FOOTBALL: Notre Dame preview

At a Glance: Who: SDSU (0-1) at Notre Dame (0-0) What: Notre Dame opens their 2008 schedule against the Aztecs. Where: Notre Dame Stadium When: Saturday, Sept. 6, 3:30 p.m. ET TV: NBC-HD Radio: AM-600 KOGO (San Diego)

The Big Issue After a disappointing loss to Football Championship Subdivision Cal Poly last weekend, this Saturday's matchup against Notre Dame can't come soon enough for San Diego State.

The team was obviously hurt by the emotional defeat, but head coach Chuck Long believes his team won't have any trouble shaking it off for the nationally televised showdown with the Irish.

"This is a big game," Long said. "Going into a historic place - they should get up naturally for that."

SDSU will play Notre Dame for the first time in the two programs' histories, and Long is eager to make the trip to South Bend, Ind. "It's a very historic place with huge tradition," Long said. "We're excited about that."

Since 2003, the Aztecs have faced four teams from BCS conferences - Michigan, Ohio State (twice), and Wisconsin - and haven't won any of the four matches. And with Notre Dame's 99-15-5 record on opening day, SDSU might find it hard to break their losing streak.

The Key Matchups When the Aztec have the ball: SDSU will face a 3-4 defense for the first time this season, meaning a fourth Notre Dame pass rusher could come from any of the four linebacker spots in this weekend's showdown. After redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Lindley used his arm for a record-setting day against Cal Poly last weekend, completing 27-of-45 passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns, he will need to rely heavily on his pre-snap reads to avoid making any mistakes this weekend against the 3-4 defense.

Senior Irish inside linebacker Maurice Crum Jr., who was named to the '08 Nagurski Trophy and '08 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch Lists in the offseason, will be a Notre Dame linebacker hoping to create potential havoc for Lindley. Crum was one of the Irish's leading tacklers last season, recording 84 tackles with one sack and two interceptions.

When the Irish have the ball: Notre Dame's pro-style offense will be more of a traditional attack than the Cal Poly triple option offense the Aztecs faced a week ago. Sophomore quarterback Jimmy Clausen, touted as one of the best recruits in the nation last season, will try to take advantage of an SDSU defense that allowed more than 480 yards to Cal Poly last weekend. Clausen, whose injured elbow appears to be fully healthy this season, will attempt to improve upon a disappointing 2007 campaign that saw him complete just 56.3 percent of his passes for 1,254 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions.

The Aztecs' secondary, led by senior cornerback Vonnie Holmes, will be the ones in charge of stopping Clausen and the Irish wide receivers. Holmes recorded several pass breakups against Mustang All-American wideout Ramses Barden last weekend, and will need to do more of the same against Notre Dame on Saturday.

The Numbers Last Season - Notre Dame

• Record
  • 3-9
• Pass yards per game
  • 167
• Rush yards per game
  • 75.2
• Total yards per game
  • 242.2
• Pass yards against per game
  • 161.6
• Rush yards against per game
  • 195.4
• Total yards against per game
  • 357

Last Season - SDSU

• Record
  • 0-1
• Pass yards per game
  • 352
• Rush yards per game
  • 27
• Total yards per game
  • 379
• Pass yards against per game
  • 220
• Rush yards against per game
  • 263
• Total yards against per game
  • 483

Injury Report: Aztecs: Defensive Tackle Neil Spencer: Shoulder (Out) Left Tackle Mike Matamua: Foot (Out) Center Tommie Draheim: Shoulder (Out) Defensive End Tony DeMartinis: Knee (Out) Running back Attiyah Henderson: Hamstring (Questionable) Linebacker Luke Laolagi: Quadriceps (Probable) Defensive Tackle Jerome Long: Ankle (Probable) Defensive End Eric Ikonne: Ankle (Probable) Safety Corey Boudreaux: Head (Probable) Defensive Tackle Ryan Williams: Head (Probable)

Editor's note: Each week, The Daily Aztec will pick the winners of every Mountain West Conference game.

Saturday, September 6 San Diego State at Notre Dame, Air Force at Wyoming, BYU at Washington, Colorado State vs. Sacramento State, New Mexico vs. Texas A&M, TCU vs. Stephen F. Austin, UNLV at Utah

Name: Edward Lewis (5-3) Title: Sports Editor Prediction: Notre Dame, Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, Texas A&M, TCU, Utah Quotable: "I want to tell Pope how excited I am to go to Notre Dame this weekend, but I want him to ask first."

Name: David Pope (5-3) Title: Assistant Sports Editor Prediction: Notre Dame, Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, Texas A&M, TCU, Utah Quotable: "While Glenn, Edward and Eric are in South Bend this weekend, I'll be at home torturing them via voodoo dolls."

Name: Eric Shannon (4-4) Title: Managing Editor Prediction: Notre Dame, Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, Texas A&M, TCU, Utah Quotable: "Aw, Devin never got to go to South Bend, did he"

Name: Glenn Connelly (6-2) Title: Assistant Photo Editor Prediction: Notre Dame, Air Force, BYU, Sacramento State, Texas A&M, TCU, Utah Quotable: "Whatever, I'll still be at Notre Dame."

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