The Fighting Irish and Beavers will play one other in the 2023 Sun Bowl, marking the first meeting between Notre Dame and Oregon State on the same pitch in nearly 20 seasons. And it’s a game full of turnover: when official realignment takes place this summer, the Beavers will lose their whole league and their head coach, the Irish will have a new offensive coordinator, and both teams will start new quarterbacks
Notre Dame: The Irish finished 9-3 overall, 2-2 against teams who were rated, and ninth in the country in both defence (16.6 ppg) and scoring offence (38.6 ppg). Oregon State: After two losses, just six total points prevented the Beavers from being undefeated. However, two more losses at the end of the season, to Washington and Oregon, sent OSU to four losses and a fourth-place Pac-12 finish. PREDICTION: NOTRE DAME VS. OREGON STATE, FIRST LOOK
1. Combat on the front lines. Due to Sam Hartman’s injury, Steve Angeli will start for Notre Dame as quarterback. However, since Joe Alt (left) and Blake Fisher (right) are becoming pro, neither of Angeli’s tackles will be able to cover him on the edges. Even without Easton Mascarenas patrolling the line, Oregon State is a dangerous quarterback pressure team, ranking in the top 10 nationally with 36 sack
2. QB change. Although Oregon State lost DJ Uiagalelei to the transfer portal, Ben Gulbranson, his replacement, doesn’t exactly lack experience. A year ago, the redshirt sophomore started eight games, going 7-1 during that stretch and accounting for nine touchdowns on more than 62% of his throws. Notre Dame had excellent pass defence, finishing fourth in the country in production, allowing only over 5 yards per pass and only 7 air touchdowns during the entire season.
3. The absence of Beavers. Oregon State is without its quarterback as well as its leading rusher, Damien Martinez, who is cleared to play following an arrest and suspension but will not play in the match. Three important receivers, Anthony Gould, Jack Velling, and Jesiah Irish, won’t be playing, but Deshaun Fenwick, the back, and wideout Silas Bolden will.
