ESPN College Football

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Tyler Eifert will find himself being covered by Joe Holland throughout this Saturday, and confusion will run through the families of each.

The son of a Purdue basketball player will be starring at tight end for Notre Dame, covered by a Purdue linebacker whose parents and grandfather graduated from Notre Dame.

Yet nostalgia will go out the door for Eifert when he takes the field of Ross-Ade Stadium, a place he grew up watching games in.

"When it all comes down to it, it's just a football field like anywhere else," Eifert said, "and that's how you have to approach it."

Still, some memories stick out more than others, particularly the Boilermakers' upset over Ohio State 11 years ago, a comeback keyed by Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees.

And, of course, there were a handful of the previous 83 meetings between the Fighting Irish and the Boilermakers that Eifert had a great view of.

"Notre Dame usually won," he recalled, "and that was annoying."

Eifert, whose father Greg played basketball at Purdue two decades ago, is hoping to annoy Purdue fans in similar fashion. Coming off game-highs of eight catches and 75 yards Saturday at Pitt, the junior from Fort Wayne finds himself second in the nation in catches (20) and receiving yards (244) among tight ends.

Eifert was thrust into the spotlight a year early, starting Notre Dame's final seven games last season after current Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph's year ended because of a right hamstring injury.

Tight ends coach Mike Denbrock called the situation a "baptism by fire."

"Compared to where he was a year ago at this time, he's light years ahead," Denbrock said. "We're not afraid to match him up physically, one-on-one with a defensive end, a linebacker or whatever. He does a nice job with that. It's kind of just the consistency that we're looking for where it's every single play you can lean on him if you need to. And he's getting the job done"

Eifert is already closing in on last year's totals of 27 catches and 352 yards, and he has turned into one of Tommy Rees' favorite targets. Only Michael Floyd has more receptions and receiving yards for the Irish.

Rees found Eifert four times during the Irish's go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter Saturday, including for a 6-yard touchdown pass and ensuing two-point conversion.

Two years ago, Rudolph made a game-winning touchdown catch in West Lafayette, propelling the Irish to a 24-21 win in primetime.

Eifert didn't play in that contest as a freshman, but he was there, happy for once to see Notre Dame walk out of Purdue with a victory.

"I remember I got to travel down to the last one my freshman year," he recalled, "and it was pretty rowdy, the night game. So that'll be a fun atmosphere and it'll be a good game."

Notre Dame junior tight end Kyle Rudolph has decided to head to the NFL, and teammate Michael Floyd will likely be next.

Rudolph had a more interesting call here. He missed almost all of the 2010 season with a hamstring injury, a year after missing time with a separated shoulder. Those health issues might have raised some red flags with pro scouts, and Rudolph might have wanted to come back strong for his senior season. But he also had to weigh the possibility of getting hurt again and killing his draft stock.

He, like Floyd, got an evaluation from the NFL draft advisory board and was projected as a late first- or early second-round pick. Most analysts call Rudolph the top tight end prospect in this draft. So even with the looming threat of a lockout, Rudolph made the right decision.

"I came to Notre Dame with the intention of helping to return the program to the BCS and get us back to where we belong," Rudolph said in an official statement. "There are still many things I would have liked to accomplish, but I felt this decision was best for my family and myself."

Rudolph was a major force in the passing game when healthy and would have helped next year's Irish greatly. However, the emergence of Tyler Eifert at tight end means that Notre Dame can still get high production from the tight end spot.

"Kyle Rudolph has a very bright future ahead of him and he will instantly make some lucky NFL team much better next year," Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said in a statement. "I know this was a tough decision for Kyle because of the great relationships he formed at Notre Dame and he will be missed in the locker room next year. But we are happy for him and his family and are excited to watch him represent the University of Notre Dame during this next chapter of his life.

"Kyle is a terrific talent and I enjoyed coaching him this year. He made some incredible plays for a guy his size. Who will ever forget that 95-yard touchdown play against Michigan? When I recruited Kyle as a high school senior in Cincinnati, I knew he was a special player, but over the last year I witnessed what a great person he is, too. I look forward to seeing him around campus in the future and watching him on TV from my office on Sunday afternoons."

Now it is up to Michael Floyd to make his decision. The receiver spot is more loaded in this draft, and Floyd probably won't be a first-round pick. But he has proved just about everything he can at the college level and must also weight the threat of injury, as well as the lockout situation.

