Second- ranked Irish face key ACC hurdle

Notre Dame’s schedule becomes easier after No. 19 North Carolina.

Second- ranked Notre Dame is moving closer to playing for its first conference championship and returning to the College Football Playoff. The next challenge is slowing No. 19 North Carolina’s high- scoring offense.

The Fighting Irish enter today’s game sitting alone atop the ACC standings after surrendering their long- cherished football independence for this season amid the coronavirus pandemic. And as it pursues a spot in the league championship game Dec. 19, Notre Dame ( 8- 0, 7- 0 ACC) sits at No. 2 in Tuesday night’s first set of CFP rankings.

The visit to the Tar Heels represents its last scheduled game against a ranked opponent as the league enters final weeks filled with a growing number of rescheduled dates.

“Certainly we want to take care of what’s in front of us, so what’s important for us is North Carolina,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said. “But we know what the schedule looks like.”

Notre Dame has its Nov. 7 win against No. 4 Clemson, which played without star quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The Fighting Irish host one- win Syracuse next weekend then visit Wake Forest on Dec. 12 in a game postponed from September due to coronavirus issues within the Notre Dame program.

The Tar Heels ( 6- 2, 6- 2) are trying to keep alive outside hopes of reaching the ACC title game with two losses. Their strength is a prolific Sam Howell- led offense ranking fourth in the Bowl Subdivision in total offense ( 563.4 yards) and 10th in scoring ( 43.1).

UNC coach Mack Brown said today is a chance to measure up with a national- title contender, saying: “In this game, the pressure’s really on Notre Dame.”

“It’s obvious we’ve made a lot of progress,” said Brown, in Year 2 of his second stint leading the Tar Heels. “Are we ready to beat the No. 2 team in the country? Who knows? But it’s a great a challenge for us.“

North Carolina could get a boost if center Brian Anderson, receiver Be au Corral es and cornerback Storm Duck return from lower- body injuries.

Anderson started the first seven games but missed t he Nov. 14 win against Wake Forest. Corrales has missed four straight games, and Duck has missed six in a row. All have practiced this week and are game- time decisions.

Notre Dame’s offensive line will have two new starters.

Sophomore center Zeke Correll will make his first start in place of Jarrett Patterson, who broke his foot against Boston College and had season- ending surgery last Friday.

That was the same day right guard Tommy Kraemer underwent an emergency appendectomy.

Senior Josh Lugg, a backup at right tackle to Robert Hainsey, takes over for Kraemer. He started games last season when Hainsey and Kraemer were injured.