Notre Dame Football: What You Need To Know About The NC State Wolfpack

The college football season is rapidly approaching and we are just getting more and more impatient. So much so, that things slip through the cracks (this preview series for opponents of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, for example).

Instead of filling your head with too much information, we offer you these choice nuggets to contemplate. If you need an in-depth preview of the NC State Wolfpack, please check out Bill Connelly's excellent work.

NC State

I've always liked the Wolfpack. Something about them playing the role of spoiler has always been satisfying. Hell, I was in Raleigh in 2012 when they beat Florida State. They seemed fun. The reality is that they are anything but fun. Boring, and a bunch of damn killjoys who use ancient Sumerian sorcery to summon hurricanes from open waters. Bastards.

5 Things You Have To Know

1. More than any other game last season, this one probably left the worst taste in the mouth of Irish fans. It's not NC State's fault — it's Notre Dame's fault, but they can use that embarrassment as motivation this season.
2. The Wolfpack has an experienced offensive line, and a coach that like sto run the football. There is no more Matthew Dayes at running back this year, so they will look to fill that void with some type of combination of Nyheim Hines, Dakwa Nichols and Reggie Gallaspy II.
3. Quarterback Ryan Finley returns, and despite the questions surrounding the running game, he has a great target at H-Back in Jaylen Samuels. Besides Samuels, Finley has his other top three pass catchers back.
4. The best players on the NC State defense are all in the front seven. The best one is defensive end Bradley Chubb, who Notre Dame fans last saw kicking the crap out of the Irish. This will be the second tough Chubb that the Irish will face this year.
5. Dave Doeren outcoached Brian Kelly last year. He is 25-26 after 5 years at NC State.

Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Worst Case Scenario

Global Warming goes apeshit, and the first hurricane ever recorded on Lake Michigan has South Bend under a state of emergency — but they play the game anyway. Brian Kelly gets trigger-happy, and Brandon Wimbush throws the ball 38 times. Riots ensue.

Best Case Scenario

Weather aside, the Irish could be flying high after a win against Southern Cal and have an uncanny sense of determination. Perhaps there's a hint of destiny floating in the air.

Early Prediction

Notre Dame 34, NC State 20. The game is rather boring, and there are no bad snaps to be found. Wimbush exploits a weak secondary with multiple targets. Yep ... I'm still not convinced we run the ball against the Wolfpack.