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Notre Dame vs Texas recap: 3 things we learned

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 4, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns linebacker Malcolm Roach (32) celebrates during the third quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns linebacker Malcolm Roach (32) celebrates during the third quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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What three things did we learn from Texas’ huge win over No. 10 Notre Dame on Sunday night?

A rematch from last year’s 38-3 debacle in South Bend, No. 10 Notre Dame and the unranked Texas Longhorns battled it out in Austin for early-season bragging rights. The Longhorns, clearly improved from last season, gave Notre Dame all it could handle, taking a 31-14 lead in the third quarter before a strong comeback from the Irish.

Notre Dame ended up scoring two touchdowns after going down by 17 to come within three points and a game-tying field goal on the way with just under 30 seconds left in the third quarter. However, Texas came up with a huge block and the score remained 31-28 in the Longhorns’ favor.

Notre Dame took the lead in the fourth quarter, 35-31, with a beautiful throw from DeShone Kizer. Texas regained the lead with under five minutes left thanks to a tremendous second-effort run by D’Onta Foreman. However, that 37-35 lead didn’t last long as Notre Dame blocked the extra point and returned it for two points.

Related Story: 27 most shocking college football upsets ever

Overtime saw Tyrone Swoopes, a backup quarterback, score two touchdowns on the ground for Texas.

What did we learn from the big game on Sunday night between the two budding rivals?

1. DeShone Kizer is Notre Dame’s best option

The junior quarterback from Notre Dame looked as consistent as any gunslinger in recent Fighting Irish history. He can run, he can pass and he’s calm under pressure. Put this guy in a big-game situation and he does nothing but deliver.

Kizer was battling it out for the starting job with Malik Zaire, but after a six-touchdown performance, he deserves the No. 1 job, and expect Brian Kelly to give that to him. Well, not give it to him since he did earn it. The kid is a stud and will be a top 2017 NFL Draft prospect.

2. Shane Buechele is going to be special

How can you not love a true freshman starting his first collegiate team against the No. 10 team in the country and not looking rattled one bit? Buechele looked like a seasoned veteran out there and, for most of the game, matched Kizer tit for tat.

Even after throwing his first career interception in the third quarter, he got back in there and went at it like he had already deleted it from his memory. This kid is smart and wise beyond his years. He’s going to be a special quarterback for Texas for the next three or four years.

3. Texas is better than people think

Don’t knock the Longhorns. Texas is a team on the rise and no one gave it a chance to defeat No. 10 Notre Dame to start the season and the Longhorns raced out to a 17-point lead before the offense hit a wall. If Buechele keeps getting better, which he will, and Malik Jefferson and the Longhorns’ defense plays like it did in the first two-plus quarters, this team could record nine or 10 wins this season.

Highlights

https://twitter.com/RedditCFB/status/772639906627715072

Notre Dame will play Nevada next week at home while the Longhorns of Texas will be hosting UTEP. Both teams should have a nice confidence-booster in week two.

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