Nov. 28--TV/radio: 6:30 p.m. Saturday; FOX-32, WLS-AM 890.
Line: Stanford by 3.
Records: Notre Dame 10-1; Stanford 9-2.
Last meeting: Notre Dame won 17-14 on Sept. 4, 2014, in South Bend, Ind.
On the offensive: The Irish can move the ball (465.9 ypg, 29th in the nation), but they have to get in the end zone for that to matter. Three turnovers in the red zone against Boston College last week didn't help. Freshman RB Josh Adams will get a bulk of the carries with C.J. Prosise likely out. DeShone Kizer likely will have more time than usual to throw because Stanford (23 sacks, T-62nd) hasn't put much pressure on quarterbacks.
Getting defensive: The Irish are tied for 107th nationally with 12 runs allowed of 30 yards or more. Jaylon Smith (team-high 98 tackles, eight for a loss), Sheldon Day (team-best 14 1/2 TFLs) and Romeo Okwara (12 1/2 TFLs, nine sacks) will be counted on to slow Stanford's running game (228.3 ypg, 15th).
The number: 11. Runs of at least 30 yards by Stanford, tied for 18th nationally.
The talk: This is do-or-die -- or do-and-maybe-die-anyway -- as far as the Irish's playoff hopes are concerned. Can their struggling run defense contain Heisman Trophy candidate Christian McCaffrey?
Paul Skrbina's pick: The Irish defense has been susceptible to big plays, and the Cardinal are more than capable of them. Stanford 38, Notre Dame 34.
