2. Notre Dame will be a major player in the College Football Playoff chase
Will Notre Dame be one of the four best teams in college football? Nah, but it wasn’t one in 2018, either, and it got into the College Football Playoff.
How? The Irish earned it. If it was so easy to go unbeaten, everyone would do it.
They were very good, got past a solid Michigan team to start the season, caught the break of having most of the tough games at home, played down Virginia Tech and USC teams on the road, and boom … 12-0.
This year, they won’t have to go unbeaten to be in the CFP mix.
If this season somehow goes according to plan, they start out against Navy in Dublin, Ireland. But let’s say they play the Midshipmen anywhere – that’s still not that bad.
Then Arkansas, then Western Michigan, then Wake Forest.
Stanford will be better, but that’s a home game. Duke, at Georgia Tech, and Louisville will be fun, but this Notre Dame team should be good enough to handle them.
That leaves three killers on the slate to deal with.
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The first is against Wisconsin in Lambeau Field. Win or lose that, at worst, Notre Dame should be 7-1 when it’s time for Catholics vs. Cats.
November 7th will be the first time Clemson comes to South Bend since it beat the Irish 16-10 back in 1979.
If the Tigers are unbeaten and No. 1, and Notre Dame can pull off the win, it’ll be enough of a boost to deserve top four discussion in the CFP at the end of the rainbow if it can also pull off a win at USC.
But is the team really going to be good enough?
It loses a ton of NFL talent, the receiving corps need work, and the secondary has to undergo an overhaul, but that’s what September is for. If the Irish had to deal with Clemson, Wisconsin or USC in the first few games, forget it.
The offensive line will be good, Ian Book is a better quarterback than he gets credit for, and the defensive front 6/7 should be able to carry that side until the ends and defensive backs get their feet wet.
And finally …