Notre Dame football: 3 bold predictions vs. Tennessee State in Week 1

It might be the second fixture of the season for Notre Dame football, but this Saturday will be filled with firsts for both programs.

Saturday’s 2023 home opener will mark the beginning of an inclusive new era as Notre Dame will square off against an FCS foe, and more importantly, an HBCU institution for the first time in program history.

I can’t help thinking that this moment wouldn’t have occurred if not for the change in leadership in late 2021 when Marcus Freeman took over as head coach of the Fighting Irish. For decades, the program was staunch against scheduling FCS schools, however, something changed since Freeman’s hiring, and shortly thereafter Tennessee State had been added to the schedule.

The fact that the FCS school that Notre Dame is scheduled to play is an HBCU actually brings intrigue and excitement to this fixture that would have otherwise been overlooked due to the gulf in talent between the two schools. However, as time passes this game will likely become a memorable moment in Notre Dame football history as a definitive point in time when the Irish flexed its slogan of “What do you fight for?”, as the university will be telling the world: the Fighting Irish are fighting for equality, for inclusivity, for freedom, for love, for all.

With that said, onward to the action between the sidelines.

Here are three bold predictions for the Irish against Tennessee State. Hint: There’ll be another first for at least one Irishman.