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Notre Dame Football: Best, worst, and most likely scenarios for 2021

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 7, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Kyren Williams (23) celebrates with offensive lineman Robert Hainsey (72) after a touchdown in the first overtime against the Clemson Tigers at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame defeated Clemson 47-40 in two overtimes. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Kyren Williams (23) celebrates with offensive lineman Robert Hainsey (72) after a touchdown in the first overtime against the Clemson Tigers at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame defeated Clemson 47-40 in two overtimes. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 1, 2021; Arlington, TX, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Kyren Williams (23) is brought down by Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) during the first half in the Rose Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2021; Arlington, TX, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Kyren Williams (23) is brought down by Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) during the first half in the Rose Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Worst-case scenario

From the good news to the bad news. If the worst-case scenario happens in 2021, Notre Dame fans aren’t going to be too pleased (obviously).

The good thing about Notre Dame’s schedule is that the Irish could realistically win every single game. The bad news? They could lose 4-5 games easily. The schedule isn’t loaded with elite opponents, but there are a handful of teams that could definitely beat the Irish and it really wouldn’t shock anyone.

Let’s go through the schedule.

To start, Notre Dame could falter against Florida State on the road in Week 1. The Irish will rebound to beat Toledo and Purdue and then split one of Cincinnati and Wisconsin. That would mean Notre Dame is 3-2 heading into Virginia Tech which I think the Irish win and then they’ll lose to both USC and North Carolina, sitting at 4-4 heading into November.

I just can’t see Notre Dame losing any of its final four games against Navy, Virginia, Georgia Tech, or Stanford and the Irish will finish 8-4.

A 7-5 season is possible with a shocking loss at Stanford, but I’m going 8-4 as the absolute floor for the 2021 Irish coming off a playoff season.

Worst case: 8-4

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