NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Oh, for the good old days when it was as simple as traditional midwestern, corn-fed beef and brawn against the reliable white-lightning southern speed.

For most of the 10 previous meetings between LSU and Notre Dame, that was the story line.

But that, apparently, is not the matchup in today’s Music City Bowl when the No. 22 Tigers (8-4) take on the Irish (7-5).

LSU’s biggest concern is probably a quicksilver Notre Dame quarterback, whose identity was finally released only Monday.

To hear Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly tell it, his poor lads will be going up against double-wide bulldozers in purple and gold.

For that matter, isn’t Notre Dame supposed to be college football’s royalty?

So what was Kelly fretting about Monday when feigned horror in observing that “There’s nowhere to hide tomorrow. You’re not going to hide against LSU. This (game) is a great way to evaluate where you are.”

Both teams would like to be in the mix for this year’s first College Football Playoff.

But Notre Dame is the team that almost beat No. 3 Florida State. LSU is the one that had No. 1 Alabama on the ropes before losing in overtime.

So here they are in the Music City, trying to figure each other out.

It’s not a complete role-reversal.

LSU will never lack for speed, but has had chronic problems getting the ball into its outside play-makers’ hands, at least via the forward pass.

And Notre Dame doesn’t often get sand kicked in its face.

But the Tigers will likely call on their power running game with Leonard Fournette and the rest of a deep stable of running backs.

Notre Dame considers itself an up-tempo, spread team, and it got quicker still Monday when Kelly broke his silence to announce — right in front of Miles — that Malik Zaire will make his first college start at quarterback.

“I want to put Malik in a position and really challenge him,” Kelly said. “He’s playing against a great defense in LSU and we’ll learn a lot about him.”

“We don’t have much of a sample size on him,” Miles said.

“Neither do we,” Kelly laughed.

Zaire took over for struggling, two-year starter Everett Golson late in the first half of the Irish’s 49-14 loss to Southern Cal.

Kelly said Golson will still play, but he was encouraged by Zaire’s brief performance, particularly his elusiveness running the read-option.

“Now he’s got to go do it with the lights on,” Kelly said.

If form holds, they are polar opposites, setting up a classic duel of strength against strength, weakness against weakness.

The Irish throw for 294 yards a game, LSU’s pass defense is the nation’s fourth stingiest, allowing just 162 yards per game.

The pass-challenged Tigers rush for 219 yards per game, Notre Dame ranks 81st in the nation against the run.

“Certainly we have to take our shots (passing),” Kelly said. “We have some good perimeter guys that will have to make plays against some very, very good defenders).”

The Tigers aren’t as much of a mystery.

They added more read-option and jet sweeps to their repertoire in their own final regular season game against Texas A&M.

But Kelly knows what to expect.

“It’s their great offensive line,” he said. “They rushed for over 300 yards in three of their SEC games. It’s a formidable task. It’s one where we’re going to be challenged.

“That’s a good and physical offense that LSU has, an incredible run game. I’ve got to keep that offense off the field.”Les Miles (AP Photo)

John Raoux