Clemson isn't intimidated by Notre Dame's history

After beginning 2015 with Wofford, App State and Louisville, No. 6 Notre Dame is a big step up in competition for No. 12 Clemson, which hosts the Fighting Irish on Saturday at 8 p.m.

However, it isn't necessarily a new type of measuring stick for the Tigers, even though Notre Dame boasts college football's all-time highest winning percentage (.733) and 11 consensus national titles. But over the last 10 seasons the Irish have won 65 percent of its games.

"I have much respect for Notre Dame and their program and their history and what they've been doing so far, but a name doesn't really bother me or this Clemson team," Clemson QB Deshaun Watson said. "It doesn't matter who we play. It's how we play. That's our mentality. If we play to our standard, we'll be fine."

Clemson is 9-4 the last five years against the top 20 winningest schools in the sport's history; several players on this year's squad accomplished three of those wins. Clemson has beaten LSU, Ohio State and Oklahoma in bowl games the last three seasons, so even though Notre Dame represents a great deal of history, the Tigers say they won't be intimidated by the name on the jersey.

"We've played big name opponents and it really hasn't affected us at all," linebacker Ben Boulware, a T.L. Hanna product, said. "I don't think just the name Notre Dame is going to affect us. We're still going to go out there and prepare every week like we have the last three games."

The two teams haven't met since 1979, and the only other showdown was a memorable 1977 contest Notre Dame won on its way to a national championship. Beating the Irish this season would make Clemson one of five programs to own a winning record against Notre Dame, with a minimum of three games.

"It would be real big for the program and the people that support us," Watson said.

A friendly matchup for Watson

Watson said Monday he is good friends with Notre Dame starting QB DeShone Kizer, who's filling in for the injured Malik Zaire, another friend of Watson. Kizer, a Toledo, Ohio, native, and Watson, who hails from Gainesville, Georgia, met at the Elite 11 camp and have kept up with each other ever since.

"We still communicate and talk and support each other and motivate each other to keep going," Watson said. "Keep doing what we're doing."

Watson is also familiar with Irish defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder, who worked with the Atlanta Falcons from 2007-11 while Watson helped out at the NFL team's training camps. Watson hung out with VanGorder's son, Montgomery VanGorder, a Notre Dame quarterback.

Who is No. 2?

Clemson co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach Tony Elliott said Monday that he'd like to use more of a running back committee, but when Wayne Gallman, who had 139 yards on 24 carries in the 20-17 win at Louisville, is running that well, the coaches will stick with him.

However, the next guy in could be changing. Elliott has opened up the competition for the No. 2 running back spot, which has been held by C.J. Davidson. Through three games, the D.W. Daniel product is second among RBs with 15 carries, but his 3.2 average is lowest among Clemson's rushers. Zac Brooks (8 carries, 53 yards), C.J. Fuller (11, 44) and Tyshon Dye (7, 24) could see more action moving forward.

Strong at home

Clemson owns a 41-6 home record under head coach Dabo Swinney, the highest winning percentage in the program's history. The Tigers have won 28 of their last 30 games and 11 consecutive contests at Memorial Stadium, which will be sold out for Saturday's top-15 showdown.

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 10:01 AM with the headline "Clemson isn't intimidated by Notre Dame's history."