The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and Ohio State Buckeyes open the 2022 season at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Sept. 3. The Buckeyes enter the season ranked No. 2 in both the AP Top 25 and AFCA Coaches Poll. Notre Dame is fifth in both polls.
Notre Dame (11-2 in 2021) is in its first regular season under head coach Marcus Freeman. Freeman took over as head coach for'the Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma State after Brian Kelly left for LSU. Notre Dame's defense is expected to be stout with its former defensive coordinator now at the top and Al Golden returning to college coaching after six NFL seasons to assume Freeman's previous role.
Sophomore quarterback Tyler Buchner was named the Notre Dame starter Saturday. The bad news for Buchner is he lost a top target for the season when starting slot receiver Avery Davis tore the ACL in his right knee during practice Friday. The loss of Davis leaves Braden Lenzy as the only wideout with starting experience. Buchner will have a big target to look for though in third-year tight end Michael Mayer who caught 71 passes for 840 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago.