To build excitement for the upcoming season, I will be releasing an individual team preview for each of my top 25 teams every day from now until the season starts on Thursday night. The preview continues with #18 Notre Dame.
2013 Review
A year after a championship run, Notre Dame looked a lot different and were a lot less successful than the year before. They were able to open the year winning three of their first four games, including being the only team in the country to beat Michigan State all year. They then lost to Oklahoma before bouncing back with back to back wins over Arizona State and USC. After two more wins against Air Force and Navy, the Irish would be upset by Pittsburgh, before splitting their last two games against BYU and Stanford to finish with an 8-4 record. They would build on that 8-4 record with a 29-16 win over Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Season Outlook
Starting this year, Notre Dame will play five ACC schools each year, without being an official member of the conference. They open the year with three straight home games against Rice, Michigan, and Purdue. They should be able to win three of their first four games. Notre Dame then faces a very tough three game stretch, with back to back home games against Stanford and North Carolina, followed by a road game against Florida State. I would anticipate the Irish winning just one of these three games, leaving them with a record of 4-3. They end the season with road games against Navy, Arizona State, and USC, as well as home games against Northwestern and Louisville. They should beat Navy and Northwestern, but believe they will only be able to win two of the other three, maybe even one.
Season Prediction
7-5 1st in Independence
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