................................Rankings 247 (composite)..................................Players.......Ranking (ESPN)

 

……………………….2012.....2013.....2014.....2015......Ave.....Weighted Ave...Ret Starters....Preseason Rank

 

Notre……….......…18........5..........11.........13.......11.8.........12.2..............19...................7

 

Texas.................2........17.........17.........10.......11.5.........10.3..............13...................26

Virginia.............25........29.........32.........49.......33.8.........30.0..............10...................56

Georgia Tech.....52........76.........55..........43......56.5.........58.9..............13...................23

Massachusetts..176......100........115.......103.....123.5.......133.7..............19...................98

Clemson...........15........15.........18...........8.......14.0.........14.9..............11...................19

Navy...............118.......114.......131........110.....118.3......118.6..............11...................83

USC...................9........12.........10...........2.........8.3..........9.4..............14...................13

Temple..............73........79........70..........73.......73.8........74.2..............19...................50

Pittsburgh..........42........32........43..........62.......44.8........41.2..............15...................42

Wake Forest.......66........67........65..........52.......62.5........64.7..............16...................78

Stanford.............7.........51........13..........24......23.8.........23.1..............13...................16

 

Weight Average: (1 X 2012, .75 * 2013, .5* 2014, .25* 2015)/2.5

 

 

Returning Starters

 

http://www.philsteele.com/Blogs/2015/JAN15/DBJan23.html

 

 

Notre Opponent Recruiting 2015

 

http://www.onefootdown.com/2014/12/2/7313195/notre-dame-football-power-ranking-the-2015-opponents

 

 

Preseason Rank (ESPN)

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/102380/102380

Edited February 15, 201510 yr by Domer Dude

that my friend, was a lot of work.:tea: I love when people put in that much time for us.

 

So, USC, Texas, Clemson.. just on paper.. should be our toughest opponents.

 

Texas's Talent does no sync with their performance yet.

 

Stanford overperforms their talent.

 

We know, Navy, GA Tech and Stanford, will give us a tussle.

 

BUT WE ARE AS TALENTED AS ANY TEAM on this schedule and have as many returning starters,

 

ty Domer Dude

Edited February 15, 201510 yr by FaithInIrishForever

I think Ga. Tech will be our toughest opponent, they are REALLY good.

that my friend, was a lot of work.:tea: I love when people put in that much time for us.

 

So, USC, Texas, Clemson.. just on paper.. should be our toughest opponents.

 

Texas's Talent does no sync with their performance yet.

 

Stanford overperforms their talent.

 

We know, Navy, GA Tech and Stanford, will give us a tussle.

 

BUT WE ARE AS TALENTED AS ANY TEAM on this schedule and have as many returning starters,

 

ty Domer Dude

 

So what I gather from this is that we are better then any team on our schedule but we'll probably lose 3-4 if we're lucky.

 

Man. 2 years ago--or even the beginning of last season I would have thought we were no doubt a to 5 team. With the uncertainty of the QB position and you just have to factor in the injuries and suspensions that gets us every year.

 

We play a challenging schedule despite what the rankings say every year. Other teams essentially get a couple extra bye weeks playing those cupcakes. Until we can stop defeating ourselves with injuries, lawlessness and get some stability at QB then 8 wins will remain our wheelhouse.

 

Sincerely,

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/11/Mr-sunshine.jpg

I think Ga. Tech will be our toughest opponent, they are REALLY good.

 

I haven't followed Georgia tech too much. Seems they lost some of their weapons on offense. They lost 6 on O with all their starting rb's and war's but have 4 returning lineman. Was their production a function of the system or the players.

 

"Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets - Head coach Paul Johnson was on a warm seat before the 2014 season but not anymore after the Jacket’ 11-3 Orange Bowl season. Sophomore quarterback Justin Thomas returns along with most of his offensive line but Georgia Tech will need to find some new playmakers elsewhere on offense."

 

Some are picking Clemson to win the ACC. I like that we are earlier than later as they have a lot of play makers in their freshman class.

 

Here is another story on recruiting rankings for the top teams...