I would expect Floyd to go, and for Notre Dame to be searching for new playmakers in the passing game this spring.

Notre Dame football always seems to lend itself to the what-if game.

What if Dayne Crist doesn't get hurt in the first half against Michigan? What if "Little Giants," Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio's bold fake field goal play in overtime, doesn't succeed? What if Brian Kelly simply played for the field goal at the end against Tulsa?

This Irish team could have won 10 games instead of seven had those things gone the other way. But this season also lends itself to the how-about game.

How about that November, when Notre Dame smoked Utah and Army before gaining a long-awaited win at USC in the finale? How about that defense, which gave up just two touchdowns in the final four games and shockingly developed into a force? How about Tommy Rees going 3-0 at quarterback as a true freshman, or the other many fill-ins who played above expectations after a rash of injuries?

Ten wins? Heck, this team could also have four wins. Few predicted a fantastic finish after the Navy and Tulsa losses and the emotional drain of the Declan Sullivan tragedy. The season looked to be spiraling away.

But all Kelly's talk about returning to the spirit of the Fighting Irish proved not to be just bluster. This team really did show a fight and a toughness when things were at their lowest point. Instead of wondering what could have been, marvel at what was and what might be in the future.

Offensive MVP: Michael Floyd

In a year where injuries struck at quarterback, running back, tight end and slot receiver, Floyd was a relative constant while missing only one game. He had 73 catches for 916 yards and 10 touchdowns and was the team's most reliable big-play threat.

Defensive MVP: Manti Te'o

Nose tackle Ian Williams was having an MVP-type year before he got hurt. Te'o just tackled everything in sight, finishing with a whopping 127 tackles and getting better as the season wore on. Stardom has arrived for the sophomore.

Turning point: November. Back-to-back losses to Navy and Tulsa were demoralizing, the roster was ravaged by injury and Kelly was under fire for Sullivan's death. But as the calendar flipped, so did the Irish. They beat Utah 28-3, Army 27-3 and USC 20-16 in a fantastic final flourish.

What's next: One of the most anticipated bowl duels between 7-5 teams ever as the Irish take on Miami in the Hyundai Sun Bowl. Getting to a bowl game was important so Kelly could get the extra month of practice to install his system further. He'll try to replenish the roster in the trenches through recruiting after some high-profile decommitments this fall. Floyd and tight end Kyle Rudolph face decisions on whether to enter the NFL draft. There could be an interesting quarterback duel between Rees and Crist next year. Kelly's teams have traditionally taken off in his second year.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-5) vs. Miami Hurricanes (7-5)

Dec. 31, 2 p.m. ET (CBS)

Notre Dame take by Fighting Irish blogger Brian Bennett: At the end of October, it didn't look like Notre Dame would be playing in any bowl. The Irish stood 4-5 after dispiriting losses to Navy and Tulsa. But then came the November to remember.

Almost as if Brian Kelly flipped a switch, the team suddenly came together for one of its most encouraging stretches in years. After blowout wins over Utah and Army, Notre Dame went on the road and used a fourth-quarter comeback to finally slay USC after eight years of misery.

The winning streak was all the more remarkable given the slew of injuries that struck South Bend. Starting quarterback Dayne Crist, leading rusher Armando Allen, star tight end Kyle Rudolph and standout nose tackle Ian Williams were just a few of the walking wounded unavailable to play.

But Kelly stitched the leftover parts together, and true freshman quarterback Tommy Rees won all three of his starts. The defense shockingly turned into a force, going more than 12 quarters without allowing a touchdown.

So now there's newfound enthusiasm for these Irish, and a Hyundai Sun Bowl name-brand matchup with Miami serves as a nice reward. Given that the Hurricanes limped to the finish and fired their head coach, Notre Dame should have an excellent chance to make it a December to remember, too.

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Miami take by ACC blogger Heather Dinich: Expectations for Miami were soaring in Randy Shannon’s fourth season, but an inexplicable loss at Virginia and an overtime home loss to South Florida were too much for university officials to ignore. The Hurricanes’ season came unraveled in the season finale against the Bulls and the firing of Shannon followed hours later.

