Leftovers & Links: Special teams focus not only echo of 2020 Notre Dame-Clemson
The initial College Football Playoff rankings confirm the strength of the Irish schedule. Notre Dame faces three top-10 teams this season, including two on the road. The third is this weekend's game against No. 4 Clemson at 7:30 ET on NBC.
No. 4 Clemson is preparing for a game against Notre Dame. Cade Klubnik started for DJ Uiagalelei against Syracuse. He completed two of four passes for 19 yards and took five rushes for 26 yards. Will Shipley, a former Notre Notre Dame recruit, is the team's star player. Clemson and Notre dame are favored by 3.5 points each. The game is a grind of a contest.
Navy beat Temple 27-20 in overtime. The Midshipmen are 3-5 and head to Cincinnati as 19.5-point underdogs. Quarterback Tai Lavatai is out injured. Xavier Arline scored the game-winning touchdown in the overtime for Navy.
Boston College lost to Connecticut 13-3. The Eagles are 2-6 and are underdogs against Duke on Friday. The Blue Devils are favored by 10 points.
No. 9 USC beat Arizona 45-37. The Pac-12 has four teams in the top-14, three of them with only one loss. USC plays No. 10 UCLA on Nov. 19 at the Rose Bowl.
USC plays Cal (10:30 ET; ESPN) and is favored by more than three touchdowns.
No. 2 Ohio State is 8-0. The Buckeyes beat Penn State 44-31. Ohio is favored by 38 points at Northwestern this weekend.
Marshall lost 24-13 to Coastal Carolina. Marshall is 4-4 and trails Coastal by four games in the Sun Belt division. Old Dominion is favored to beat Marshall this weekend.
Cal lost 42-24 to Oregon.
No. 17 North Carolina is 7-1 and on a direct path to face Clemson in the ACC title game. The Tar Heels came back from an early deficit against Pittsburgh to win 42-24.
BYU's losing streak continues with a 27-24 loss to East Carolina. Boise State is favored by 7.5 against BYU.
Stanford lost 38-13 at UCLA. The Cardinal are 3-5 and play Washington State on Saturday at 3:30 pm.
UNLV is a 6.5-point underdog at San Diego State.
Syracuse is ranked, but on a two-game losing streak. The team's starting quarterback is injured. Pittsburgh is a 3.5-point favorite at 3:30 ET. Friday at 7 ET is Duke at Boston College (ESPN2). Saturday at 12 ET are No. 2 Ohio State at Northwestern (ABC), North Carolina at Virginia (ACCN), and Cal at No 9 USC (esp. tv).
Favorites are Clemson, USC, Ohio State, Marshall, North Carolina, Boston College, Navy, Cal, BYU, Boise State and Stanford are underdogs.
