Speaking at media day Saturday in advance of the national title game, Pete Bevacqua, in his first year guiding the Notre Dame athletic department, called the premiere of the 12-team playoff “a wonderful success, but look at who you’re talking to.”

Notre Dame football will be without starting left tackle Anthonie Knapp in the National Championship game on Monday.

Notre Dame doesn’t look like an offensive powerhouse at first glance, as it averages just 75.2 ppg. However, that modest number is due in large part to a tepid pace of play that has the Irish looking to make more out of every possession rather than run and gun.