That didn’t deter Hyundai Sun Bowl officials from choosing Miami against Notre Dame in a series rich with tradition. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland has taken over as interim head coach and said the bowl practices will determine who his quarterback will be against the Irish. Both Jacory Harris, who played for the first time since suffering a concussion at Virginia on Oct. 30, and freshman Stephen Morris, threw interceptions against the Bulls. Miami finished 3-3 at home this year, its worst record since 1997, and that includes an embarrassing loss to rival Florida State. Miami’s strength has been its defense, as the Canes rank No. 2 nationally in pass defense, No. 6 in sacks and No. 1 in tackles for loss.

Stoutland said he has tried to convince his players that a bowl win is worth working for because it will give them positive momentum heading into the offseason regardless of who their next coach is.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- I'm pretty sure this is not a home game for Utah, but there's an awful lot of visiting red at Notre Dame Stadium. A steady rain is falling, too.

Senior walk-on Brian Costello will serve as the No. 3 Irish quarterback in case something happens to Tommy Rees and Nate Montana. Coach Brian Kelly wants to preserve freshman Andrew Hendrix's redshirt for now.

There's a lot of talent in sweatsuits for Notre Dame: Dayne Crist, Kyle Rudolph, Ian Williams, Armando Allen, Theo Riddick and T.J. Jones, to name a few. Kelly had hoped Jones would be available for this game, but instead the Irish will be without three of their top receivers against the Utes. Robby Toma was running with the first-string offense at slot receiver during warm-ups.

If Notre Dame wins this game, it will likely be with some help from some previously unsung heroes.

Brian Kelly has professed his admiration for former Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian and has even had the legend come by and speak to his current Irish players at practice.

Wonder if Kelly now has a newfound appreciation for what Parseghian managed to do under the Golden Dome? It's clear at this point that Kelly isn't going to replicate the first-year miracle that Parseghian performed, inheriting a 2-7 team and guiding it to a 9-1 record his debut season.

Kelly came to South Bend with glittering credentials, a record of winning everywhere and talk about returning the program back to its glory days sooner rather than later. But after eight games, there isn't a whole lot to differentiate him from Charlie Weis, as the Irish are 4-4 following another loss to Navy. Actually, that's not fair to Weis, because his teams never got completely smoked by Navy the way Kelly's squad did in a 35-17 humbling on Saturday.

It's telling that after the game, Kelly -- who often spoke in the preseason about his five-minute plan -- already was asking fans for patience.

"Right now the things that are taking place are behind closed doors, and you can't really see them unless you're with me every day," he said. "Now where does that show itself? Absolutely in Year 2 and Year 3 and Year 4 and 5 and 6."

There's little chance that Year 1 will be remembered as a smashing success. With games left against No. 8 Utah and at USC, the Irish could be staring at a 6-6 regular-season record for the third straight year. If they can beat Tulsa and Army and pull off an upset of either the Utes or Trojans, they could salvage a trip to the Champs Sports Bowl. Having to hope for a non-New Year's Day game is not exactly what Notre Dame fans had in mind when Kelly was hired.

The truth of the matter is, this was always going to be a rebuilding job. Though blessed with top-line talent like Michael Floyd, Kyle Rudolph and Manti Te'o, the Irish still don't have great depth or elite players on defense and in the trenches. Dayne Crist is a first-year starting quarterback adjusting to an entirely new offense. Injuries to Rudolph and Floyd have set the offense back.

None of that, though, should have mattered against Navy. Though the Midshipmen have plenty of BCS scalps on their wall, there was no excuse for Notre Dame to let fullback Alexander Teich run over them for 210 yards or to look so utterly unprepared. Kelly, to his credit, pinned the blame on himself and his coaching staff. And he knows that kind of effort can't be tolerated.

"Let's put it this way," he said. "If we play like we played defensively, there won't be a Year 5 or 6 for me."

Kelly says the things that encourage him include a trust that has developed between players and coaches, emerging leaders and the way players are conducting themselves. But fans can't see any of that, and so far it hasn't translated into better results than the recent past.

Kelly's history suggests he will get the program going again, and indeed, he still seems like the perfect man for the job. If a guy with his track record and blend of skills can't do it, then it's fair to ask who can. But the Irish will have to improve by miles, especially given the difficult schedules awaiting them in 2011 and especially in 2012.

There won't be any Parseghian-like quick fixes here. Perhaps fans should hope Kelly should follow another coaching legend's model. After all, Lou Holtz went 5-6 during his first year in South Bend.

Keep your Notre Dame questions coming. You can send them here.

