Notre Dame faces LSU in matchup of running teams

By AP
Published

Citrus Bowl: Notre Dame (9-3) vs. LSU (9-3) at Orlando, Fla., Monday, 1 p.m. ET (ABC)

Line: LSU by 3.

Series Record: Notre Dame leads 6-5.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

The teams meet in a bowl game for the second time in four seasons. The Fighting Irish are looking for their third double-digit wins season in Brian Kelly's eight seasons. The Tigers have won eight games or more for 18 straight seasons, which is the longest active streak for a Power Five team. They have won their last three games by 20 or more points, which is the first time that has happened since 1949.

KEY MATCHUP

Notre Dame OL Mike McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson vs. LSU LB Devin White. Left tackle McGlinchey and left guard Nelson were first-team AP All-American selections while rating as Pro Football Focus' top two nationally in run blocking. White led the Southeastern Conference in tackles with 127, along with posting 12.5 tackles for loss.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Notre Dame: RB Josh Adams is 13th nationally in rushing yards with 1,386 and is averaging 7.3 yards per carry. The junior has seven 100-yard games, including two where he went over 200 yards.

LSU: RB Derrius Guice is the fifth player in school history to have more than 1,000 rushing yard and 10 rushing touchdowns in consecutive seasons. The junior has 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns.

FACTS & FIGURES

This is the fourth time the teams have met in a bowl game. LSU holds a 2-1 advantage but Notre Dame won the last meeting, in the 2014 Music City Bowl. ... Notre Dame had nine runs of at least 60 yards or more, which is tied with Arizona for the most in the FBS. ... Irish junior QB Brandon Wimbush has set the school's single-single record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 765. ... Notre Dame has a six-game losing streak in bowl games they have played in Florida. ... LSU is in the Citrus Bowl for the second straight season. The last team to make consecutive Citrus Bowl appearances was Nebraska, which lost in 2012 and '13. ... The Tigers have committed only eight turnovers, which is the lowest in the nation. ... LSU has held opponents to 11 points in the fourth quarter over the past seven games.

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