clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

How Notre Dame Football’s 2022 Opponents Fared in Week One

While the Irish were facing top talent, many Notre Dame opponents were eating cupcakes.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 03 Louisville at Syracuse Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Here are how each of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s opponents fared in week one of the 2022 college football season:

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (1-0)

The second-ranked Buckeyes defeated the fifth-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 21-10, at Ohio Stadium Saturday.

MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD (1-0)

The Thundering Herd bulldozed the visiting Norfolk State Spartans, 55-3. Pro Football Focus gave the Herd a 73.3 grade overall, with high marks for pass blocking (88.9) and rush defense (89.1).

CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (1-0)

The Golden Bears handled the UC Davis Aggies, 34-13. PFF gave Cal a 77.9 overall grade for their win Saturday, with highest marks for pass coverage (85.5).

NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (2-0)

The Tar Heels outlasted the Appalachian State Mountaineers, 63-61. PFF awarded Mack Brown’s squad a 64.4 overall grade, giving kudos to pass offense (82.4).

BYU COUGARS (1-0)

The Cougars blew into South Florida and blew out the USF Bulls, 50-21. PFF was impressed with their performance, giving it an 82.8 overall grade and reserving the best marks for pass blocking (85.6) and overall offense (79.2).

STANFORD CARDINAL (1-0)

The Stanford Cardinal easily handled the FCS-level Colgate Raiders, 41-10. PFF gave David Shaw’s squad an 85.9 overall grade, singling out passing offense (91.6), pass blocking (86.9) and overall defense (81) as extraordinary.

UNLV REBELS (1-0)

The Rebels took care of visiting FCS Idaho State Bengals, 52-21. PFF liked UNLV’s overall offense (80.2) and rush defense (79.6).

SYRACUSE ORANGE (1-0)

The newly christened JMA Wireless Dome — nee Carrier — saw the Orange win emphatically over the Louisville Cardinals, 31-7. Syracuse received high PFF grades for passing offense (93.9) and an overall score of 75.7

CLEMSON TIGERS (0-0)

The Tigers are traveling to Atlanta for their ACC and season opener Monday night against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

NAVY MIDSHIPMEN (0-1)

The Midshipmen inexplicably lost to FCS-level Delaware Blue Hens, 14-7. PFF graded their overall performance at 66.2, with the Mids rush defense earning highest marks (82.9).

BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES (0-1)

Upset! The Eagles hosted the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Chestnut Hill, but had their season-opening party spoiled in a 22-21 loss. PFF said Boston College’s overall grade was 67.7, citing its tackling (91.4) as the overall best element.

USC TROJANS (1-0)

Fireworks! The Trojans lit up the visiting Rice Owls, 66-14, with PFF awarding them a 85.1 overall grade. USC earned top marks for passing offense (90.5), pass blocking (94.4), overall defense (85.5) and coverage (87.8).