WHAT TO KNOW

What’s at stake

This is an elimination game for the College Football Playoff with the loser having no chance of qualifying. The Fighting Irish are in better shape with a win because they have lost just once, to No. 1 Clemson. The Cardinal will likely need lots of help from the other conferences to get in with two losses.

Key matchup

Notre Dame LB Jaylon Smith vs. Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey. This game features perhaps the game’s top linebacker against the most versatile offensive threat. McCaffrey leads the nation in all-purpose yards and is second in rushing and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Smith might spend lots of time shadowing McCaffrey and might be athletic and powerful enough to do it.

Players to watch

Notre Dame: WR Will Fuller. Fuller has been one of the most productive receivers ever at Notre Dame. He is the fourth Irish player with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and ranks second all-time with 28 TD catches. Fuller is tied for seventh in the nation with 12 TD catches this season

Stanford: QB Kevin Hogan. Hogan will play the final home game of his stellar career. His 33 wins are the most all-time for a Stanford QB and he ranks second in completion percentage (65.7 percent), passing efficiency (151.5) and fourth in TD passes (67) and yards passing (8,749).

Facts & figures

The home team has won the past four meetings in the series. ... The Cardinal are seeking to beat the Irish four straight times away from Notre Dame Stadium. ... Stanford has scored at least 30 points in 10 straight games. The Irish have allowed that much just twice this season. ... Notre Dame had five turnovers last week against Boston College, the same amount as in the previous five games combined. ... The Irish have 11 TDs this year of at least 50 yards. ... Notre Dame QB DeShone Kizer needs one TD run to tie Tony Rice and Rick Mirer for the most ever in a season for an Irish QB with nine.

Betting line

Stanford by 4