It was just two seasons ago that sophomore Tyler Buchner started at quarterback for Notre Dame when the Irish took on Ohio State in the season-opener between two top-five teams. Buchner would start the next week against Marshall before getting hurt in that game and missing the rest of the regular season,

Both teams have plenty to play for as do multiple other teams across the country who have intriguing games during Week 9 of NCAA college Football. The staff here at Fighting Irish Wire of Geoffrey Clark, Tim Healey, and Michael Chen predict who wins the best games of the weekend.

For some – mostly Notre Dame fans – it’s a little weird to truly call the series a rivalry, because of the lopsided record that the Irish hold over the Midshipmen: 82-13-1. The game is still played every year largely because of its symbolism and the history between the two schools.