Notre Dame Football: 5 reasons why the Irish will struggle in 2017
3. Tough schedule/playing down to the competition
Seven of Notre Dame’s eight losses last year came by one possession or less. They had an opportunity to win most of the games they ended up losing. That can sometimes be an encouraging sign or a worrying one, depending on how the following season starts.
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If Kelly continues to lose close games again in 2017, then his job security is going to be called into question big time. It’s just too much for a fan base the size of Notre Dame’s to handle when you consistently lose close games to teams that you have the ability to defeat.
The Irish schedule for 2017 does not get any easier than in previous seasons. Road games against the North Carolina Tar Heels, Michigan State Spartans, Stanford Cardinal, and Miami Hurricanes could all spell trouble if the Irish do not improve soon.
Even home games against the Georgia Bulldogs, USC Trojans, Navy Midshipmen and NC State Wolfpack all pose tough tests.
A few down games could mean another losing record for Notre Dame. It’s just too hard to tell how the Irish will respond after such a disappointing run in 2016.