#Notre Dame out to silence Clemson, Trevor Lawrence chatter

The oddsmakers aren’t sold. Neither are most experts.

Notre Dame’s Nov. 7, double-overtime victory over Clemson may as well come with an asterisk entitled NL — No Lawrence.

That’s Lawrence, as in Trevor Lawrence — the projected top pick in the NFL draft, the quarterback scouts think is the best prospect at his position since Andrew Luck and the supposed salvation for the Jets — who didn’t play in the classic first meeting between the two.

Now that the junior will be under center in Saturday’s ACC championship game, third-ranked Clemson is a hefty 10.5-point favorite.

“This game would just be the same thing,” Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book said this week. “People are probably saying a lot of things about their players being gone and now they’re back. ‘There’s no way [we can beat them].’ ”

It’s not just Lawrence’s presence that makes the rematch feel different. The Tigers’ defense, which was shredded for 518 total yards in the first encounter, will have starters James Skalski, Tyler Davis and Mike Jones Jr. back.

Clemson needs the game to reach the College Football Playoff for the sixth straight year, while No. 2 Notre Dame (10-0) likely would get in even with a loss, assuming it isn’t too one-sided. If the Fighting Irish pull off the upset, there would be a free-for-all for the fourth spot, including Texas A&M, Cincinnati and the Big 12 champion, among others.

The first meeting was a thriller despite Lawrence’s absence, a see-saw affair in which Notre Dame built a 13-point advantage and true freshman quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei led Clemson (9-1) into the lead late, beforethe Irish prevailed in two overtimes after a late rally.

“I won’t forget walking off the field and all the students storm onto the field,” said Lawrence, who was unable to play due to a positive COVID-19 test, but was on the sideline. “It wasn’t a good feeling, so we kind of have that picture locked in our brain.”

Since that loss, Clemson dominated Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech by a combined 97-27 with Lawrence back at quarterback. Aside from the Notre Dame game, the Tigers have won eight of their nine victories by at least 18 points.

Notre Dame has only picked up momentum since the win over Clemson, defeating Boston College, North Carolina and Syracuse by at least two touchdowns apiece. Book set a career-best with eight rushing touchdowns and has been intercepted just twice all year. He was particularly impressive in the win over Clemson, producing 377 yards of offense and forcing overtime by driving Notre Dame 91 yards in eight plays in the final minute of regulation.

“He’s a special player,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “This kid is a great player. I hate to compare him to Joe Montana, but Joe Montana played at Notre Dame, and he just has a little bit of magic to him.”

Lawrence will still be the best player on the field, a likely Heisman Trophy finalist despite missing two games. He has produced 26 touchdowns, completed 69.2 percent of his passes, and has been intercepted just three times this year. He has lost just one college game in which he started — last year’s championship game. That is why the experts expect a Clemson victory. The Tigers are healthy, rested and will have No. 16 at quarterback.

But Book and Notre Dame don’t sound intimidated. If anything, they are motivated.

“I’m excited that all those guys are back,” Book told ESPN, “and we can play them and have all those people be quiet once the game’s over and we get this win.”