Nate from Rockville, Md., writes: I have noticed this year that Brian Kelly gets quite upset at his offense. So my question is this, Does he have the talent around the ball on offense left over from the Weis era or is he got some major recruiting to do to get the Irish where he wants them?

Brian Bennett: As a guy who watched Kelly up close at Cincinnati for three years, I can tell you that's nothing new. Kelly is a perfectionist, especially when it comes to his quarterbacks and the offense. That won't change. The Irish have plenty of talent on offense, though Kelly would like to get more offensive linemen who fit his spread system.

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Chris C. from Little River S.C., writes: Who do you see as the next quarterback to follow Dayne Crist. Will Kelly utilize a player from the roster or is he eyeing one of his own as a new recruit?

Brian Bennett: Well, Crist has two more years after this one, so that's a long way down the road. I would expect Kelly will try to bring in a quarterback or two, at least, in the next couple of classes. He did mention this week that freshman Andrew Hendrix, who was running the Navy scout team, gets rid of the ball quicker than any quarterback he's ever had. That's a major attribute for Kelly's style, so I'd keep an eye on Hendrix.

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John S. from Monclova, Ohio, writes: With ND suffering such a rash of injuries at the WR positions, do you think we might see Deion Walker get some playing time?? He is a guy who came to ND with big fanfare and has totally disappeared. He has the physical look of a talented WR, but he is being passed by freshmen on the depth chart.

Brian Bennett: You're right in that Walker has been passed by. He wasn't mentioned this week as someone who could play a bigger role, and even Robby Toma has surpassed him.

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Brad D. from Cartersville, Ga., writes: Is there any chance for Rudolph to be redshirted due to injury?

Brian Bennett: No, Brad. Kyle Rudolph played in six games, which is way too many to qualify for a medical redshirt

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Don S. from Sugar Land, Texas, writes: Please explain why ND plays US Navy on foreign soil -- I don't get it. To me a very grandiose act typical of arrogance associated with ND which makes them one of the most hated teams in America.

Brian Bennett: Wow, Don, you seem like kind of a killjoy. The Irish in Ireland? Navy going overseas? That game seems like a whole lot of fun to me and will definitely be a great experience for the players.

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Blountco.bob from Warrior, Ala., writes: 1. Will Notre Dame go 7-5 or 6-6 ? 2. If Notre Dame goes 6-6 being a Big East bowl team would they go to the Pinstripe Bowl or could a place say like the Birmingham Bowl get the Irish if Georgia or Tennessee win 6 games?

Brian Bennett: Warrior is one of my all-time favorite city names. Anyway, let's clear up this bowl issue. The only Big East bowl spot that Notre Dame can take is the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando. If the Irish get to at least seven wins, they're a virtual lock for that game. They can only go to the Pinstripe Bowl if the Big 12 doesn't qualify enough teams, in which case the Irish would play a Big East opponent.

I have Notre Dame going 8-4 as I have since the preseason; if the Irish just beat Navy, Tulsa and Army they should make the Champs Sports game. A 6-6 record complicates things and means the Irish would have to scramble for a spot; unlike last year, I think going to a lesser bowl would be worth it this season for the extra practices.

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Thomas from St George, Utah writes: Do you really think that Notre Dame stands any sort of a chance against Utah? Utah's preparation and record vs top programs says they dont. I've got Utah by 17.

Brian Bennett: That game is still three weeks away, so making predictions now is silly. But I know this: the Utes are playing TCU the week before, and Notre Dame will have an extra week to prepare before getting Utah at home. Those conditions tell me that the Irish will be ready, and it should be a great game.

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Yvonne from Houston writes: My husband stated that Notre Dame football does not have a by week ever. Is this true?

Brian Bennett: Tell your husband he has to do the chores this week. The Irish are off after next weekend's Tulsa game.

What we learned from Notre Dame's 44-20 home win over Western Michigan on Saturday:

1. The Irish may have a killer instinct: Though not necessarily an assassin's mentality. After a subpar first half saw Notre Dame lead just 27-17, the Irish turned in a dominating third quarter on both sides of the ball to break Western Michigan's spirit. It was precisely the kind of effort lacking earlier this year when other, better opponents were on the ropes. It shouldn't have taken a halftime tongue-lashing to get Notre Dame going, but you can understand a lackadaisical attitude after six straight games against BCS competition.

