Notre Dame enters a rare time in its modern football history where the Irish are playing for a new head coach despite the previous one not being relieved of his duties. charlie weis, tyrone willingham, and Bob Davie were all forced out while Lou Holtz didn’t exactly have the prettiest of exits.
What comes with that however isn’t a sense of rebuild but more of a reload. How does Notre Dame take the incredibly strong standing it accomplished under Brian Kelly and grow that into a team with a legitimate shot at winning a national championship under Marcus Freeman?
The first year isn’t an easy one for Freeman as Notre Dame has trips to Ohio State and USC on the docket, while a neutral site game in Las Vegas against BYU won’t be easy and welcoming a pre-season top-five Clemson team to South Bend highlights the home slate.
So what is a fair expectation for this squad? And where do you expect the Irish to be playing come bowl season?
Here is how the Fighting Irish staff sees the season going – game by game. 9jin8k ujynhbthuihgu 7hygtfr
Sept. 3 at Ohio State
Sept. 30, 2006; Iowa City, Iowa; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker (1) Marcus Freeman returns an interception in the fourth quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Byron Hetzler-USA TODAY Sports
Geoffrey Clark:
It’s unfortunate that Notre Dame has to start its schedule with a game that likely will put it out of CFP contention, but I don’t see it playing out any other way. Ohio State 35, Notre Dame 17
Michael Chen:
The Irish defense will make this game closer than many expect but due to the youth at the skill positions on offense, the Marcus Freeman era starts off 0-2. Ohio State 31 Notre Dame 21
Jeff Feyerer:
I don’t feel good about this. I want to. But I don’t. And while I wish I had more brilliant analysis, this is an extraordinarily tough hill to climb in Week 1. Ohio State 38, Notre Dame 20
Nick Shepkowski:
Ohio State has what might be the nation’s best offense but their defense is gettable. Can the Irish shorten the game enough is the question because they won’t be able to go blow-for-blow in a shootout. They hang around but can’t sneak out with the upset. Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 27
Sept. 10 vs. Marshall
Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports
Geoffrey Clark:
If the Irish can’t take care of an opponent like this in its home opener, something is seriously wrong, and all the questions about Freeman will be legitimized. Notre Dame 45, Marshall…