 

http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-college-football-20150215-story.html

 

The recruiting services are slow to the statistics game. They should create active rankings for players on the team and make adjustments (weightings) for years on the team and depth. Say 1, .75, .5, .25 rankings for years service (old to new) and .75, .25 for depth (1st, 2nd). Teams lose players due to various reason especially in the south to academics, draft (for alabama, etc), etc. Teams like Michigan State and Georgia tech can compete because they keep players for 4 to 5 years.

 

The services can then create rankings for all you opponents like I did. The numbers would change throughout the year. Yes there is player development but comparing rankings from 4 years ago with attrition isn't all that accurate. Alabamas can be beat because they are always losing players early.

Edited February 16, 201510 yr by Domer Dude

So what I gather from this is that we are better then any team on our schedule but we'll probably lose 3-4 if we're lucky.

 

Man. 2 years ago--or even the beginning of last season I would have thought we were no doubt a to 5 team. With the uncertainty of the QB position and you just have to factor in the injuries and suspensions that gets us every year.

 

We play a challenging schedule despite what the rankings say every year. Other teams essentially get a couple extra bye weeks playing those cupcakes. Until we can stop defeating ourselves with injuries, lawlessness and get some stability at QB then 8 wins will remain our wheelhouse.

 

Sincerely,

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/11/Mr-sunshine.jpg

 

I guess if you go by what has happened. your 80 percent right

But 1/5 we went 12/1. your 20 percent..........pick a word

 

20 percent is enough of a chance for me to predict "possible sunshine"

 

So I'll go with 20 percent and hope

 

you go with 80 if you want.

 

Remember hope is free.

It may not be as tough a slate as last year but its a reach to say we are better then everybody we play....

 

USC will likely be significantly better then us....

 

Clemson---who knows , they will be good enough and winning down there in that type of environment is just not something we usually pull off....

 

GT---I don't know how much they lose but they clearly would have had their way with us last season---historically we have STRUGGLED badly against NAVY--GT is NAVY ON STERIODS!

 

If we lose three those probably are going to be the ones.

 

Texas may still be a year or two away but again we are unpredictable out of the gate, sometimes good sometimes not...

 

Stanford at home is a game we DO NOT usually win---we will have to win this one at the end

 

Virginia, BC, Pitt, Navy, Wake--SHOULD BE easy but then again somebody weak seems to always jump on us....

 

Only TEMPLE & the lowly UMASS seem to be gimmie's

 

 

As always winning 10 games will be a goal and will be a struggle---

 

Kelly is now only 1 season in five with 10 wins or more, yet every season we seem to expect to cruise to 10 wins....

 

I really have to see much more ----better defense--better ST--MUCH better game day coaching which seems to cost us at least one a year---more consistency from the offense---a run game that seems to reflect the recruiting at OLINE & RB---and the ability to WIN the big games---see USC ,CLEMSON & GT.....

 

I can appreciate the spin that we are playoff bound after our DISMAL 2014---but am just not buying it ----

 

I think expecting 9 wins is what Kelly's teams seem to invite and for me that's a safe bet this year as well....hopefully he can surprise us with better!

 

aloha's

Edited February 16, 201510 yr by hawaiiirish

It may not be as tough a slate as last year but its a reach to say we are better then everybody we play....

 

USC will likely be significantly better then us....

 

Clemson---who knows , they will be good enough and winning down there in that type of environment is just not something we usually pull off....

 

GT---I don't know how much they lose but they clearly would have had there way with us last season---historically we have STRUGGLED badly against NAVY--GT is NAVY ON STERIODS!

 

If we lose three that's probably going to be the ones.

 

Texas may still be a year or two away but again we are unpredictable out of the gate, sometimes good sometimes not...

 

Stanford at home is a game we DO NOT usually win---we will have to win this one at the end

 

Virginia, BC, Pitt, Navy, Wake--SHOULD BE easy but then again somebody weak seems to always jump on us....

 

Only TEMPLE & the lowly UMASS seem to be gimmie's

 

 

As always winning 10 games will be a goal and will be a struggle---

 

Kelly is now only 1 season in five with 10 wins or more, yet every season we seem to expect us to cruise to 10 wins....

