SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Toledo-Notre Dame game went as expected when a Group of Five program meets one of college football’s blue bloods: the line of scrimmage resembles Central Catholic against Arbor Hills Junior High.
The historical power typically shoves aside the upset-minded opponent and asserts their will, pushing them off the line of scrimmage two and three yards at a time. That narrative played out at Notre Dame Stadium and on Peacock Saturday afternoon, except Toledo played the part of the aggressor.
In a gut-wrenching 32-29 loss to the eighth-ranked Irish, UT’s front seven, littered with All-Mid-American Conference players, tyrannized the Irish for most of four quarters, sending quarterback Jack Coan to the turf, stopping running back Kyren Williams before he gathered game-breaking speed, and forcing three turnovers.