2. Kyle Rudolph's loss might not be gigantic: Not if Tyler Eifert can play like he did Saturday. Replacing Rudolph in the starting lineup, Eifert had four catches for 72 yards and a 39-yard touchdown. Eifert isn't quite as good as Rudolph; few tight ends are. But he's talented in his own right and can help replace the lost production if he keeps this up.

3. Not much else: Michael Floyd had a huge day (nine catches, 157 yards, three touchdowns). Cierre Wood nearly ran for 100 yards in a nice second half as Armando Allen didn't play much. The Irish won their third straight. But the bottom line is that this was Western Michigan. Notre Dame should have had a big day against an overmatched MAC team. Next week's Navy game will provide more insight.

Welcome to another edition of the Irish mailbag. I doubt too many people are excited or nervous about the Western Michigan game, but there's always plenty to talk about. Keep sending in your questions here.

Cameron H from Erie, Pa., writes: With Kyle Rudolph's injury, will he return to for a senior year because of scouts questioning his durability?

Brian Bennett: It's an interesting question and one could that could go either way. As you say, Rudolph needs to prove he can stay healthy after also missing time last year with a shoulder injury. And if the recovery timetable holds at six months, that means he won't be able to work out for pro teams until April, or right before the draft.

On the other hand, does Rudolph want to risk coming back for his senior year and getting injured again? There aren't many great tight ends in this draft, either, so he may want to go ahead and go. Throw in the NFL lockout talk and it becomes a very complicated decision. If I had to guess, I say he comes back to school.

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Jadon O. from Canandaigua, N.Y., writes: Do you think that Rudolph going down could cause Brian Kelly to ask Dayne Crist to throw the ball vertically more down the field to playmakers like Michael Floyd considering Rudolph was a major underneath option?

Brian Bennett: Well, let's not forget that Rudolph could get vertical, too. Just because he was a tight end doesn't mean he couldn't stretch the field. I think if there's any adjustment, it will be that Kelly will use more five-wide receiver sets and feature the tight end less. I don't know how much he really trusts Tyler Eifert and Mike Ragone just yet.

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Michael from Lawrence, Kan., writes: What about Crist's accuracy? I've seen him miss on a lot of throws. Stats are stats, but they don't necessarily tell the whole story. It seems that many of the passes that his misses on, he misses by a lot (it's not as though it's in the receiver's hands and the receiver is dropping it). It doesn't seem like this has gotten a lot of attention, but it would seem to me that if some of those throws were a bit more on target, ND might have won a couple of those close games.

Brian Bennett: First, let's get the stats out there. Crist is completing 58.8 percent of his throws which is good but not great in Kelly's system. (By comparison, Tony Pike completed more than 62 percent last year for Kelly at Cincinnati.) He has been burned by some receiver drops, but he also has missed some open throws. I don't know that it's a major issue with his accuracy as much as him still learning the spread offense. The system demands that he make quick decisions and get rid of the ball fast, and when you're trying to do that and thinking too much, sometimes you can't put the ball where you want it.

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Joshua F. from Chicago writes: Can you comment on the emergence of Carlo Calabrese this season? I know he is playing alongside the much heralded Manti Te'o, but it seems to me that he can play just as well as him.

Brian Bennett: Calabrese has been one of the real finds of the season, and I don't know if the coaching staff knew what it had in him. He seems to be a guy who plays better when the lights are on, and he's a real hard-nosed, throwback type of player who I can see becoming a fan favorite. That other inside linebacker spot next to Te'o was a preseason question mark, but Calabrese has answered it emphatically.

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Ron from Youngstown, Ohio, writes: With a lighter portion of the schedule coming up, what record will Notre Dame end up with?

Brian Bennett: I said 8-4 before the year and am sticking with it. I think the Irish split the Utah and USC games and win all the others. Speaking of which ...

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Mike H. from Cincinnati writes: Do you think Utah or USC will be a bigger game for the Irish this year? Utah will be in the top ten, but USC is a big rival and the Irish haven't won in the past eight years.

Brian Bennett: The Utah game will be more difficult because the Utes are really good. But the USC game is bigger. Notre Dame needs to end that losing streak to the Trojans, and this looks like its best shot in a long time. To do that at the end of the season could give the Irish a lot of momentum to build on for 2011, too.

