On a November afternoon in South Bend, the old rivalry between Notre Dame and Boston College returns, dressed in the familiar name of the Holy War. The Irish arrive carrying the weight of a stunning win over the nation's top-ranked team, and with it a fragile hope of reaching the College Football Playoff. The Eagles, struggling through a losing-leaning season, come as heavy underdogs in a contest that asks less whether Notre Dame will win than how fully it will prove itself. It is one more chapter in a long season where a single week can lift a team toward its dreams or test whether its moment
No. 5 Notre Dame Hosts Struggling Boston College in Holy War Renewal with Playoff Hopes on the Line
The game after THE GAME, with three regular-season games left
Mark
Why does a game against a 4-5 team matter so much?
Mimi
Because Notre Dame just beat No. 1 Miami 31-24, and the win seemingly opened a playoff path. That path depends on winning the last three games, and this is the first.
Luke
Careful with "seemingly." The reporting says the path appears open, not that a spot is secured. Nothing in the piece says what the committee will do.
Mark
What do the betting numbers tell us?
Mimi
Notre Dame is favored by 29.5, with an over/under of 52.5. That's more than four touchdowns.
Luke
Those are betting lines, which are market expectations and not predictions anyone has confirmed. They say nothing certain about the result.
Mark
There's also the broadcast change.
Mimi
Dan Hicks died Thursday at 64. He was at NBC almost four decades and did Notre Dame games for parts of seven seasons. Jason Benetti is stepping in.
Luke
The source doesn't say how the network will mark his death on air, so we don't know that yet.
Mark
And the game itself?
Mimi
It's still ahead. The live updates were to be filled in closer to kickoff, so there's no score or stats to report.
El Pulso
- Notre Dame faces the dangerous quiet that follows a landmark upset, with a 29.5-point spread turning every possession into a question of focus.
- The Irish must keep their playoff hopes alive by treating a lopsided matchup with the same intensity they brought to a top-ranked Miami.
- NBC and Peacock carry the broadcast as a tribute to Dan Hicks, with Jason Benetti stepping in on play-by-play after the veteran announcer's death.
- Live updates, scoring plays and stats are rolling in from the Tribune, while the final score and cover margin will determine how the Irish's playoff path looks heading into three remaining games.
On a November afternoon in South Bend, the old rivalry between Notre Dame and Boston College returns, dressed in the familiar name of the Holy War. The Irish arrive carrying the weight of a stunning win over the nation's top-ranked team, and with it a fragile hope of reaching the College Football Playoff. The Eagles, struggling through a losing-leaning season, come as heavy underdogs in a contest that asks less whether Notre Dame will win than how fully it will prove itself. It is one more chapter in a long season where a single week can lift a team toward its dreams or test whether its momentum is real.
Saturday afternoon brings No. 5 Notre Dame to Notre Dame Stadium to host Boston College, a series the South Bend Tribune calls the "Holy War." The Irish come in at 8-1, fresh off a 31-24 victory over Miami, which had been ranked No. 1 at the time. That win has opened a real path to the College Football Playoff, but only if Notre Dame keeps winning through its final three regular-season games. Boston College, at 4-5 and struggling, is the first of those.
The mood around the game is shaped by what came before it. The Tribune frames this as the game that follows the biggest night of the Irish season, the kind of spot where a letdown is the natural fear. Oddsmakers, meanwhile, see little drama in the outcome: Notre Dame is a 29.5-point favorite, with the total set at 52.5. Winning is the expectation; covering such a wide margin is the subtler test.
The broadcast carries its own emotional weight. NBC and Peacock are airing the game, with Jason Benetti on play-by-play, Jason Garrett on color, and Caroline Pineda on the sideline. Benetti is filling in for Dan Hicks, who died Thursday at 64 after nearly four decades at NBC and years calling Notre Dame games.
What to watch is simple: the final score, and whether the Irish meet a weaker opponent with the focus a playoff contender needs.
On Saturday afternoon, No. 5 Notre Dame welcomes Boston College to Notre Dame Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff, the renewal of a series the South Bend Tribune calls the "Holy War." The Irish arrive at 8-1. The Eagles arrive at 4-5 and struggling.
The game comes right after the biggest night of Notre Dame's season. Last Saturday in South Bend, the Irish beat Miami 31-24, and Miami was ranked No. 1 at the time. The Tribune describes today's game as the one that follows THE GAME, a spot where a letdown is the obvious worry.
The stakes are practical. The win over Miami seemingly opened a path to the College Football Playoff for Notre Dame, provided it takes care of business in its final three games. Boston College is the first of those three, so the Irish have three regular-season games left, starting today.
Oddsmakers see little suspense. Notre Dame is a 29.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 52.5 points. That makes the Irish favorites by more than four touchdowns. Whether they cover a spread that large is a second question alongside the simple matter of winning.
The broadcast carries its own weight. NBC has the game, with streaming on Peacock. Jason Benetti is on play-by-play, Jason Garrett on color commentary and Caroline Pineda on the sideline. Benetti is filling in for Dan Hicks, who died Thursday at 64. Hicks worked at NBC for almost four decades and called Notre Dame games for parts of seven seasons.
The Tribune is on site and running live updates, scoring plays, highlights and stats, to be filled in closer to kickoff. It also points readers to this week's Pod of Gold, featuring former Notre Dame captain Shawn Wooden.
What to watch for is the final score, and whether the Irish handle a struggling opponent the way a playoff contender is expected to. Two more regular-season games follow.
Citas Notables
Notre Dame's path to the playoff seemingly stays open as long as it takes care of business in its final three games.— South Bend Tribune (paraphrased)
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