South Florida vs. Notre Dame: Did Brian Kelly Make a Bad Call Backing Crist?
The 16th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish trail the unranked South Florida Bulls at halftime by a score of 16-0. Head coach Brian Kelly named Dayne Crist the starting quarterback leading up to the contest, but Crist has struggled, going 7-for-15 with an interception.
What’s Gone Wrong?
Notre Dame drove 79 yards down the field to start the game before Jonas Gray fumbled at the 1-yard line and Kayvon Webster took it all the way back for a South Florida touchdown. The shocking turn of events appeared to take the wind out of the Fighting Irish's sails.
Crist has looked shaky in the pocket, throwing several passes high and wide of the intended target. He beat out Tommy Rees for the job in training camp, but a slow start to the second half could signal a change under center for Notre Dame.
What’s at Stake?
The Fighting Irish have become known as a team that perennially underachieves, and a first-week loss to an unranked opponent would only further solidify that reputation. With a much tougher schedule ahead, a loss here could lead to an ugly season at South Bend.
One of the main reasons for the downfall would be an unwanted quarterback controversy. There are few things that separate a locker room more than picking sides in a QB debate. If Crist continues to struggle, though, Kelly will have no choice.
Upset Potential: 7 out of 10—high probability.
How Will Voters React?
With a loss, Notre Dame would likely fall out of the top 25. The next six games are all against solid opponents, so if they can't beat South Florida, a return to the rankings probably isn't in the cards for the Irish in 2011.
South Florida, on the other hand, has a much easier schedule moving forward, and this win could push them into top 25 contention. If it doesn't get them into the rankings next week, they should be 4-0 and ranked heading into Pittsburgh on Sept. 29.
Will Notre Dame Come Back?
Yes. The offense showed on the first drive that they are capable of making plays. They just became shell-shocked after the fumble return and need a pep talk from coach Kelly to get them back on track for the second half.
While it will probably take until deep in the fourth quarter before the win is secured, the Fighting Irish are the more talented team and will find a way to pull this game out at home. A close win still doesn't bode well moving forward, however.
Who Benefits Most from Notre Dame’s Collapse?
If the Irish are unable to make a comeback, teams just outside the top 25, such as the Texas Longhorns, Penn State Nittany Lions and Arizona State Sun Devils, will benefit the most. There will be an opening within the rankings and one of those three teams (likely Texas) will fill it.
Since Notre Dame remains an independent in football, there are no conference foes that can benefit from their downfall. The loss, however, would be bad news for the other teams on the Irish's schedule, since a victory over them would now be much less helpful.