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Kathleen M. from Los Angeles writes: Please explain to me why avid, true devoted fans of Notre Dame can not be patient? Why is Notre Dame always thought to be the one team that can take the spotlight away from another team? Why can't Coach Kelly admit that this IS a transition year and be happy with its report? Think about it. New coach, new assistants, new quarterback, etc. 99% of the other colleges would say that this is a transition year. I truly believe that the current two wins over Pitt and Boston College have started the positive thoughts, vibes that is needed to really start this success. I don't believe that they will make a bowl game, however there has been more shocking moments then that with ND football lately.

Brian Bennett: I learned long ago not to try and explain why fans act or think the way they do. Fans are crazy; that's just part of it. And I mean all fans. You can't mention Don Denkinger's name around me or I become completely illogical and upset.

Anyway, I like that Kelly is saying this is not a transition year for two reasons. One, that's not his personality at all. He wants to win right away, and in his first year at Cincinnati he won 10 games. He also knows that Irish fans aren't too big on rebuilding. Secondly, if you announce it's a transition or rebuilding year, then you automatically lower expectations for the players. He's trying to instill a winning attitude.

And I disagree about the Irish not going to a bowl. I think 7-5 is a worst-case scenario at this point, and I believe they're all but locked into the Champs Sports Bowl. Unless Crist gets hurt or something.

Got questions about Notre Dame? Send them in here. Let's take a look at what to watch from the Irish in this Saturday's home game against Western Michigan:

1. Keeping the foot on the gas: Maintaining offensive momentum and playing a complete game remain issues for Notre Dame. Well, there's little excuse for the Fighting Irish not to step on the accelerator and floor it against an overmatched MAC team. This one shouldn't be in doubt for too long, and it would be great to see Notre Dame put the Broncos away early and maybe even get some valuable playing time for young players and backups late.

2. Next men in at tight end: The loss of Kyle Rudolph was a huge blow for the offense. How big will it be? We'll start to get an idea this week as Tyler Eifert and Mike Ragone step into much more prominent roles. Can either one of them come close to replacing the production of Rudolph? Or will Notre Dame simply have to adjust its offense and go with more four- and five-wide receiver sets?

3. Stopping the pass: One thing Western Michigan does well is pass the ball. Western Michigan is ranked 23rd in passing offense in the FBS, and the combination of quarterback Alex Carder and Jordan White is a dangerous one. The Irish have played decently in the secondary this year and are continuing to get healthier with Jamoris Slaughter and Darrin Walls, while Zeke Motta keeps learning on the job. If Notre Dame slows down the Western Michigan pass game, the game should be easily in hand.

The Notre Dame offense has gone in fits and starts this season. And now the Irish will be without one of their top playmakers for rest of the year.

Tight end Kyle Rudolph will undergo hamstring surgery later this week and will be out for as long as six months. Rudolph had, by coach Brian Kelly's estimation, been playing at only about 75 percent all season because of hamstring issues that began this summer. Yet he still managed 28 catches for 328 yards and three touchdowns through six games.

But against Pittsburgh, the muscle separated from the bone as Rudolph tried to play through the injury. Now Kelly has to look for other options

Starting out at No. 1 on the depth chart will be sophomore Tyler Eifert. The 6-foot-6, 242-pound Eifert missed most of last season with a back injury, and he sprained his shoulder a few weeks ago and was very limited in practice.

"He's going to have to tape an aspirin on that shoulder," Kelly joked. "Because he's going to play. We think he's able to play winning football for us or we wouldn't put him in there."

Backing up Eifert will be senior Mike Ragone, who had an interesting preseason. He was arrested and charged with marijuana possession in May. Then in preseason camp, he suffered a heat illness and didn't practice much. His rustiness showed on Saturday when he dropped a wide open pass that would have gone for a first down and sealed the game.

"He just needs more playing time in an offense that's obviously a bit different than what he's used to," Kelly said. "This is really just about getting him more and more reps."

Kelly said Eifert and Ragone would split reps since neither is in the physical shape to play an entire game. Sophomore Jake Golic will serve as the third-string tight end. True freshman Alex Welch was a well-regarded recruit, but Kelly said he probably won't burn Welch's redshirt this year.

While Kelly said he's "very confident" in all three tight ends, none offer the package of skills that Rudolph had. The 6-foot-6, 265-pounder is nimble and a great pass-catcher who could line up wide as a receiver in certain sets. Though Kelly runs a spread offense, he likes to keep the tight end in on most plays.

