fair share of struggles in pass protection. He leads the team in pressures allowed with 23 pressures allowed including eight hits plus sacks through the eight games he's appeared in. This is a matchup Traore should win convincingly. 

One of the biggest moves of the offseason was moving starting field corner Christian Gray inside to nickel which would highlight his aggressive nature and ability to come down and stop the run. That was on full display against Miami this past weekend and the St. Louis native shined in his toughest test of the season. Gray's had consistency issues in the past but has the opportunity to put that narrative to rest this weekend. He's had a strong season so far, now it's time to stack performances. 

Matchup To Watch: Boston College doesn't have a pass game like Miami's that will turn a lot of heads, but they have weapons in the pass game that can hurt teams. Slot receiver Javarius Green currently leads the team in yards and receptions and is tied for the team lead in touchdowns. He also leads the team in catches that have gone for 1st downs. He's a player that head coach, and offensive play caller, Bill O'Brien will turn to in order to get the offense going. Gray will have to be disciplined in his matchup with Green and not let him become a game wrecker for the Eagles. 

With the injury to middle linebacker Drayk Bowen, the Notre Dame linebacking corps needed it's supporting members to step up and last weekend, they did just that. Senior Jaiden Ausberry and 5th-year senior Jaylen Sneed both made game-changing plays against the Hurricanes offense and did they part in limiting running back Mark Fletcher, playing the underneath routes in the pass game well and preventing Darian Mensah from making too many plays with his legs. This weekend, they'll have the same task in quarterback contain with Boston College coming to town. 

Matchup To Watch: Quarterback Mason McKenzie is the latest DII transfer to come to the P4 level in college football and make an impact. He currently leads the Eagles in passing and rushing yards. His ability to make plays off script, move the chains with his legs and extend drives off platform has been impressive this season. Players like Sneed and Ausberry will have to limit McKenzie's impact in the run game like this did this past week. Thankfully, McKenzie is not the first mobile quarterback the Irish will have faced this season, and he won't be the last. This will be another test the Irish linebacking corps will face that I expect them to pass. 

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