Notre Dame football: 5 bold predictions for the Irish in November

Notre Dame football closed out the month of October with a convincing 35-14 victory over NC State, but they aren’t out of the woods yet. With many challenges still looming, here are five bold predictions for the Irish in the month of November.

Head coach Brian Kelly has utilized a revamped coaching staff to perfection this season, managing a complete 180 in comparison to last year’s finish. It was no secret that Kelly had lost some control of his team last season, but meeting with each and every member of his 2016 squad has paid immediate dividends.

Coordinators Chip Long and Mike Elko have earned much respect from their respective units only one year into their jobs. This has allowed Kelly to focus on his team as a whole opposed to peering over the shoulders of his coordinators the way he did a year ago. Another plus has been his strong relationship with quarterback Brandon Wimbush, a bond not shared with DeShone Kizer.

There are many factors involved in rebounding from a 4-8 season, many of which are unseen to those on the outside. Just when Notre Dame’s brand appeared to be at an all time low, Kelly revitalized his team at just the right time.

Kelly has his team completely bought-in, but will an emotional push be enough to compete for the College Football Playoffs? That answer will come soon enough, but the Irish’s best bet is to take their season one month at a time, one game at a time, even one play at a time. Here are some things to look for as Notre Dame treads into the month of November.