This injury does increase the likelihood that Rudolph will come back for his senior year rather than go the NFL draft a year early. Rudolph, who missed time last year with a shoulder injury, may need to prove to scouts that he can play a full year healthy.

Brian Kelly insists this is not a transition year for Notre Dame.

Kelly is installing a new system on both sides of the ball and hopefully a new mindset during his first year in South Bend. But he knows impatient Irish fans want him to win games, not talk about rebuilding.

Notre Dame has a record resembling that of a reclamation effort: 3-3. Yet there are positive signs if you look close enough.

The Irish are one crazy fake field goal play in overtime and one defensive stop away from possibly being 5-1. Of course, people are sick about hearing how close this program is from being better. What has improved is an overall mental toughness; Notre Dame isn't physically stout enough to hang with an imposing team like Stanford, but the Irish have dealt with adversity while making big plays on the road at Michigan State and holding Pittsburgh down defensively while clinging to a lead.

What still needs to come is an ability to step on an opponent's throat when the momentum is on their side. Dayne Crist needs to understand the complexities of the spread offense better so Kelly can let him and the offense loose to play at a higher tempo. Mistakes like careless turnovers in the red zone and drive-killing penalties have to end.

The good news for the Irish is they can work on these things while playing Western Michigan, Navy and Tulsa in the next three games. After that stretch, the record should look less like that of a team in transition.

Offensive MVP: Armando Allen, RB

While Crist has been inconsistent, Michael Floyd has had costly fumbles and Kyle Rudolph has played through an injured hamstring, Allen has been about as reliable a player as the Irish have. Notre Dame may never have a high-powered run game, but Allen runs hard every time and is on pace to approach a 900-yard season. Defenses can't just load up against the pass when Allen is in the game.

Defensive MVP: Manti Te'o, LB

Nose tackle Ian Williams and cornerback Darrin Walls have had strong seasons, but there's no doubt who the star is on the Irish defense. Te'o has taken well to the inside linebacker spot in Bob Diaco's 3-4 as just a true sophomore, leading the team with 69 tackles. He still makes the occasional mistake, but it's almost always out of aggression, and Te'o is the one guy who can totally blow up an opposing offense's best-laid plans.

What we learned from Notre Dame in the Irish's 23-17 home victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday:

1. Not 60-minute men: Notre Dame still isn't in a position where it can play a complete game and step on an opponent's throat. Saturday presented a great opportunity to do just that, but after taking a 20-3 lead early in the third quarter, the Irish let Pitt right back into the game. Head coach Brian Kelly says that's just what this team is right now until it develops a killer instinct and eliminates costly mistakes. Luckily for the Irish ...

2. It's time to make hay: After a three-game losing streak left Notre Dame at 1-3, the team rallied for two straight wins. And now, with Western Michigan, Navy and Tulsa coming up, the Irish have their best chance to get on a roll and pile up victories. If they take care of business in those games and beat Navy, they just have to split against Utah and USC in order to win eight games this year. Which would be a solid showing in Kelly's first year.

3. David Ruffer can't miss: The Irish kicker is now 16-for-16 on career field goals, a school record. He even nailed a 50-yarder with plenty of room to spare after the holder bobbled the snap. Ruffer deserves Lou Groza Award consideration, and he's quite a weapon for a team that so often finds itself in close games.

4. It might be time to rest Kyle Rudolph: A preseason hamstring injury is still slowing the Irish's All-American candidate at tight end, so much so that Rudolph couldn't play at the end of the game when Notre Dame just needed a first down or two to wrap things up. His absence was felt when Mike Ragone dropped a wide open pass. Kelly says Rudolph is maybe 75 percent, which still makes him better than most tight ends in the country. But his type of injury only heals with rest, and the Irish should be able to beat Western Michigan without him.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The pop group OK Go performed with the Notre Dame marching band at halftime of Saturday's game against Pittsburgh. They became famous for a video of their song "Here It Goes Again" in which they performed a choreographed dance on treadmills.

OK Go provides the perfect imagery for the Fighting Irish, who are on a seemingly continual loop. Every game, even victories like the 23-17 one over Pitt, are full of starts and stops, streaks and reversals.

