Category: 2021 ND Football

Notre Dame Stadium to have full attendance in 2021

Let’s go!

Notre Dame Stadium will return to welcoming over 77,000 fans for games this fall.  The following release was made by the University of Notre Dame on Wednesday:

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame, in consultation with the St. Joseph County Health Department, will make all 77,622 seats of Notre Dame Stadium available for purchase as it begins its football ticket sales process for the 2021 season.

“We can’t wait to welcome the Notre Dame family back to campus next season,” University vice president and James E. Rohr Director of Athletics Jack Swarbrick said. “Between now and the start of the football season, we will continue to closely monitor conditions throughout the nation, in St. Joseph County and on campus, and based on that information will decide what protocols and procedures will be employed to ensure the safety of all attendees. In light of the policies Notre Dame has already adopted requiring all students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated before returning to campus for the 2021-22 school year, we encourage that everyone attending a game this fall be vaccinated.”

“In addition to a full capacity crowd, we are optimistic that conditions will allow us to resume outdoor game-day traditions, such as tailgating, football player walk, Midnight Drummers Circle and Football Fridays at the Eck,” Swarbrick added.

Starting this week, ticket sales will begin with season ticket members having the opportunity to renew their tickets. In mid-July, Notre Dame’s ticket lottery will begin for all eligible participants and single-game tickets will be made available in mid-August.

This fall, Notre Dame will play seven games in South Bend, highlighted by primetime games vs. Southern Cal (Oct. 23 – NBC) and North Carolina (Oct. 30 – NBC). The Irish will also welcome Toledo (Sept. 11 – NBC), Purdue (Sept. 18 – NBC), Cincinnati (Oct. 2 – NBC), Navy (Nov. 6 – NBC) and Georgia Tech (Nov. 20 – NBC).

Notre Dame football games provide a large economic impact to the local area – generating $26.4 million, on average, for the South Bend community for each home event.

Notre Dame backfield named among top 5 for 2021

Is there a position Notre Dame will be stronger at in 2021?

In discussing Notre Dame’s backfield ahead of the 2021 season, we called it the strength of the Irish as the talent level at the position has grown significantly in recent years.

Others have taken notice of just how strong the pairing of Kyren Williams and Chris Tyree figures to be in 2021 as Bleacher Report called Notre Dame’s backfield the fourth-best nationally entering the year.

Here is what David Kenyon had to say about the Irish backfield:

Last season, few offenses had a more productive duo than Notre Dame with Kyren Williams and Chris Tyree. Given that Williams took 26 career rushing yards into 2020 and Tyree was a true freshman, it wasn’t entirely expected, either.

Williams turned heads immediately with 205 scrimmage yards in the opener, and he remained a huge factor for the Irish. While helping them reach the College Football Playoff, he amassed 1,125 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground and caught 35 passes for 313 yards and another score.

Tyree notched a pair of 100-yard performances against Florida State and Syracuse, ending his debut season with 496 yards and four scores as a runner. (He also served as the primary kick returner.)

Notre Dame also had C’Bo Flemister, who picked up 299 yards and five touchdowns as the third-stringer in 2020.

Oklahoma headed the list while Oregon checked in at number three.  You’ll want to read the piece in its entirety to find out the surprise squad Kenyon ranked second.

Related:

Player Profile:  Kyren Williams, running back, #23

How Pro Football Focus ranks Notre Dame, opponents, ahead of 2021

Another day and another set of pre-season projections for Notre Dame and their opponents

Pro Football Focus has ranked each college football team from 1-130 ahead of the 2021 season.  PFF also ran their first set of simulations for the season ahead and the usual suspects have the best chances at winning the national championship as the rankings 1-5 went as follows:

  1.  Alabama
    23% chance to win the national championship
  2. Clemson
    17% chance to win the national championship
  3. Ohio State
    13% chance to win the national championship
  4. Georgia
    7% chance to win the national championship
  5. Oklahoma
    13% chance to win the national championship

So where does Notre Dame rank, how do the Irish rank compared to their 2021 opponents, and what kind of title odds do the Irish have?

Here is the numbers PFF gave Notre Dame and their 2021 opponents:

Notre Dame football: Tyler Buchner spring game highlights

In case you missed the spring game, some video to help you see why so many are so excited for Tyler Buchner.

The annual Notre Dame spring game came and went at the start of the month and the player that created the most fanfare is currently buried to at least third on the depth chart.

That player was freshman quarterback Tyler Buchner who entered the game late in the first half before leading the only two touchdown drives of the game that the blue squad eventually won, 17-3.

Buchner finished the day 6 of 9 passing for 140 yards while running three times for six yards, a touchdown, and once fumbling.

That’s how it appeared in the box score but how did Buchner’s first game-action since the fall of 2019 look?  Take a peek yourself:

Obviously, some bright flashes were in there as Buchner brings the quickest release of any Notre Dame quarterback I can think of in quite some time.  There was plenty of rust to be seen as well but if you hadn’t seen any of his work yet then it was a quality glimpse at why so many are so high on the freshman out of La Jolla, California.

