Notre Dame vs. Texas: Game Preview, Prediction and Players to Watch

Notre Dame and Texas will demand the spotlight on Sunday, Sept. 4, playing the only college football game of the day.

The 10th-ranked Fighting Irish are looking to build on a 10-3 campaign. Last year, head coach Brian Kelly's team absolutely stomped the Longhorns in the season opener, winning 38-3.

Meanwhile, Texas needs to start showing marked improvement. Charlie Strong is entering his third year as head coach, and his proverbial seat will slowly begin warming with every loss. A win over Notre Dame would provide early-season relief.

According to Odds Shark, Notre Dame is currently a 3.5-point favorite. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Notre Dame Keys to Victory

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Nov 14, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) throws a pass in the fourth quarter against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 28-7. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Spor

Figure Out This Quarterback Thing

DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire competed for the No. 1 role. Unfortunately for them, the coaching staff didn't pick a single winner. Kizer and Zaire are going to split time against Texas.

While that's not an ideal situation for either player, Stephen Brooks of the Goshen News noted Kelly said he's not worried about the quarterbacks finding a rhythm. He added that the Longhorns defense will determine which one plays more.

So, Notre Dame will likely ride the hot hand. But one drive that ends in a punt doesn't always mean the quarterback has cooled off and should watch the next possession from the sideline.

Although a constant shuffle isn't a definite issue, the Irish need to identify the proper rotation under center quickly.

Win on 3rd Down

Last season, Notre Dame converted 42.5 percent of its third downs and allowed just 35.3—both of which were top-40 marks nationally.

Texas, on the other hand, mustered just 35.5 and 44.2 percent marks, respectively. Of 128 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision, those ranked 101st and 105th. That's a problem.

Yes, it's a new year, but the Fighting Irish need to continue that trend. Winning on third down is critical to win on the road.

Texas Keys to Victory

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D'Onta Foreman

Start Fast, Keep the Crowd Involved

Scoreboard prompts can manufacture crowd noise, but the best support is authentic cheers. Since Texas expects a sellout crowd to fill the 100,000-plus-seat stadium, that shouldn't be a problem.

However, a sluggish first quarter from the Longhorns or a fast start by Notre Dame may quickly turn an excited, loud following into a tentative, anxious fanbase.

If Texas can take an early lead, register a couple of big gains and force a turnover during the first half, the Irish might start to get frustrated. Once that happens, they'll be even more susceptible to mental mistakes. That'll only help the Longhorns' upset bid.

Bend and Break, but Don't Snap

Here's some (not exactly) breaking news: Notre Dame is going to score. Texas must force the Irish to sustain possessions, though.

In 2015, Notre Dame racked up 13 plays of 50-plus yards (15th nationally), nine of 60-plus (sixth) and seven of 70-plus (first). The Longhorns were relatively stingy in each category (48th, 19th and 13th) but certainly not perfect.

Considering the transition and uncertainty on the Irish offense, any explosive gain would be an unexpected gift and a major boost to Notre Dame's win probability. Texas cannot afford to allow big plays.

Notre Dame Players to Watch

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November 28, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Torii Hunter Jr. (16) runs the ball against Stanford Cardinal during the first half at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Torii Hunter Jr., Wide Receiver

Notre Dame enjoyed one of the premier downfield threats in 2015, watching Will Fuller torch cornerbacks and safeties for 15 gains of 30-plus yards—the fifth-most in the country.

Taking his spot is Torii Hunter Jr., who tallied 28 catches for 363 yards. However, Kelly said Hunter will move around to a few different receiver spots, according to Angelo Di Carlo of WNDU.

No other Fighting Irish wideout has more than one career reception, so the offense will be relying heavily on Hunter while the rest of the corps holds a significant role for the first time.

Drue Tranquill, Safety

In 2014, Drue Tranquill made a respectable debut. He registered 33 tackles, picked off a pass and recovered a fumble. However, a torn left ACL ended Tranquill's freshman season in Game 11.

Last year, the strong safety notched 2.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups before a torn right ACL sidelined him in Game 3.

So, Tranquill's return is a welcomed development anyway. However, the dismissal of Max Redfield means Tranquill needs to guide a new starting free safety, too.

Texas Players to Watch

Credit: 247Sports

Shane Buechele

Shane Buechele, Quarterback

After two frustrating seasons, Texas might have finally identified its quarterback of the future. Shane Buechele garnered national attention after his near-300-yard performance in the spring game.

But placing high expectations on a true freshman is dangerous.

Strong plans to use both Buechele and senior Tyrone Swoopes, according to Mike Finger of the Houston Chronicle. But Longhorns fans know Swoopes isn't the answer if the team needs a touchdown through the air. Buechele might have to be a hero in Game 1.

Malik Jefferson, Linebacker

The prize of Strong's recruiting class in 2015, Malik Jefferson made a strong first impression with 61 total tackles last season. He should become a household name this season.

ESPN.com's Max Olson noted former Longhorns cornerback Quandre Diggs said Jefferson is already the face of Texas football.

At middle linebacker, Jefferson will be responsible for chasing down Notre Dame sideline to sideline. Don't worry—he'll be there.

What They're Saying

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Notre Dame

Understandably, neither Zaire nor Kizer was thrilled with Kelly's decision to not name a No. 1 quarterback. Zaire dropped a memorable quote about the situation.

"It's not the most ideal situation, but as a pro, you need to deal with the cards you're dealt and make something happen," Zaire said, according to Tom Coyne of the Associated Press. "So our goal is to turn chicken crap into chicken salad."

Texas

Part of Strong's rebuild at Texas includes relying on young players. The freshmen think they're ready, but the third-year coach knows that's not actually the case. Per Rich Tijerina of the Austin American-Statesman, Strong said:

"

They're going to be all over the place. They can act like they're not and say 'we're ready' all they want. We had all the freshmen gather after practice and I asked what they were going to do on game day. 'Oh we'll be fine.' They won't be fine. I know they won't be. You have to stay on top of them. I think once they get out there and get the one play or two, they'll settle in. But they have no idea what they're stepping into.

"

Prediction

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Tarean Folston

After the 35-point blowout in 2015, Notre Dame must be prepared for a much closer finish this time around.

The Irish put a field goal on the board before Buechele throws his first career touchdown pass. Notre Dame responds with 13 unanswered points, and Texas kicks a field goal to make it 16-10 at the break.

Kizer and Zaire combine to lead another touchdown drive, adding a two-point conversion for a 24-10 advantage. The Longhorns answer when D'Onta Foreman hits paydirt, but another Justin Yoon field goal keeps the Fighting Irish ahead by 10.

Texas scores a touchdown and has a late opportunity to even the score or push ahead, but the Irish escape with a hard-fought victory.

Prediction: Notre Dame 27, Texas 24

All stats from CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted.