Notre Dame Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2021 season

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Sep 28, 2019; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson (55) readies for the snap in the third quarter against the Virginia Cavaliers at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

Bronco Mendenhall has done something that no one thought was possible: he’s led Virginia to relevancy in the ACC. For years, the Cavaliers were the laughingstock of the ACC, but Mendenhall has gone 30-32 over his five-year tenure and they’re fresh off a 5-5 season in 2020.

Unfortunately, I just don’t think the Cavaliers are going to have the best season in 2021. They may have gone .500 in 2020, but that may have just been some dumb luck with the favorable schedule and late-season momentum. After a 1-4 start, the Cavaliers finished 4-1. I don’t expect that same success in 2021.

Brennan Armstrong is back after passing for over 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns last season but he was a turnover machine, throwing 11 picks. He did lead the team in rushing, but I don’t see him being the second coming of Bryce Perkins.

Virginia also had a really bad defense last season and Notre Dame will have enough success against it on the road here to pull off a big late-season win.

Not enough style points to get the playoff committee’s ears perked up, though.

Final Score: Notre Dame 24, Virginia 14 (8-2)

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