Notre Dame Football: Ranking 2020 opponents by toughness

Brian Kelly and Notre Dame football are looking to get back to the College Football Playoff in 2020, but will the schedule allow that?

After yet another 10-plus win season in 2019, Brian Kelly and Notre Dame are hoping to get back to the big stage once again.

Sure the Fighting Irish are coming off a solid 11-2 campaign and Camping World Bowl blowout of Iowa State, but that’s not exactly how the season was supposed to finish. Notre Dame was expected to contend for a playoff spot or, at worst, a New Year’s Six bowl. That didn’t quite happen and it was because of a six-point loss at Georgia and then 45-14 blowout defeat at Michigan.

Luckily for the Irish, they don’t have to face either of those teams this year, but the reigning national runner-up is on the schedule — at home. The Irish have just three true road games to go along with four neutral-site battles. This schedule is favorable, but could also cause slip-ups.

If Notre Dame is going to head back to the playoff again, it’ll need Ian Book to benefit greatly from the Tommy Rees arrival at offensive coordinator and the run game will need to develop a star. Moreover, the aerial attack is losing Chase Claypool and Cole Kmet as the lead returning pass-catcher had just 183 yards and four touchdowns a year ago.

We already know the offensive line — which returns all five starters — and the defense will be solid once again.

How do Notre Dame’s 2020 opponents rank in terms of toughness?