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Notre Dame Football: Way-too-early 2021 game-by-game predictions

By Jackson Caudell

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 07: Running back Kyren Williams #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish stiff arms safety Nolan Turner #24 of the Clemson Tigers on his way to a touchdown in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on November 7, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Matt Cashore-Pool/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 07: Running back Kyren Williams #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish stiff arms safety Nolan Turner #24 of the Clemson Tigers on his way to a touchdown in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on November 7, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Matt Cashore-Pool/Getty Images) /
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After a second playoff appearance in the last three years, Notre Dame football will need to reload quickly in 2021 if it wants another berth.

Notre Dame has been one of the most consistent programs in the entire country over the last five seasons, but some, including myself, think that they could take a small step back in 2021.

Notre Dame does not return a lot of proven production to the field, will have a new starting quarterback for the first time in a few years and they are losing their best offensive linemen and top defensive player. Notre Dame has been recruiting well, but it is not at the level of programs like Alabama, Clemson or Ohio State, so that could make another playoff run unlikely.

With quarterback Ian Book now moving on to the NFL, Notre Dame decided to go into the transfer portal and get Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan who had previously been the starter for the Badgers before an injury caused him to lose his job to Graham Mertz. Coan could get beat out by one of the younger quarterbacks, but at this point I’m projecting him to be the starter for the Fighting Irish in 2021.

Coan will have a potent running game to help out his transition to the offense. Kyren Williams was one of the top backs in the entire country and will be depended on to once again be the workhorse for the offense. Most of Notre Dame’s top weapons return, but the Fighting Irish need to find a way to get more explosive on the offensive side of the ball, because that was one of the main issues in their rematch with Clemson and in the semifinal game versus Alabama.

The Fighting Irish will have to reload on defense after having one of the best in the country last season. Coordinator Clark Lea took the head coaching job at Vanderbilt and they also lost linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah to the NFL. Notre Dame also has a tough schedule ahead, with games against Wisconsin, USC, North Carolina and Cincinnati on deck.

Here are my way too early predictions for Notre Dame’s 2021 schedule.

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