No. 16 Stanford (3-0) at Notre Dame (1-2), 3:40 p.m. (NBC)
Line: Stanford by 4 1/2.
Series Record: Notre Dame leads 17-7.
Last Meeting: 2009, Stanford won 45-38.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Off to its best start in nine years, Stanford still has yet to be tested. That’s about to change, with the trip to Notre Dame kicking off what should be the toughest three weeks of the Cardinal’s season. Games at Oregon and against USC follow. With two straight losses and six in its last seven games, not to mention an oh-fer in its last 10 games against ranked opponents, Notre Dame just wants a win.
KEY MATCHUP
QB Andrew Luck vs. Notre Dame’s secondary. Luck is the best quarterback the Irish will see this year, with 10 touchdown passes already this year and the third-best pass efficiency ranking (192.31) in the country. He’s a challenge for any team, but Notre Dame’s injury-plagued secondary has been a problem. It’s allowing almost a first down per pass and 250 yards passing a game – and its opponents haven’t exactly been pass-happy teams.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Stanford: WR Chris Owusu. The big-play receiver came back from a reported knee injury last weekend in a big way, with touchdowns on each of his first two drives. He wasn’t in on kick returns – he returned three for scores last year – but coach Jim Harbaugh said that’s coming soon, and the Irish are fully expecting to see him on special teams.
Notre Dame: S Jamoris Slaughter. The starter was sidelined by a sprained ankle against Michigan and Michigan State (he got in for one play in East Lansing), and the Irish lost both games. Coaches praise him for both his leadership and play, and his return should help settle a secondary that’s been a series of moving parts the first three weeks.
FACTS & FIGURES
Stanford hasn’t won in South Bend since 1992, when it upset the sixth-ranked Irish 33-16. … Notre Dame hasn’t beaten a ranked opponent since Sept. 9, 2006. … Stanford is trying to go 4-0 for the first time since 1986. … Dating back to last season, Notre Dame has lost six of its last seven games, all by a touchdown or less. … Stanford is averaging almost 52 points a game, third-best in the country. … Harbaugh was 2-0 against Notre Dame when he played at Michigan. … The first game in the series was the 1925 Rose Bowl.
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