College Sports

College football preview: Air Force at Notre Dame

Posted October 07, 2011 12:00 am

Mike McGraw

Air Force (3-1) at Notre Dame (3-2)

When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium

TV: Channel 5

Radio: WLS 890-AM

Series: Notre Dame leads 22-6; Air Force won the last meeting 41-24 in 2007.

Coaches: Troy Calhoun (37-19, fifth year at Air Force); Brian Kelly (11-7, 2nd year at ND).

Players to watch: Notre Dame junior RB Cierre Wood rushed for a career-high 191 yards on 20 carries at Purdue, the highest total for an Irish player since 2003. ... Air Force LB Brady Amack recorded 23 tackles in last week's 35-34 overtime win at Navy.

The skinny: The most glaring clash in this one is the ground game. Air Force ranks third nationally with 364.5 rushing yards per game, while Notre Dame's defense allows just 91.2 yards. At the same time, Falcons QB Tim Jefferson, a fourth-year starter, has hit 20-of-23 passes for 314 yards in the last two games.

Fast fact: The Irish went turnover-free last week against Purdue after piling up 15 in the first four games.

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