 

I really have to see much more ----better defense--better ST--MUCH better game day coaching which seems to cost us at least one a year---more consistency from the offense---a run game that seems to reflect the recruiting at OLINE & RB---and the ability to WIN the big games---see USC ,CLEMSON & GT.....

 

I can appreciate the spin that we are playoff bound after our DISMAL 2014---but am just not buying it ----

 

I think expecting 9 wins is what Kelly's teams seem to invite and for me that's a safe bet this year as well....hopefully he can surprise us with better!

 

aloha's

 

so your with the 80.. Get on the 20 train its more fun!

If any of you have watched Justin Thomas the Georgia Tech quarterback then you know he's going to be giving all of us fits. He's 5'10 but he's extremely fast and they said he could have played db in the sec pretty much anywhere.

 

If we can't seem to contain the Navy quarterback I'm extremely worried about this guy.

I think this season is very important. I think that's why Kelly is willing to step back from the offense and get the best coaches available.

 

Kelly gave it to Martin in 2012 and focused on building leadership within the ranks

Kelly will again Give the offense to Sanford.

 

He needs to be the Head Coach, not the head coach/OC

Things change during the course of the season with injuries and player development. We will certainly have more depth to sustain injuries next year then we have had in a long time. I agree with Ga. Tech, Clemson and USC as our toughest challenges. USC had a very good season as far as keeping people healthy last year. I feel better about this year if we surge on defense and Malik stays healthy. We play them at home.

 

Ga. Tech would have been a night mare last year. But that was last year. Clemson looked unbelievable in the bowl game but OU stunk it up with mental blunders.

 

I think we come out of the gate very strong against Texas. I have all the confidence in the world in Malik. Our defense will be much better. I'm extremely optimistic about next year. I have pointed to 2015 for a couple of years. Hey, maybe it's our time!!!

http://www.uhnd.com/articles/football/notre-dames-unusual-2015-football-schedule-19485/

 

It’s different this time, with no Big Ten teams on the schedule. There are six ACC teams on the schedule. The Irish departure from the Big Ten is unequivocal. The Irish center of opponent gravity is not in Chicago anymore.

 

We will rate the GAMES in perceived degree of difficulty. This is based on quality of the opponent, where we play them and when we play them. This is not an attempt to rank the TEAMS on a preseason basis or where they’d be expected to rank at season’s end.

 

(1) CLEMSON, Death Valley, October 3rd.

 

Think back to the Arizona State game of 2014. A normally dour crowd jacked up to a frenzy for the first visit by the Irish in a long time. Except this is not a normally dour crowd. This will be a BIG GAME for the CLEMSON faithful. They see FSU and South Carolina and Georgia Tech every other year, but this is NOTRE DAME. Watch the ticket prices climb on Stubhub. The Irish last visited Death Valley in 1977, and men and women of a certain age will remember the hostile crowd and some highly unusual penalty calls. On one drive the Irish had to amass 120 yards because of rabid zebras. Clemson, often obscured by the long shadow cast by Florida State has achieved a new plateau in the last three seasons. They are 32-7, with bowl wins over LSU, Ohio State and Oklahoma. Of the seven losses, three were to Florida State, two to South Carolina, and one each to Georgia and Georgi a Tech.

 

Clemson did lose a lot of their defensive talent, and Deshaun Watson, the designated heir apparent to the prolific Tajh Boyd, struggled with injuries during his freshman year. You may not have this game circled on your calendar, but rest assured that Clemson does. Clemson has thrown one other log on the bonfire. They play Louisville on Sept. 17th, a Thursday night. They do not play again until the Irish come to town some 16 days later. Crouching Tiger, indeed.

