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Clemson Football: 5 reasons Tigers could embarrass Notre Dame

By Andrew Boardwine

Oct 24, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; A Notre Dame Fighting Irish branded Wilson football on the sidelines before the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field. Notre Dame won 45-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; A Notre Dame Fighting Irish branded Wilson football on the sidelines before the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field. Notre Dame won 45-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Notre Dame, Clemson football opponent
Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Ian Book (12) Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

2. All the pressure is on Notre Dame

Let’s also not forget that there’s an added amount of pressure on Notre Dame to win this game that doesn’t necessarily rest on Clemson football.

Of course the Tigers want to win, but even if they lose, they’re not out of the CFB Playoff race by any stretch. The playoff committee will basically give Clemson a mulligan with Trevor Lawrence out assuming the Tigers come back and win the rest of their games, including a rematch against Notre Dame in the ACC Championship.

On the other side, though, the Fighting Irish have all kinds of pressure to win this game. If they can’t beat Clemson at home with no Lawrence, how are they ever expected to beat the Tigers in a rematch on a neutral field with Lawrence?

Notre Dame has to win this game to prove it is a legitimate contender, whereas Clemson is kind of playing with house money. That pressure could cause some uncharacteristic mistakes of the Irish.

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