Notre Dame Football: Ranking 2020 opponents by toughness

Surprise, surprise, yet another ACC team makes the list and this time it’s a rematch of last year’s season opener against Louisville. Notre Dame toppled the Cardinals who no one expected to be much of anything in year one of Scott Satterfield. All Louisville did from that point on was go 8-4 with a Music City Bowl win over Mississippi State.

The Cardinals are now considered a top threat to Clemson in the ACC as Satterfield is looking like he was worth every penny. Even Jeff Brohm has to be regretful for turning down the job now.

Micale Cunningham is back at quarterback and could be one of those darkhorse Heisman contenders and 1,500-yard rusher Javian Hawkins is back at running back. The top three receivers, led by Tutu Atwell, return as well.

If the defense improves, we could be looking at a 10-win team.

Every year, Wisconsin is one of the best teams from the Big Ten. Do the Badgers benefit from being in the weaker division in the conference? Probably, but they’re still a threat.

Notre Dame has to be careful here because despite being listed as a neutral site game, this takes place not too far from Madison in Green Bay and will be almost a home game for the Badgers. While Wisconsin isn’t a top-10 foe, this will be a tough battle against a Big Ten West favorite.

Jack Coan is back at quarterback but Jonathan Taylor is gone and so is top receiver Quintez Cephus. The defense, which ranked No. 4 nationally, will also be tasked with replacing some big names, including Zack Baun.