Notre Dame Football: Ranking each 2019 opponent by toughness

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LOUISVILLE, KY – NOVEMBER 24: Seth Dawkins #5 of the Louisville Cardinals runs with the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats on November 24, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

8. Louisville Cardinals (Sept. 2 — Louisville, Ky.)

Notre Dame’s first game should be an easy win unless Louisville can make some drastic improvements from last season. The only thing keeping this above other opponents on the schedule is the fact that it’s a road game. It would take an amazing home crowd, a terrible game from Notre Dame on both sides of the ball, and a near-perfect game from Louisville to make this game competitive.

If Louisville wants this year to go better than last season, it will need Jawon Pass to improve drastically. Last year was a struggle for the quarterback to say the least. Even with his mobile threat, he failed to be remotely efficient. If he has another year like last one, look for Malik Cunningham to get a chance.

Louisville will also be with a new head coach this season, firing Bobby Petrino. Louisville’s new coach, Scott Satterfield, was successful at Appalachian State, but it is yet to be proven if he can succeed in the ACC. I think he will be successful, but not in his first game. He needs more time to get his own players in his program.

Satterfield’s coaching tenure at Louisville will not be defined by his first game against Notre Dame. For him, that will likely be a good thing.

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