College Football Rankings: Way-too-early Top 25 projections for 2018
By Zach Bigalke
The win over LSU in the Citrus Bowl was a nice cap to an otherwise disappointing season in South Bend. Junior receiver Miles Boykin saved the day for the Fighting Irish, snagging a highlight-reel catch with one hand and streaking 55 yards to the winning touchdown inside the final two minutes of the contest.
What was interesting was who threw the touchdown pass to Boykin. Rather than Brandon Wimbush, who threw eight largely ineffective passes before coming out of the game, it was Ian Book who tossed the game-winning touchdown. There could be a quarterback controversy brewing in the shadow of Touchdown Jesus in 2018, mitigating any gains from their bowl win.
Notre Dame will need to find a replacement for running back Josh Adams, who has declared early for the 2018 NFL Draft. Brian Kelly and the offensive staff also need to deal with rebuilding an offensive line that loses three starters from one of the top units in the country in 2017.
Notre Dame always plays a schedule that will keep them in the hunt as long as they keep winning. The dormant rivalry against Michigan will be reignited this year in the season opener, and Notre Dame could quickly jump up from the mid-teens into the top 10 of the AP Top 25 if they take down the Wolverines right out of the gate.