NBC analyst and Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie talks Notre Dame’s playoff chances and Ohio State’s quarterback competition with The Post’s Justin Terranova.
Q: What are your expectations for Notre Dame?
A: You have to hope for the playoffs with the amount of talent on this team. Their offensive line is as big and strong as it’s ever been. They are pretty experienced across the board. They have talented receivers and backs. On defense, they have athletes like Jaylon Smith. Their schedule is tough and it will be difficult to run the table, but the pieces are there.
Q: What have you seen from quarterback Malik Zaire to make you think he’s good enough to lead them there?
A: There’s a borderline cockiness that’s a good thing, the team sees a lot of confidence in him. He’s a big-time runner with the football and is very polished with the zone read, as opposed to Everett Golson where they really had to work at it. For Zaire, it’s more natural. People are going to be pleasantly surprised at how he throws the football. The No. 1 point is that no stage is too big for him; he showed that against LSU last year in his very first start.
Q: Who do you think should win Ohio State’s quarterback competition — Cardale Jones or J.T. Barrett?
A: Jones went out in the three biggest games of the year and played lights out, and it was impressive. When he decides to take off and run with the football, he’s not looking to make people miss. He wants to run over them. He has a huge arm, and as long as he’s fine mentally — getting in and out of the huddle and making the correct reads, then Cardale Jones would be the guy.
Q: Can anyone beat them in the Big Ten?
A: The way Michigan State plays defense, they can slow them down enough where it won’t be a shootout. Their defensive backs — and this is thanks to the coaching staff — always seem to be the most physical. They’ll play man-to-man coverage where no else will.
Q: Who is your sleeper pick for the playoffs?
A: My sentimental choice is Oregon with quarterback Vernon Adams transferring over from a small school in Eastern Washington. I relate to that guy, the little guy that didn’t get the opportunity and all of a sudden he has a shot. With their offense, you never count Oregon out of it. He’s an athlete [who] can throw the ball very well. He has all those same kind of talents [as Marcus Mariota].