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Notre Dame Football: 5 Reasons the Irish will beat Miami

By Matthew Bartlett

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 21: Notre Dame Fighting Irish players celebrate after a 49-14 win against the USC Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 21: Notre Dame Fighting Irish players celebrate after a 49-14 win against the USC Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

5. A new year and a new Brian Kelly

Brian Kelly is at the top of the list for Coach of the Year. Last season his team went 4-8, now the Irish are in the thick of the College Football Playoff race. 2017 marks the eighth year at the helm of the Notre Dame football program for Kelly. It took some growing pains to get there, but the Irish are starting to gel into what Kelly envisioned when he took over the program in 2010.

There were many that Kelly on the hot seat entering the season. Programs with the history and swagger of Notre Dame don’t finish 4-8. But Kelly has braved the worst of the onslaught and kept his team focused. A lot can change in the matter of a few weeks, but the expectations in South Bend haven’t wavered.

Kelly never forgot how to coach. He guided the Irish to the BCS National Championship game in 2012 where they ran into the juggernaut that is the Alabama Crimson Tide. He’s since cycled through a new crop of players and rebuilt his team. This new Notre Dame squad is reflective of their head coach. They’re resilient, unflappable and ready to take on anybody.

Next: Could the Irish break the CFB Playoff?

If he can keep this going the fans that were calling for his job a season ago are going to be sending him gift baskets come February. The Irish have an elite football coach, and he’s out to prove that to the nation.

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