Notre Dame Prepares for Showdown Against Arkansas in Week 5

South Bend, Indiana — The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will face a tough test when they travel to play the Arkansas Razorbacks this Saturday at noon ET. Both teams enter the game with two losses this season.

Notre Dame’s aspirations to return to the College Football Playoff (CFP) this year are hanging in the balance. After suffering back-to-back losses to Miami and Texas A&M, the Fighting Irish must win out to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Head coach Marcus Freeman‘s team rebounded from the rocky start with a more focused approach on their defense. In their recent game against Purdue, the Fighting Irish allowed only 76 rushing yards, but still gave up 303 passing yards.

“The man coverage, when we’re playing man coverage, we’ve gotta play with better fundamentals,” Freeman said during a press conference. “Better fundamentals and technique are going to help us execute at a higher level.”

On the offensive side, new quarterback CJ Carr is stepping up after taking over from Riley Leonard. Carr has been more effective recently, throwing two touchdowns without an interception in the game against Purdue, leading to an improved offensive rhythm.

<p“He had just two incompletions in that game,” added Freeman. “I have confidence we will need to pass the ball to have success, but we are also a balanced offense that prides ourselves on running the ball.”

The Fighting Irish, currently with 737 passing yards and five touchdowns this season, will look to keep that momentum against Arkansas. Meanwhile, Arkansas is coming off a disappointing loss to Memphis and will likely enter the game hungry for redemption.

The Razorbacks, led by coach Sam Pittman, are eager to bounce back after finishing with a 2-2 record overall. Historically, this matchup is significant as it brings up the legacy of Lou Holtz, who coached at both schools.

Freeman noted the stakes, “This game is pivotal for both teams. We need to bring our best to be successful.”

As anticipation builds for this high-profile Week 5 matchup, both teams will look to deliver a strong performance on the field.