Notre Dame Football: 3 reasons the Irish will struggle in 2020

Notre Dame football is looking to have a big year in 2020, but it could struggle. Here’s why a playoff season might not be in the cards.

This is the season head coach Brian Kelly wants to rewrite the narrative about Notre Dame football.

Since Lou Holtz left South Bend, there has been a lot of doubt whether or not the Irish can rejoin college football’s elite. Kelly has figured out who he can recruit and how he can build his program. Much like Alabama and Clemson, the Irish are building their team from the inside out. He’s emphasized developing offensive and defensive linemen.

We’ve seen the uptick in their recruiting and player development by the players they’ve put in the NFL the last couple of drafts. They’ve put players like Jerry Tillery, Quinten Nelson, Julian Okwara and Mike McGlinchey in the league.

That makes this season a pivotal year.

Kelly has been in South Bend for a decade. The Irish made the BCS title game in 2012 and the College Football Playoff in 2018. They’ve won double-digit games three seasons in a row.

Kelly is confident that with the recruits he’s developed and the players returning the Irish have a legitimate opportunity to make the national semifinal. Some questions are surrounding the team and this season, however.

Can Tommy Rees level up the offense? Will the defense get better? Who is the edge rusher this season? Which of the young running backs and wide receivers will step up? If these questions are not answered correctly, the Irish could struggle.

Here are three other reasons Notre Dame could struggle this season.