NOTRE DAME VS NORTHERN ILLINOIS PREVIEW | Final thoughts, observations and predictions

Notre Dame offensive lineman Tosh Baker has been ruled out for Saturday’s game against Northern Illinois, the program announced. He is dealing with a shoulder injury.

Baker is the only player on this week’s depth chart to miss the game. That means freshman Guerby Lambert could be the first offensive tackle off the bench for Notre Dame, as Blue and Gold’s Jack Soble noted.

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Baker was listed behind Anthonie Knapp at left tackle on the depth chart after last week’s season-opening victory against Texas A&M. They’re part of the plan to replace Charles Jagusah at the position after his season-ending injury suffered during training camp.

Notre Dame started the season strong with a big-time road win over Texas A&M. The Fighting Irish went into halftime tied with the Aggies 6-6. But Marcus Freeman’s group found its stride after the break, totaling 217 yards to eventually come away with the 23-13 victory.

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It was a signature win for Freeman, who’s starting his third season at the helm. In the eyes of Urban Meyer, the victory spoke to what he’s been building in South Bend and how he’s grown as a head coach since taking over after the 2021 season.

“That’s a different man right now than it was two or three years ago when he took over the job,” Meyer said on The Triple Option. “That was not fake. When you walk into A&M, there’s over 100,000 people there. That’s a real environment against a real team. You know where the players were looking at? … Him. You are the leader of the team. And he did not have that confident look that he has now.

“When you saw – I think they lost to Marshall or something like that several years ago. He’s got a real look. And you want to know something? They nutted up and they got it done in the fourth quarter. I can’t say enough about Marcus Freeman. That’s a real team – a very young team. Offensive line is very young.”