1. Marcus Freeman wins a New Year’s Six bowl
Marcus Freeman has already been the head coach for one New Year’s Six bowl, but the Irish lost in the Sugar Bowl to Oklahoma State after a furious comeback by the Cowboys.
He’ll get another chance in 2022.
Freeman’s first full season will probably come with a couple of growing pains, but I think he’s going to lead the Irish to 10 regular-season wins and a New Year’s Six bowl appearance of which he will also come out on top.
Notre Dame will likely open the season with a loss at Ohio State but it’s going to reel off seven consecutive wins before facing Clemson in what can be considered a toss-up in South Bend. I’m giving the Irish the slight edge here because of home-field advantage and then they’ll win the next two before traveling to Los Angeles to face USC in the season finale.
A win would get the Irish in the playoff, but a loss leads to a New Year’s Six berth. I see the Irish losing to Lincoln Riley and the Trojans to fall to 10-2. They’ll make a respectable NY6 bowl and win it in impressive fashion to finish the year 11-2.