Notre Dame football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2023

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Sep 3, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Luke Wypler (53) snaps the ball during third quarter of the NCAA football game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 21-10. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports /

This is going to be a serious gut-check game for Ryan Day and the Buckeyes as his seat has warmed up over the past couple of seasons, going 0-2 against Michigan with no Big Ten titles in that span. That’s unacceptable for an Ohio State head coach.

But going into South Bend, he’s going to lead the Buckeyes to their biggest win of the early season, taking down Notre Dame in a thriller.

No CJ Stroud? No problem.

Prediction: Loss (4-1)

This may be the most underrated of all the games on the schedule because I truly believe Duke is close to being back. David Cutcliffe retired and it felt like the program would just shrivel back into nothingness, but Mike Elko has not allowed that to happen.

Riley Leonard will be back at quarterback after leading the Blue Devils to a successful, and shocking, 8-4 season, and they’re going to give Notre Dame a heck of a fight in Durham.

I do, however, think the Irish squeak this one out in the final minutes.

Prediction: Win (5-1)

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