Notre Dame Football: 5 toughest opponents in 2018

It’s hard not to overhype this game. The pageantry of college football doesn’t get much better than Michigan and Notre Dame. This dynamic pairing will see center stage in 2018 as the marquee game of Week 1 and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Michigan and Notre Dame both have coaches that, while not on the hot seat, will be trending in that direction if they don’t produce championship-caliber seasons in 2018. This game has the potential to set the tone for the entire season. A loss to Michigan in the middle of the year could be excused — Notre Dame plays an extremely challenging schedule — but losing the big game right out of the gate would won’t be overlooked.

Jim Harbaugh has the benefit of Ole Miss transfer Shea Patterson at quarterback. If he does prove to be the missing piece for the Wolverines on offense the ceiling for their program in 2018 could be as high as the College Football Playoff. That would pose a problem for the Irish.

Next: Ranking every Irish position group entering 2018

It’s going to be a challenging road for Notre Dame football in 2018, but the same has been true for the Irish for a long time. If they can navigate the biggest tests and keep themselves in the Playoff hunt come November, Brian Kelly should be credited with a job well done.