 

(2) USC, Notre Dame Stadium, October 17th

 

This will be a very big game, with an opportunity to wipe away the bad taste of last November. The Trojans have a lot of offensive ordnance, with one of college football’s most explosive receiving corps, age notwithstanding. Cody Kessler had a glistening 39/5 TD/Int ratio, especially appreciated in these parts. While Agholor departs for the draft, George Farmer may finally be getting healthy, but even if he’s not, Juju Smith is the next great Trojan receiver. Sarkisian is adding a couple of tall JCS to this class, so he is trying to make the rubble bounce at wide receiver. Troy has a huge offensive line with Zach Banner, 6’9” 350, Damien Mama 6’5” 370 and Viane Talamaivo 6’3 330. But this time it is expected that they will get a closer look at Jarron Jones and Sheldon Day, who did not play in the Coliseum.

 

The Trojans, however, are vulnerable on defense. This is just not yet a Pete Carroll quality defense.

 

Certainly, Su’A Cravens and wunderkind Adoree Jackson are two of the best defensive backs in college football regardless of class. Biggie Marshall may be the next Trojan frosh phenom at Cornerback. But the Trojan front seven is something less than imposing. It will be another year (2016) before Troy fields an outstanding defense, at least in the front seven. Freshmen like John Houston, Porter Gustin, Jacob Daniel, Osa Masina and Rasheem Green will still be freshmen when the game is played.

 

Third Saturday in October. USC. Revenge on the mind. On a rainy Saturday, October 23, 1965, fifty Autumns ago, Ara’s Irish got their revenge for the 1964 national championship robbing loss to USC by pounding USC 28-7 as Larry Conjar muscled in four touchdowns. It will be interesting.

 

(3) Stanford Cardinal, Stanford Stadium, November 28.

 

A Brian Kelly coached Notre Dame team has not defeated Stanford at Stanford Stadium. Stanford returns a veteran Kevn Hogan at quarterback. Late in the year, against Cal, UCLA and Maryland in the bowl game, Hogan seemed to shed his proclivity toward turnovers and played flawlessly. In those last three games, Hogan completed 45 passes in 59 attempts for 637 yards, with four touchdown passes against one interception. Hogan added 21 carries for 142 net rushing yards. He may be poised for a breakout Senior season. Stanford did lose a lot of the standbys in its defensive front seven and may not be as formidable a defense as in the past. The biggest unknown in this game is which team will have been impacted the most significantly by the inevitable injuries that occur during a college season. This game could be the feature game of Thanksgiving Weekend, or a complete yawn, of interest only to partisans of both schools.

 

(4) Georgia Tech, Notre Dame Stadium, September 19thh

 

Georgia Tech had a breakout season in 2014, escaping a 7-6/8-5 rut. They won three of their last four games, beating Clemson by 22, Georgia by six and Mississippi State by 15, the only loss by 2 to Florida State in the ACC Championship game. The Rambling Wreck lost their 2d, 3rd, 4th and 5th leading rushers, but return the fleet Justin Thomas, as fast a quarterback as the Irish have faced in recent years, perhaps ever. Further, you just know that Paul Johnson will have some runners ready to accept Thomas’ pitches and handoffs.

 

The dark side of the Yellow Jackets moon is that they are not imposing defensively. In the last three games, against sound offenses like Georgia, Florida State and Mississippi State , Georgia Tech allowed over 30 points per game.

 

This is a tricky scheduling spot for the Irish, right after the road trip to Charlottesville. This could be an uncomfortable Saturday, a Navy style nail biter, waiting for the Irish to outscore the Engineers.

 

Georgia Tech’s last visit to Notre Dame Stadium was for the 2007 opener. Ol’ Schematic Advantage sculpted his “David” of an (ahem) advantage, composing an “Eroica” of a game plan which relied on Demetrius Jones being the piñata for the Engineer defense. Tech won 33-3 under the crafty leadership of Chan Gailey. It was not a pretty sight. The Irish used that game as a springboard to a 3-9 season, including home losses on successive Saturdays to Navy and Air Force. Amortizing the bloated head coach’s bloated salaries, at least the losses were cheaper than the wins.

 

(5) Texas, Notre Dame Stadium , September 5th.

