Last October, the season went sideways with a loss at Louisville. Notre Dame already had one loss (Ohio State) while the second that night ended whatever College Football Playoff hope remained. That loss that night meant it was just another season in South Bend.

Along comes Louisville again. Notre Dame again has one loss. If it can sidestep a second, maybe this season can be special. Maybe a College Football Playoff spot is possible.

Here are four players to watch as Notre Dame opens the Atlantic Coast Conference part of its 2024 schedule with a key home game against Louisville.

No. 17 LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (3-0)

WR Ja’Corey Brooks (1)

Remember the speed and athleticism and potential to bust a game open with so many playmaker types that we saw when Notre Dame opened at Texas A&M? We haven’t seen that level of athleticism since, except for in small doses, against the three Irish opponents that followed the Aggies.

We’re going to start seeing it now, even in the Atlantic Coast Conference, a league not known to cultivate elite athletes at every stop. Louisville has that in guys like Brooks, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound transfer from Alabama. That there should get the Irish attention.

A year ago, it was UL wideout Jamari Thrash (eight catches, 75 yards, one TD) who was a problem for Notre Dame. This year, follow Brooks, the team’s leading receiver (17 catches, 297 yards, 2 TDs), who has tallied 83, 89 and 125 receiving yards through three games.

Brooks leads the Cardinals in receiving yards per game (99.0) and all-purpose yards (297). There haven’t been many wideouts on the Irish schedule to date who are dangerous. This is one.

DL Tramel Logan (19)

There’s a tendency to tab all-ACC defensive end and future NFL pick Ashton Gillotte here (we did before last season’s game), but not now. Gillotte is a known menace off the edge. Game plan for the Cardinals, and you better account for Gillotte.

Pay some attention to Logan, a USF transfer who’s adjusted rather easily – and quickly – to the step up to ACC play. In Saturday’s home win over Georgia Tech, Logan tallied seven tackles and two tackles for loss. He was part of a Cardinal defense that held the Yellow Jackets to 2.6 yards per rush and two-for-nine on third down conversions.

He has 11 tackles, five TFLs, three sacks and a forced fumble the first three games.

At 6-4, 290, he’s not your typical D-line fire hydrant/plugger. The guy can move. He returned two fumbles last season for a school record 131 yards. Seriously. One went for 61 yards and a score. The other for 70 yards. Logan can get off the ball, get to the ball and make plays.

No. 14 NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (3-1)

LG Sam Pendleton (72)

Through three games, the redshirt freshman was reliably consistent while stepping into the starting left guard spot that he surprisingly won over veteran Pat Coogan during preseason camp. For someone who spent his first season of 2023 as the backup center, he was solid.

Then Saturday happened. The 6-4, 310-pounder was flagged for three penalties – two false starts and a holding call. After not rarely hearing his number the first three games, we heard it too often against Miami (Ohio).

With continued concerns (at least on the outside) about the Irish passing game and the accuracy of quarterback Riley Leonard, this is a good time for the offensive line to just grind down the other guys. Run Jeremiyah Love. Run Leonard. Run Jadarian Price. If someone needs a break, find someone else and keep running the ball. It can work.

Notre Dame has rushed for 278 and 270 yards in the last two games. Another number near those would be nice. Pendleton has too much potential – and pride – not to play better.

S Xavier Watts (0)

This one is simple. Big game. Big moment. Time for big players to make big plays at big moments. Enter Watts, the 2023 Nagurski national defensive player of the year.

Watts has had a solid start to 2024. One of five team captains, he has 15 tackles, four passes defended, one forced fumble and one interception. He’s quietly become a cornerstone of an Irish defense that ranks sixth in passing defense efficiency (79.13), 16^th in total defense (256.3) and 18^th in passing yards allowed (135.3). Louisville will have to take a few chances – and take some shots downfield – for success. That means opportunity for the Irish secondary.

It was right around this time last season – late September – when Watts went on his interception frenzy with six picks over the final eight games. This game could use a big play – a pick, a forced fumble, a fumble return – from the guy they call X.

Put this game on the shoulders of Watts and the Irish defense. They won’t shrink from that challenge.