Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly is seen prior to an NCAA college football game against Duke in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

ORLANDO, Fla. — Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly gave many around the state of Iowa a good laugh on Friday when asked about his thoughts on playing Iowa State in the Camping World Bowl.

“I’d rather play Coe College,” Kelly said. “No disrespect to Coe. I’m going to get a ton of Coe grads that are going to beat me up on this one.

“My point being is Iowa State is not necessarily on the list of teams that you want to play for the first time. Look, as an independent, you’re going to go through the schedule and you’re going to play the teams across the country and in every conference.

“Next year, it’ll be even more of that as we continue to do that. But I think that’s the great thing of being an independent, you get an opportunity to play an Iowa State and get a chance to meet Matt (Campbell) and, you know, obviously, a great young coach that is doing incredible things.”

That was definitely meant as a compliment from Kelly, who led the Irish to the College Football Playoffs last year. Notre Dame enters the game on Saturday ranked 14th with a record of 10-2.

“Well, I think when you look at it offensively, the size of tight ends creates match-up problems,” Kelly said during the coaches press conference. “(Brock) Purdy as a quarterback is such a great competitor. You know, obviously the freshman running back has gotten better and better. I just think the balance on the offensive side of the ball, they have been able to score lots of points against really good football teams.

“And then defensively, they create problems because of the uniqueness of the scheme. You’re not really sure exactly what it is at times. And maybe that’s part of the whole thing, because they do such a really good job of, you know, creating a different look against different teams but a unique structure defensively.

“But I think what I think when you talk about Iowa State, it’s a team that plays hard for four quarters. And, you know, you can see some teams on film that, you know, in the second half, they start to wear down. This football team plays stronger in the second half.”

Purdy currently sits in elite company for the Cyclones (7-5). Along with Heisman finalist Jalen Hurts and Justin Fields, they are the only three quarterbacks in the nation to throw for 27 touchdowns and run for eight.

He has also broke or tied 18 school records.

“I think the ability to feature the tight ends within their offense, the running game, and a quarterback that just has a special ‘it’ to him,” Kelly said. “And I think that anytime you have a quarterback that obviously can see the field really well, has escapability, arm talent, they’re difficult to defend.”