ESPN College GameDay 2015: Week 5 Schedule, Location, Predictions and More

With conference play either right around the corner or in full swing for different leagues across the country, there are few remaining opportunities to make a nonconference statement this college football season. 

The undefeated Clemson Tigers have just that opportunity Saturday when the undefeated Notre Dame Fighting Irish come to Death Valley.

With two undefeated, Top 15 teams squaring off, it is only natural ESPN’s traveling pregame show College GameDay will make an appearance. The program announced its impending presence shortly after the Week 4 schedule came to an end:

Make sure you watch because you never know what can happen when the show visits Clemson:

The actual game takes place Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Here is everything you have to know for GameDay and the showdown on the field.

ESPN College GameDay: Week 3 Info

Date: Saturday, Oct. 3

Time (ET): 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Location: Clemson, South Carolina

Watch: ESPN 

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Preview and Prediction

While both teams have a zero in the loss column, there are still lingering questions about how good they will be against elite competition. Saturday is a chance to provide a resounding answer.

After all, Notre Dame’s opponents are a combined 4-11 on the season (the Georgia Tech win doesn’t look as good after Duke handled the Yellow Jackets, and Texas is not exactly the Longhorns of old), and Clemson looked vulnerable in a narrow 20-17 victory over 1-3 Louisville. The Tigers’ other wins came against overmatched Wofford and Appalachian State.

Another concern for both squads is injuries. Clemson lost standout wide receiver Mike Williams (who tallied 1,030 receiving yards in 2014) to a fractured neck in the season opener, and the Fighting Irish are already without six players due to season-ending setbacks.

Quarterback Malik Zaire and running back Tarean Folston were two of those injuries for Notre Dame, but replacements DeShone Kizer and C.J. Prosise have carried the offense. In fact, Prosise’s 600 rushing yards are the most ever by a Notre Dame running back in the first four games of a season.

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Clemson still has its backfield duo intact with preseason Heisman dark horse Deshaun Watson and Wayne Gallman.

Watson boasts 641 passing yards and seven touchdown passes and is also a threat to move the ball with his legs, but Saturday represents a golden opportunity on a national stage to prove the hype surrounding the preseason first-team All-ACC quarterback was merited.

In Clemson’s one game against an opponent of note (Louisville), Gallman rescued the offense after Watson threw two interceptions and looked overwhelmed at times. Gallman tallied 139 rushing yards on the day and has 310 yards and three touchdowns on the ground this season.

The Notre Dame defense that allowed 450 yards to UMass, including an 83-yard touchdown run in the first half, must play better against Watson and Gallman if it hopes to leave Clemson with a road victory. The Fighting Irish also allowed more than 400 yards against Virginia (416) in a game they needed Kizer to engineer a miraculous comeback.

If the defense allows explosive plays to a stronger opponent like Clemson, a comeback won’t be in store. 

Notre Dame’s best chance to move the ball is with Prosise. He is averaging an astounding 8.1 yards per carry, although much of the credit belongs to the offensive line, as Matt Fortuna of ESPN.com highlighted:

Ralph D. Russo of the Associated Press wondered if the physicality of the Notre Dame offense would be enough to outlast Clemson:

Ideally for the Fighting Irish, Prosise will pick up chunks of yardage early. In turn, that will open up the passing attack with wide receiver Will Fuller, who already boasts 454 receiving yards and six touchdown catches.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney was well aware the Fighting Irish have an explosive offense during his press conference, per ClemsonTigers.com:

"

I mean, they're disciplined, they're physical, they're fast, they're well-coached. Again, offensively they're really complete. They've got an excellent offensive line. They've got great skill. They just keep coming up with quarterbacks. It's unbelievable these guys they've got playing quarterback. The Kizer kid has stepped in and done a tremendous job. They haven't missed a beat.

The running back, No. 20, he's averaging 8.1 yards a carry. Tight ends are very physical and talented. This is as good an offensive line as we've seen in a long time, so it's just a complete group, and they do a great job with how they call the plays.

"

Notre Dame may bring plenty of weapons to the table, but Clemson’s defense will be up to the challenge.

It ranks ninth nationally with 260.7 yards allowed per game and swarmed to the ball against Louisville, as it forced two turnovers and made critical stands in the waning minutes to preserve the victory.

Russo mentioned there is a lack of depth up front for the Tigers, but Shaq Lawson, Kevin Dodd, Scott Pagano and Carlos Watkins form a dominant defensive line. Andrea Adelson and Fortuna of ESPN.com praised their ability to step in as four new starters and pointed out opposing runners are averaging a mere three yards per carry against the Tigers. Clemson is also averaging 9.3 tackles for loss a game.

Lawson is a star who will fly into Notre Dame’s backfield on passing downs and pressure Kizer throughout the contest.

Ultimately, Notre Dame’s inexperience with Kizer under center in a hostile environment against this swarming defense will prove to be the difference. It is a meager 2-5 under coach Brian Kelly on the road against ranked teams (both wins occurred back in 2012), and the crowd in Clemson will be raucous from before the opening kick.

The Fighting Irish have enough talent to challenge any team in the country on a neutral field, but Saturday night will belong to Death Valley and the formidable Clemson defense.

Prediction: Clemson 24, Notre Dame 17