Notre Dame Football: Post-spring 2022 game-by-game predictions

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Oct 30, 2021; South Bend, Indiana, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Josh Downs (11) carries in the third quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

There’s nothing quite like a middle-of-the-pack Pac-12 team to get some confidence brewing and Notre Dame will play host to one in the form of Cal on Sept. 17.

Justin Wilcox is still trying to get over the hump at Cal, but he’s coming off a 5-7 season and the offense was really, really bad even with Chase Garbers back under center. Jack Plummer replaces him this year but I still don’t think the Golden Bears will have what it takes to keep up with the Irish.

Final Score: Cal 13, Notre Dame 28 (2-1)

Sam Howell is gone but that shouldn’t matter because Notre Dame simply has the Tar Heels’ number. In fact, the Tar Heels have only beaten Notre Dame once officially in program history. The last win came in 2008 but that was vacated and the overall series record is an astounding 20-1 in favor of the Irish.

The talent gap has closed under Mack Brown, but I still think Notre Dame fends off a pesky North Carolina team in Chapel Hill to improve to 3-1.

Final Score: Notre Dame 27, North Carolina 24 (3-1)

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