Notre Dame Football: Best and worst case scenario for Irish in 2018

Notre Dame football has high expectations heading into the 2018 season and here are the best and worst case scenarios for the Irish.

Brian Kelly pulled off a massive turnaround in 2017, just one year after going 4-8. The Fighting Irish won 10 games, including a Citrus Bowl victory over LSU.

Can the Irish do better in 2018 despite losing Josh Adams and defensive coordinator Mike Elko?

There are nine starters on the defensive side of the ball returning, so that will make life easier for Clark Lea, Elko’s replacement. He has plenty to work with on this side of the ball and the defense could sneak back into the top 25 nationally.

Offensively, Brandon Wimbush could be the decider in the Irish’s success this season. If he can take a step forward and become a more effective passer, the Irish will be incredibly tough to beat.

Let’s take a look at the best and worst-case scenarios for the Fighting Irish as the season approaches.

Best-case scenario

The Fighting Irish have a tough schedule, but that shouldn’t stop them from finishing with a near-perfect record and good position in the final College Football Playoff standings. Does this team have undefeated potential? Possibly, but I just don’t see it happening with questions at quarterback and Adams gone. The Irish may never get a playoff invite unless they go unbeaten thanks to being conference-less.

Sept. 1: vs. Michigan — W
Sept. 8: vs. Ball State — W
Sept. 15: vs. Vanderbilt — W
Sept. 22: at Wake Forest — W
Sept. 29: vs. Stanford — W
Oct. 6: at Virginia Tech — L
Oct. 13: vs. Pittsburgh — W
Oct. 20: vs. Navy — W
Nov. 3: at Northwestern — W
Nov. 10: vs. Florida State — W
Nov. 17: vs. Syracuse — W
Nov. 24: at USC — W

Which Notre Dame fan would pass up an 11-1 season? This would likely be enough to get into the playoff with a mid-season loss made up for by wins against Northwestern, Florida State and USC to bolster the resume.

Worst-case scenario

The worst-case scenario with the Fighting Irish’s schedule isn’t pretty. Notre Dame could drop like a rock if the tough schedule gets the best of it. Kelly needs to keep his team even-keeled from the start of the year (Michigan) to the season finale (at USC). Here’s what the worst-case scenario would look like if things didn’t go Notre Dame’s way.

Sept. 1: vs. Michigan — L
Sept. 8: vs. Ball State — W
Sept. 15: vs. Vanderbilt — W
Sept. 22: at Wake Forest — W
Sept. 29: vs. Stanford — L
Oct. 6: at Virginia Tech — L
Oct. 13: vs. Pittsburgh — W
Oct. 20: vs. Navy — W
Nov. 3: at Northwestern — W
Nov. 10: vs. Florida State — W
Nov. 17: vs. Syracuse — W
Nov. 24: at USC — L

An 8-4 finish would be disappointing but it wouldn’t be completely shocking with the Wolverines, Stanford, Virginia Tech, Northwestern, Florida State and USC on the docket. That’s six losable games right there.

Notre Dame has the talent to go 11-1 and the experience to make life tough on opponents, especially on the defensive side of the ball, but it all depends on the quarterback position.