The one constant is inconsistency. Against the Panthers, Notre Dame led 20-3 in the third quarter after one of its best offensive stretches of the season early on. Yet the game turned into a typical heart-stopper, with the defense having to twice stonewall Pitt in the final minutes to avoid another stupefying loss. Here it goes again, indeed.

"We are really good at stubbing our toe," head coach Brian Kelly said. "But that's us. So you're going to have to get used to it. I'm trying to get used to it or it's going to make me look really old, really quick."

Legions of little mistakes conspired to keep the Irish from running away with this one in the second half. Quarterback Dayne Crist looked as sharp as he had all year in completing 12 straight passes in the first half, leading a super-speed, no-huddle attack on a pair of touchdown marches.

But Crist, who has run hot and cold all year, was just 12-of-27 outside of that dandy dozen. The offense managed only 36 yards of offense in the third quarter and failed to score a touchdown in the second half. Crist missed a wide-open (though literally hamstrung by injury) Kyle Rudolph after a Pitt linebacker Greg Williams misplayed and then cramped up in coverage. Tight end Mike Ragone dropped a pass with nothing but green around him when a first down would have all but ended the game. Another potential clincher vanished when a long Michael Floyd touchdown was called back for an illegal pick on Theo Riddick.

All the errors are fixable, but the biggest issue -- still -- is a lack of killer instinct to put wobbly opponents away.

"That's something everyone is very cognizant of, and something we all want to achieve on offense," Crist said of landing a knockout blow. "It's just experience. And experience together."

The offense can look devastatingly effective at times, as it did in a 21-point first quarter last week at Boston College, and completely pedestrian in others. Kelly admits he is "micromanaging" Crist and the play calling right now while players figure everything out. That's one reason why the Irish used a lot of short passes and un-Kelly-esque clock-burning drives against Pitt.

"It's not a beauty contest yet for us," Kelly said. "It's certainly not that. But my job is to get Notre Dame to win football games, and we're starting to do that."

The Irish may seem like they're running in place with a 3-3 record, but simple survival in the opening six-game stretch was key. Things had a way of evening out; Michigan, Michigan State and Stanford were all a little feistier than most expected in the preseason, while Purdue, Boston College and Pittsburgh have all struggled more than predicted.

Notre Dame beat the teams it should have beaten, and now comes a welcome stretch of games with Western Michigan, Navy and Tulsa lined up. The Irish have a chance to get some momentum going before the Nov. 13 showdown at home against Utah.

"We feel like we're progressing in a positive way," Floyd said. "We're feeling good having these [last] two games under our belt as victories. We feel we can do anything right now."

Offensive hiccups aside, several positives came out of the Pitt win.

Special teams shined, as David Ruffer continued his record streak of perfection. He's now 16-for-16 on career field goals after drilling three more Saturday, including a no-doubt 50-yarder after a bobbled hold. The punt team pinned Pitt deep in its own territory repeatedly, most importantly on the final two possessions with the game on the line. The defense held the Panthers without a first down on those two tense drives. And the Irish did not commit a turnover.

"We did some good things today and some things we'd like to correct," Crist said. "But the best thing was, we got a win while doing it."

Kelly says Notre Dame can continue to win while learning on the fly, and the rest of the schedule surely helps in that regard. He said the team is developing a belief that it will win close games. He sees a time coming when everything starts to click and the treadmill dance stops.

"All things will be OK," he said, smiling.

And maybe that's when the Irish will really be on the go.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Greetings from Notre Dame Stadium, where the weather is postcard perfect: 80 degrees without a cloud in the sky.

This should be a good matchup between two teams who appear fairly even. I want to see if Pittsburgh's revamped offensive line can handle a step up in competition from last week's win over FIU. In particularly, I'm wondering if new starting right tackle Jordan Gibbs can stave off the pass rush from Kapron Lewis-Moore, Kerry Neal and perhaps Darius Fleming. I bet Notre Dame will test him early.

Obviously, Tino Sunseri has to play his best game of the year for Pitt to win. On the flip side, Dayne Crist needs to be more consistent for the Irish, and opportunities should be there for Theo Riddick and Kyle Rudolph against the Panthers linebackers.

For Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly, he needs to get the Irish over the hump against teams from his former league. The Big East has won four straight over the Irish, including Pitt twice, UConn last year and Syracuse two years ago.

Lots and lots of interesting battles today, and I haven't even gotten to the Dion Lewis/Ray Graham situation and Notre Dame's improved rush defense.