It may not be the matchup between the highest ranked teams of college football’s opening week, but the Texas Longhorns traveling to Notre Dame certainly has the most historical significance.

The two national powers will meet under the lights in South Bend, Indiana on Saturday evening, and with a victory the Longhorns would tie the Fighting Irish for second on college football’s all-time wins list with 882.

It also will be a measuring stick for both No. 11 Notre Dame and Texas, a team trying to rebound from a 6-7 record in head coach Charlie Strong’s first season.

With that in mind, here’s a complete preview of the game:

Texas at No. 11 Notre Dame

When: 6:30 p.m.

Where: Notre Dame Stadium

Watch: NBC

2014 Records Texas (6-7), Notre Dame (8-5)

Odds: Notre Dame (-10)

Last Meeting: Notre Dame 27, Texas 24 on Sept. 21, 1996

All-time Series: Notre Dame leads the all-time series, 8-2

Texas’ defense vs. Notre Dame’s offense

Texas will look to replace two All-Americans and six starters on defense. But, at least at the beginning, all eyes will be on Notre Dame’s quarterback Malik Zaire.

Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire will make his second career start against Texas.

With one college start on his resume the junior quarterback is Notre Dame’s next great hope under center. He supplanted Everett Golson on the depth chart at the end of last season, and now the junior lefty is expected to lead Notre Dame’s charge to national resurgence.

In his one college start, against LSU in last season’s Music City Bowl, he earned MVP honors completing 12-of-15 passes 96 yards and a touchdown. Oh yeah, the fleet-footed QB also ran for 96 yards and a touchdowns.

That’s the conundrum Zaire presents, the Longhorns need to limit him as a passer while also containing him to the pocket.

“We just really work on our rush lanes and make sure he doesn't have a gap to run out the pocket,” Texas senior defensive end Shiro Davis said. “Don't try to do too much but make sure you do your job.”

It’s not just Zaire the Longhorns will have to contend with. The Fighting Irish return nine starters on offense, including their six top gainers in offensive yards from scrimmage last year and two potential first-round picks on the offensive line.

Texas finished 26th nationally last season in total defense, so on paper it has the ability to slow down a potentially potent Fighting Irish attack. The Longhorns did lose a lot from last year’s defense, but depth along the defensive line and a youth infusion at linebacker and in the secondary should help the team weather the losses.

It will be on Texas’ defensive line to keep containment on Zaire. Freshmen linebacker Malik Jefferson and freshman nickelback John Bonney will make their first career starts against the Irish in key spots, how they perform will go a long way in determining how Texas’ defense holds up.

Edge: Note Dame

Connor Williams will start for Texas as a true freshman at left tackle against Notre Dame.

Notre Dame’s defense vs. Texas’ offense

A young Notre Dame defense finished 73rd nationally in total defense, only slightly better than average. That should bode well of Texas’ chances. Only thing is, the Fighting Irish return 10 starters from that unit and have added a first-round talent, KeiVarae Russell at cornerback, off a year-long suspension for academic misconduct.

So yes, the Fighting Irish should be pretty good on defense.

But this matchup will come down to how Texas’ new-look attack preforms. The Longhorns have talked all their offensive shift with more tempo to go along with spread principles, and this will be the unit’s first real opportunity to display the changes.

“It's going to be fast,” senior running back Johnathan Gray said. “It's going to be fast and furious. Guys are going to be even more one-on-one battles skill guys wise, and everybody is going to be excited.”

Texas’ skill players are reasonably set. Quarterback and the offensive line are a different story, however.

Tyrone Swoopes will get the start under center for Texas, and the junior is attempting to rebound from a brutal end to his 2014 season – a two-game stretch that saw him toss five interceptions and Texas suffer two losses by a combined score of 78-17 to TCU and Arkansas. No matter how Swoopes plays, the plan is for the Longhorns to also roll in redshirt freshman Jerrod Heard for some snaps.

The battle in the trenches could be the real determining factor of the Longhorns’ offensive success. Notre Dame lacks depth on its defensive line because injuries and suspensions, and Texas’ offensive line could take advantage. The only issue is the Longhorns will start two true freshmen on a rebuilt unit working together for the first time.

How the offensive line gels and preforms early will determine the instant returns of Texas’ offensive shift.

Edge: Notre Dame

Texas Will Win If …

The Longhorns must win the turnover battle if they have any chance of beating Notre Dame. Too many times last season inopportune interceptions or fumbles cost the Longhorns. To beat a superior team on the road that can’t happen.

It also wouldn’t hurt if Texas could run the ball. In games when they break the 200-yard rushing barrier as a team, the Longhorns are 73-2 since 2000.

If Texas wins the turnover battle by at least two, finds a way to run the ball and scores first to build a little confidence, it can pull the upset.

Notre Dame Will Win If …

The Fighting Irish are the more experienced team and more team at this point. In order to win they need to take care of the ball and put a ton of pressure on Texas’ young offensive line.

If Notre Dame can rattle Texas early with a quick score and sustain a few long drives to tire the Longhorn defense – something that happened quite often last season – the Fighting Irish could pull away quite easily.

Prediction

In many ways this is statement game for both teams. For Texas, it’s an opportunity to prove that things really are changing on the Forty Acres and that 6-7 seasons are no longer acceptable. It’s the first chance for the new offense to show what it’s got, and it will be the first appearance for 20-plus freshman who’ve talked about their debut all summer. For Notre Dame, it’s more of a statement of arrival. No, beating Texas won’t be the win that shakes the college football world. But it sure would be a proclamation that a talented Fighting Irish team is ready to make a legitimate push for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

There’s plenty to prove in this game, but Notre Dame simply has the better opportunity to do. Sure, the Fighting Irish will have a new starter under center, but nearly everything else is the same for them. They’re experienced and hosting the Longhorns at one of the toughest places in college football. Texas, on the other hand, has 23 freshmen on its two-deep while trying to work a new offensive scheme in its first live action. It’s possible those two transitions – from high school to college and from slow to fast – will go smoothly, but it’s also unlikely.

Notre Dame simply has more experience, talent and fewer questions entering the game. Texas keeps it closer than expected, but the Fighting Irish will take a two-game lead on the Longhorns in college football’s all-time standings.

Notre Dame 27, Texas 14