Notre Dame Football: 5 reasons the Irish will be contenders in 2018

Notre Dame football kicked off the new year with a big win over LSU, leaving much hope for an even more successful 2018 season under head coach Brian Kelly.

One of the common misconceptions surrounding the Irish this season was the thought that this year’s campaign was a failure. While it was in some aspects, this season as a whole should be considered a healthy success. Looking at record alone, the Irish finished this year with a 10-4 record compared to last year’s 4-8 finish that eliminated Notre Dame from bowl game contention.

All things considered, the Irish were expected to take a significant step back this season. With star quarterback DeShone Kizer departing via the NFL Draft and the replacement of both coordinators looming large, it appeared as if this year could easily be chalked up as a rebuild. However, most of those conceptions were thrown out the window when the Irish won their first game 49-16.

The Irish would proceed to go 7-1 in their next eight games, setting themselves up nicely for a potential playoff berth. Things would get a little rough from there, however, as the Irish would go on to drop two of three to the likes of Miami and Stanford. While this was a tough time for fans, it’s important to remember that the Irish far exceeded almost every expectation held for them.

With momentum in hand after their recent win over LSU, look for the Irish to come out strong next season, perhaps strong enough to capture a national championship of their own. Here are five reasons why they just might be able to pull it off.