Notre Dame Football: 5 biggest questions heading into 2018 spring ball

1. Can Brian Kelly get Notre Dame to take that next step?

Notre Dame has been knocking on the door of perennial contention over the past eight seasons under Brian Kelly, but the Irish have never been able to take that next step — outside of 2012 when they went to the national title game only to have that season’s wins later vacated.

Since that season, the Irish have won 10 games just twice and had another nine-win season vacated. Overall, it’s been a tough stretch for Notre Dame, a program that expects to be contending for national titles each year.

Kelly has some quality pieces in place and has hired some solid coaches, but he’s looking to take that next step and get his team to a level where they’ll be competing for a College Football Playoff spot until the final week of the regular season.

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This may be more of a long-term question to be answered, but we will find out just how good this team can be in spring ball. Will they look like a national title contender or just another 8-9 win Notre Dame team which makes a bowl and that’s about it?