Notre Dame Football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2020

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Braden Lenzy #25 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish catches a pass during the Camping World Bowl against the Iowa State Cyclones at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. Notre Dame defeated Iowa State 33-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Braden Lenzy #25 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish catches a pass during the Camping World Bowl against the Iowa State Cyclones at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. Notre Dame defeated Iowa State 33-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Brian Kelly and Notre Dame football are looking to get back to the College Football Playoff and with a favorable 2020 schedule, it’s possible.

Four times in the past five seasons, Brian Kelly has led Notre Dame to 10-plus wins. The former Cincinnati head coach took the Notre Dame job back in 2010 and has made a national title game as well as a College Football Playoff appearance during his decade-long tenure and the Irish faithful are hoping for more.

The Irish are one of the nation’s classic blue bloods and the fact that they are consistently winning 10 games is reason enough to dub them “back” or at least close to it.

Notre Dame looks like a team that could contend for a national title in 2020 with Ian Book returning but that came with a price as talented backup Phil Jurkovec hit the transfer portal and decided Boston College would be his new home.

The Irish did lose Cole Kmet, Chase Claypool and Tony Jones Jr. on offense and some talented defensive pieces such as Khalid Kareem, Troy Pride Jr., Jalen Elliott and Alohi Gilman. This team will need to reload and it can do just that with the No. 17 recruiting class in the country coming in. If Kelly can get some production from some true freshmen, there should be no drop-off for the Irish.

Will we see the fifth 10-win season in six years for Kelly and the Irish in 2020?