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Notre Dame Football: How far are Irish from contending for national title?

By Connor Muldowney

SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 18: (L-R) Jonathan Bonner #55, Jay Hayes #93 and Jerry Tillery #99 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrate a defensive stop on 4th down against the Navy Midshipmen at Notre Dame Stadium on November 18, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Navy 24-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 18: (L-R) Jonathan Bonner #55, Jay Hayes #93 and Jerry Tillery #99 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrate a defensive stop on 4th down against the Navy Midshipmen at Notre Dame Stadium on November 18, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Navy 24-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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After falling two times in November, just how far is Notre Dame football, in terms of years, from contending for a national title?

What a year it’s been for Notre Dame football. The Fighting Irish have pulled off more than a complete reversal of records, going from 4-8 last season to 9-3 this year, but it hasn’t been enough to earn them a spot in the top 10 of the College Football Playoff rankings.

The Irish were a top-four team not too long ago, but two losses in the month of November have dropped them to No. 15, so what does that mean for this season? It means that the Irish are likely nothing more than a fringe New Year’s Six bowl invitee.

This year isn’t exactly important, though. People want to know just how far the Irish can rise next season and beyond under the tutelage of Brian Kelly. When can the Fighting Irish contend for a national title?

Honestly, as soon as next season, but Josh Adams will have to return and Brandon Wimbush needs to be able to work on his throwing motion. He has the talent with his legs to be an incredible dual-threat, but he hasn’t been an effective down-field passer.

Notre Dame’s defense has potential and it’s extremely young and Kelly’s 2018 recruiting class is ranked seventh in the country. The Irish have a loaded class top to bottom with nine four-stars, according to 247Sports, and will likely finish near the top five before the class is set.

On top of that, the Irish are losing just four starters on each side of the ball, so the youthful pieces will step up, but the departing players are mostly on the offensive and defensive lines. Although Adams and Equanimeous St. Brown could bolt.

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Don’t sleep on Notre Dame in 2018. The Irish get Michigan, Stanford and Florida State at home and will travel to Virginia Tech and USC. There’s a chance this team could go unbeaten, but will one or two losses without a conference ruin their playoff chances? The answer to that is yes.

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