Notre Dame Football: Ranking 2020 opponents by toughness

Alright, Notre Dame, just join the ACC already. Coming in at No. 6 is Pitt which is already the fourth ACC team to make the list, but don’t worry, there will be a couple more.

Like it would be if Notre Dame was actually an ACC team, Pitt is a middle-tier opponent which should cause some concern because it brings back one of the best defenses in the country from a season ago along with Kenny Pickett at quarterback.

Unfortunately for Pitt, it’s still Pitt.

Gone is KJ Costello along with Cameron Scarlett and Colby Parkinson. Stanford’s offense will look a bit different, but there’s belief that Davis Mills could be the surprise quarterback in the Pac-12 this season and maybe make a Joe Burrow-type jump up the draft rankings.

While the offense may be undergoing some change, the defense needs to get back to the basics that made Stanford one of the most feared Pac-12 teams not too long ago.

Stanford went 4-8 last season, but expect the Cardinal to right the ship a bit as David Shaw leads them to a bowl game and don’t be shocked if they give Notre Dame a tough test here in the middle of October.