It’s been an interesting season for Notre Dame but the future is bright. Here are some way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2018.
Notre Dame had quite the season in 2017 and Brian Kelly has to be happy with the turnaround but ready to put together another run at the College Football Playoff. His Fighting Irish narrowly missed that in 2017 after struggling in the final month.
The Fighting Irish turned around a 4-8 season from 2016 and finished 10-3 in 2017. Can the Fighting Irish take another step in the right direction and finish the regular season with 11-12 wins and a run at the playoff?
Here are the way-too-early game-by-game predictions for Notre Dame’s gauntlet schedule in 2018.
This isn’t going to be an easy matchup for the Fighting Irish. Michigan will come to town to open the season for a likely top-10 battle in South Bend to start a crucial campaign for Jim Harbaugh. It’ll be Harbaugh’s fourth season with the Wolverines and much more will be expected — such as a Big Ten title and wins on the road against top-10 teams.
Notre Dame will still be figuring out the quarterback situation, but it’ll be mostly Brandon Wimbush’s job with a little Ian Book and Phil Jurkovec mixed in there. I’d predict that the latter of the three has the best chance of being the long-term answer, but this is too big of a stage to throw the freshman in the mix.
Assuming he’s cleared to play by the NCAA, Shea Patterson will still be learning the Michigan offense and gelling with the team. The offense will prove to be better than last year’s but Notre Dame’s defense will step up when it matters.
Wimbush will rush for over 100 yards and score a big touchdown late in the game to down the visiting Wolverines in an instant classic.
Final Score: Michigan 23, Notre Dame 27 (1-0)