 

Charley Strong is building something special in Austin, after ending the Country Club that Mack Brown enabled. A lot of players would not accept Strong’s discipline and left on their own, joining the ones that Strong dismissed directly. It was so cathartic, so cleansing, that Roger Goodell sought Strong’s counsel in how to establish, for the lack of a better phrase, an “RKG” culture.

 

Strong reversed the recruiting momentum which Kevin Sumlin’s Aggies had established in the Lone Star State. Strong started 6-7 but is just beginning to build his program and restore Longhorn glory.

 

He will bring a solid defense to South Bend, but his offense is still under construction.

 

Notre Dame catches Texas early in Strong’s upward arc, and the Irish will have a significant experience and offensive skill edge. But the last time a former ND assistant came in for an opener with an “inferior” team, Skip Holtz’ USF Bulls embarrassed and upset the Irish in the 2011 opener.

 

(6) Pitt Panthers, Heinz Field, November 7th.

 

The good news is that this is a favorable schedule spot for the Irish, coming between a trip to Lincoln Financial to play Temple and a home game against Wake Forest. The further good news is that, once again, Pitt has a new coach, the all too familiar Pat Narduzzi, fresh in from East Lansing. This is Kelly’s fifth meeting against Pitt, and the fourth different Pitt head coach he will have faced, following Wannstedt, Todd Graham and Paul Chryst. The Irish seldom have an easy go of it in Pittsburgh. Narduzzi, in his year of acclimation to the ACC, might rise to the occasion against a very familiar foe.

 

Pitt’s QB Todd Voytik, is more runner than passer, and bruising James Conner is a pile driver evoking past Pitt bulldozers like Ironhead Heyward and Henry Hynoski.

 

(7) Boston College Eagles, Fenway Park, November 21st.

 

The Irish play in another former professional football venue, the home of the Boston Patriots of Butch Songin and Gino Cappelletti. While the map says Boston, this is a Shamrock Series game and the Irish should own the crowd, at least the sober portion. Steve Addazio is another former Notre Dame assistant and has compiled a14-12 record in 2 seasons in Chestnut Hill, including last year’s rout of USC, 37-31 when his Eagles racked up over 400 yards rushing against the Trojans.

 

Addazio loses the straw that stirred the Eagles’ offensive drink, quarterback Tyler Murphy. While Addazio prefers to “ground and pound” it will be difficult without any semblance of a passing threat. The Irish play BC the week before the trip to Palo Alto. Neither team’s performance will be as bad as the spectators’ sight lines. Folks will be reminded why they stopped playing football in Fenway. But those devious Eagles have sneaked an open date in the Saturday before the Irish invade the Fens and Fenway.

 

( University of Virginia, Scott Stadium, September 12th.

 

Mike London is a dead man walking. London is a mind-boggling 23-38 but somehow was granted a fifth year. Carrying coals to Newcastle UVA finished 9th in Rivals recruiting rankings for 2015 in the ACC. But the Wahoos play a little defense and return 8 defensive starters, so they will not go quietly on their campus. Nevertheless, with the Irish having Pitt, BC, Wake and UVA on the schedule, the ACC rotation is very kind to the Irish in 2015.

 

(9) Navy , Notre Dame Stadium October 10th

 

What a perfect spot! Right between a visit to Clemson and a home game against USC. Keenan Reynolds returns, older and wiser. Prepare to be aggravated and frustrated when the Irish are on defense, delighted when they are on offense. Kelly’s Irish have averaged 45.6 ppg against the Middies in five contests. Enjoy the game, ignore the post-game injury report.

 

(10) Temple Owls, Lincoln Financial field, Halloween.

 

Matt Rhule, along with Justin Fuente and Jeff Brohm, should be one of the coaches moving on up after the 2015 season if he continues his progress with the Owls. Rhule improved his team from 2-10 to 6-6, featuring wins over SEC foe Vanderbilt and prolific East Carolina. Temple returns its quarterback, P.J. Walker, along with 8 other offensive starters and all 11 defensive starters. This is the first game for the Irish after an open Saturday on October 24th.

 

(11) Wake Forest, Notre Dame Stadium, November 14th

 

Not at the bottom only because of the presence of UMASS. Wake is in a tough spot in the ACC, and even alum Jim Grobe, one tough cookie, could not make a go of it.

