Apr 18, 2015; Notre Dame, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Malik Zaire (8) throws in the first quarter of the Blue-Gold Game at the LaBar Practice Complex. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
4. Georgia Tech at Notre Dame – September 19
Even with Notre Dame losing Everett Golson to Florida State, quarterback Malik Zaire and the Fighting Irish were ranked 11 in the preseason poll. Zaire is a dual-threat quarterback with decent arm strength as well as elusiveness when running down the field. He may not be of the same caliber that Golson is, but he is a very good quarterback.
Related: Ranking the ACC QB’s Entering 2015
Though it is not the offense that will be tough for Georgia Tech to stop. Notre Dame has 10 of their 11 defensive starters from 2014 returning for another year. The team is growing and has a chemistry that not many teams will be able to match.
If Georgia Tech’s offensive line can support Thomas and the receivers open up holes in the secondary, the team should be able to pull this game closer than expected.
Playing on the road against an electrifying Notre Dame crowd that bleeds blue and gold will be a huge disadvantage, but the Yellow Jackets have shown some success in big games on the road – most notably their overtime-thriller against Georgia.
Next: Clemson