Notre Dame Football: Ranking Irish opponents by toughness

Stanford and Notre Dame have built a pretty good rivalry over the years and the Cardinal will be solid once again in 2021 following a 4-2 record last season.

Stanford will need to replace its starting quarterback but so does Notre Dame. However, what makes this game crack the top five is the fact that it’s on the road in the regular-season finale.

Notre Dame might be battling for a playoff spot and it wouldn’t be the first time the Irish have dropped a costly game out West at the end of the year. That trip is tough and so if Stanford.

USC is going to be one of the biggest tests this season for Notre Dame football. Kedon Slovis has the potential to be a first-round quarterback and the Trojans are routinely one of the most talented teams in the country but also among the most inconsistent.

Slovis was a star last season for the Trojans and engineered some spectacular come-from-behind wins. If he continues his progression this season, USC should be a legitimate contender in the Pac-12 and a real threat to up-end the Irish in South Bend.

Even as it’s hard to know what to expect from the Trojans, it’s a game Notre Dame fans will always have circled on their calendar.