Notre Dame’s matchup against the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday afternoon renews a rivalry that’s tinged with some motivation for revenge by the Irish. Last season’s tight loss at Notre Dame still resonates more than 13 months later for Marcus Freeman’s squad, who hopes to conclude the 2023 regular season with a 9-3 mark.
Stanford may have a new head coach on its sidelines but the issues that have been prevalent in recent years remain and help to explain their woeful 3-8 season record. Unlike the Irish, there’s no bowl game awaiting them after this contest. That stark reality means that coming away with a win in this clash could help offer promise for next season.