Stanford isn’t the only team hoping its offensive line starts creating creases for running back Bryce Love in a big way at Notre Dame on Saturday night.

Washington, for one, hopes so, too. A win by No. 7 Stanford would help bolster the No. 11 Huskies’ strength-of-schedule rating.

Besides, after Washington’s loss to Auburn, USC’s loss to Texas and Arizona State’s loss to San Diego State, the Pac-12 could use a big nonconference win.

The Cardinal offensive line is in better health than it was when the team rushed for just 71 yards on 24 carries against Oregon last Saturday. Right tackle A.T. Hall should be ready for a full game after missing the first half in Eugene. Nate Herbig should be able to play the full game at his normal right guard spot after covering for Hall in the first half at Oregon. And Devery Hamilton is back to share the left guard job with Brandon Fanaika.

The team has yet to start the same line in successive games. That’s part of the reason — but not the only part — that the rushing results haven’t been pretty. Stanford has rushed for only three touchdowns. It is averaging 104.3 yards a game on the ground. Last year, it averaged nearly twice as many (202.6).

Game info Who: No. 7 Stanford (4-0) at No. 8 Notre Dame (4-0) When: 4:30 p.m. Saturday TV/Radio:Channel: 11Channel: 3Channel: 8/1050 No. 7 Stanford (4-0) at No. 8 Notre Dame (4-0) When: 4:30 p.m. SaturdayWhere: South Bend, Ind. TV/Radio:Channel: 11Channel: 3Channel: 8/1050 Story lines: Each team badly needs a win over a strong opponent to bolster its credentials for the postseason. Stanford would love to get its ground game back on track as it pursues its fourth straight win over Notre Dame and its eighth in the past 10 years. The Irish are banking on a QB, Ian Book, making just the third start of his career. Injuries: Stanford — S Ben Edwards (undisclosed), LB Casey Toohill (arm), OL Foster Sarell (leg), WR Connor Wedington (und.) and LB Curtis Robinson (und.) are out. Notre Dame — LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (foot), DL Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (foot) and CB Shaun Crawford (knee) are out. TE Cole Kmet (ankle) is probable. WHAT TO WATCH FOR Stanford cornerback Paulson Adebo, a redshirt freshman, ranks No. 1 in the country in pass breakups with 11. He also has 22 tackles, tied for third on the team. Notre Dame, like Stanford, has tall receivers, like 6-foot-4 Mile s Boykin, 6-4 Chase C l aypool and a posse of fine tight ends. Book has an accurate arm but hasn’t thrown really deep. Look for the Cardinal to test him in that respect. Jafar Armstrong and Tony Jones Jr. are the most accomplished running backs for the Irish. However, Dexter Williams returns from a four-game school suspension. He was their most highly recruited back and is their fastest. — Tom FitzGerald

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“We still have some inconsistency up front,” head coach David Shaw said. “We talked (Monday) about individual accountability.”

He said the break-in period for first-year O-line coach Kevin Carberry can’t be used as an excuse. Nor can the exotic defenses that some teams have used to contain Love.

“It’s about taking the proper footwork, the proper targets,” Shaw said. “Once you’re blocking the guy, he’s got to stay blocked. These guys are not blocking dummies. They’re going to fight to get off. ... We still have one of the most explosive backs in America, and he’s only gotten a couple legitimate shots to make plays. That has to increase.”

Love is averaging 4.3 yards per carry, a far cry from the 8.1-yard average he posted last year or his career mark of 7.3.

“The guy still makes a couple of runs a game that make defenses nervous, which is why they start blitzing and loading the box, and that gives our big (receivers) outside one-on-one coverage,” Shaw said.

Love made his first career start at Notre Dame two years ago in place of an injured Christian McCaffrey and rushed for 129 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown to seal a 17-10 win. In two games against the Irish, he has run for 254 yards (5.9 yards per rush).

Center Jesse Burkett points to another reason for the sputtering ground game.

“We’ve had a lot of penalties,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve had a game without a holding call yet. That’s especially frustrating for us. False starts have to be eliminated. Penalties are absolutely a momentum killer and a drive killer.”

No. 8 Notre Dame gave up 259 yards rushing to Wake Forest last Saturday, so maybe that’s a hopeful sign for the Cardinal. But Shaw said the Irish front seven are “scary-big, physical, long.” Senior Jerry Tillery is a forceful presence at defensive tackle, and the leading tacklers are weakside linebacker Drue Tranquill, middle linebacker Te’von Coney and free safety Alohi Gilman, a transfer from Navy.

“This is probably the best pass rush we’ve seen this year,” offensive coordinator Tavita Pritchard said.

Another area that needs improving besides the run-blocking is the blocking on kickoff returns. Through last Saturday’s games, Stanford ranked next to last in the Pac-12 with a 15.4-yard average, a year after leading the conference with a 25.1 average.

“The issue we have is missing blocks,” Shaw said. The main return man, Cameron Scarlett, “is in the best shape of his life. ... He hasn’t gotten a chance this year.”

Briefly: Stanford’s defense has allowed only 13.5 points per game, tied for 10th best nationally. … The Cardinal have gained a league-best nine turnovers (four fumbles, five interceptions). ... Notre Dame averages 31.5 points a game and has lost just one fumble this season.

Tom FitzGerald is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tfitzgerald@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @tomgfitzgerald