Related:

Notre Dame post-spring positional breakdown: quarterbacks

Notre Dame to face full house of fans at Florida State?

A return to normal to start off this football season?

Notre Dame opens the 2021 football season on September 5 this year at Florida State and even if means a tougher environment for the road Irish, good news seems to be coming as Doak Campbell Stadium may host a full crowd of fans that evening.

In an e-mail to Florida State season ticket holders that was sent this week, the University is taking an official step towards getting to full capacity.

The e-mail reads:

Each spring the Seminole Ticket Office offers football season ticket holders and Seminole Booster members an opportunity to enhance their game day experience by selecting seating and parking locations for the upcoming football season.

At this time, we are planning for 100% capacity inside Doak Campbell Stadium this fall. You will be notified should we receive any new information regarding any changes relating to the upcoming football season.

If you are a returning member and/or season ticket holder, and are happy with your current seating and/or parking location, then no action is necessary at this time. Your same seats and/or parking from the 2019 season (or summer 2020 relocation prior to reduced capacity) have been secured for this season. However, we strongly recommend you take a few minutes to view open seat locations, even if you are happy with your current location. It only takes a few minutes and some locations that have become available this year may surprise you. Please note, this is not required, and you will not lose your current seat location if you choose not to participate.

Ticketing Note: All ticket balances must be paid in full prior to finalizing any seating upgrade/movement (unless you are currently utilizing a ticket payment plan).

It may mean a tougher environment for Notre Dame to have to travel to and play in but after the largely empty stadiums we watched games played in last year, I’m personally thrilled for there to be 79,560 screaming die-hards back in the stands that night.

Related:

The 5 most memorable Notre Dame/Florida State match-ups

Notre Dame post-spring positional breakdown: quarterbacks

Will the starting quarterback in Week One be the starter in November?

Spring football has come and gone for Notre Dame in 2021 and the next time we see the Fighting Irish football team will be when they start camp for the regular season.

In that time more will come in figuring out positional battles and where things fall.

For the first time in seemingly forever, Notre Dame goes into the season without a known commodity at starting quarterback as Ian Book, the winningest quarterback in program history is off to the New Orleans Saints.

So how does Notre Dame’s depth chart at quarterback set up for the 2021 season?

Here is what we know at the conclusion of spring ball:

Jordan Johnson to transfer: 5 things to know

Are you surprised Johnson is moving on this quickly?

One of Notre Dame’s highest-rated wide receiver recruits of all time has decided to put an end to his football career with the Fighting Irish as Jordan Johnson announced on Monday that he’s entering the transfer portal.

Johnson was the top-rated player in Notre Dame’s 2020 recruiting class by Rivals while he was the second-rated prospect according to 247Sports who ranked Michael Mayer ahead of him.

Why is he leaving and what does it mean for Notre Dame at wide receiver?

Here are five things to know about Jordan Johnson’s decision to transfer from Notre Dame:

Tommy Rees’s spring practice media session (Pt. 1 of 2)

Everything Tommy Rees had to say on Thursday, part 1 of 2.

It’s a year of transition on Notre Dame’s offense as the winningest quarterback in program history is off to the NFL draft and perhaps the nation’s best offensive line from a season ago will see new four starters.

Can Jack Coan or Drew Pyne turn the Notre Dame offense up a level?

And what is a fair expectation for the offense in 2021 as the need to score points in order to be truly elite only grows?

All of that and plenty else was discussed on Thursday as Notre Dame offensive coordinator and former starting quarterback Tommy Rees met the media following the 12th of 15 practices for Notre Dame this spring.

Pro Football Hall of Famer extremely high on Kyle Hamilton

Who is Notre Dame’s best defensive player over the last 30 years?

We’re not even through the 2021 NFL draft yet and we’re already getting some discussions about the 2022 edition.  One recent thought on the 2022 draft came from former Dallas Cowboys executive Gil Brandt who is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Like any great mind, Brandt is thinking well ahead as he’s closed the book on the 2021 draft and is already looking ahead to 2022 as he released his top-five players for the 2022 edition.

At number two is a current Notre Dame star who is only entering his junior season but clearly has the ability to make the jump to the NFL.

Trailing only defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux of Oregon, Brandt ranks Fighting Irish safety Kyle Hamilton as the 2022 draft’s second-best player.

Based on the replies I think most people are struggling to understand he’s ranking the players, not projecting what number pick they’ll be selected at.

Hamilton is as good of safety as there is in the nation and clearly has an NFL body.  Although I don’t think there is a chance he’ll go second overall, if Hamilton does go in the top-10 when he’s eventually drafted he’d be the first Notre Dame defender taken that high since Bryant Young went seventh overall to the San Francisco 49ers in 1994.

Related:
All of Notre Dame’s first-round NFL draft picks since 1975
Kyle Hamilton photo gallery