 

Dave Clawson put up a 3-9 in his first year in sylvan Winston-Salem and claimed he had Wake’s greatest recruiting class ever, though it finished 11th in the ACC recruiting ranking on Rivals. On its last visit to South Bend lost a 38-0 rout to the Irish. In this instance past performance just might be an indication of a future result. The only complicating factor this time is that it is Senior Day.

 

(12). UMASS, Notre Dame Stadium, September 26th

 

UMASS has produced legendary athletes like Julius Erving and Marcus Camby. Neither played football. Mark Whipple put up a 3-9 last year, earning victories over Kent State, Eastern Michigan and Ball State. This should not be a challenge.

 

2015’s schedule is odd. It does not have the overhanging doomy, gloomy presence that Michigan and FSU offered going into 2014. But there is a potentially uncomfortable stretch from 10/3 to 10/17 when the Irish play At Clemson, Navy and USC. It is not any one opponent that is overwhelming, but the sequencing of the three that is nettlesome. The answer? Just win!

 

The counterpoint is the last five games are as undaunting a stretch as the irish have played in recent years. But know this: if the nincompoops in the media and the nattering nabobs of the internet are screaming bloody murder about a soft November schedule for the Fighting Irish (Temple, Pitt, Wake, BC, before the Stanford finale) it will simply be a clear indicator that the Irish came out of the first seven games with a solid, contending record. We want a

 

November outcry and secular peasants with pitchforks! Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.

 

Go Irish!

http://www.uhnd.com/articles/football/notre-dames-unusual-2015-football-schedule-19485/

 

It’s different this time, with no Big Ten teams on the schedule. There are six ACC teams on the schedule. The Irish departure from the Big Ten is unequivocal. The Irish center of opponent gravity is not in Chicago anymore.

 

We will rate the GAMES in perceived degree of difficulty. This is based on quality of the opponent, where we play them and when we play them. This is not an attempt to rank the TEAMS on a preseason basis or where they’d be expected to rank at season’s end.

 

(1) CLEMSON, Death Valley, October 3rd.

 

Think back to the Arizona State game of 2014. A normally dour crowd jacked up to a frenzy for the first visit by the Irish in a long time. Except this is not a normally dour crowd. This will be a BIG GAME for the CLEMSON faithful. They see FSU and South Carolina and Georgia Tech every other year, but this is NOTRE DAME. Watch the ticket prices climb on Stubhub. The Irish last visited Death Valley in 1977, and men and women of a certain age will remember the hostile crowd and some highly unusual penalty calls. On one drive the Irish had to amass 120 yards because of rabid zebras. Clemson, often obscured by the long shadow cast by Florida State has achieved a new plateau in the last three seasons. They are 32-7, with bowl wins over LSU, Ohio State and Oklahoma. Of the seven losses, three were to Florida State, two to South Carolina, and one each to Georgia and Georgi a Tech.

 

Clemson did lose a lot of their defensive talent, and Deshaun Watson, the designated heir apparent to the prolific Tajh Boyd, struggled with injuries during his freshman year. You may not have this game circled on your calendar, but rest assured that Clemson does. Clemson has thrown one other log on the bonfire. They play Louisville on Sept. 17th, a Thursday night. They do not play again until the Irish come to town some 16 days later. Crouching Tiger, indeed.

 

(2) USC, Notre Dame Stadium, October 17th

 

This will be a very big game, with an opportunity to wipe away the bad taste of last November. The Trojans have a lot of offensive ordnance, with one of college football’s most explosive receiving corps, age notwithstanding. Cody Kessler had a glistening 39/5 TD/Int ratio, especially appreciated in these parts. While Agholor departs for the draft, George Farmer may finally be getting healthy, but even if he’s not, Juju Smith is the next great Trojan receiver. Sarkisian is adding a couple of tall JCS to this class, so he is trying to make the rubble bounce at wide receiver. Troy has a huge offensive line with Zach Banner, 6’9” 350, Damien Mama 6’5” 370 and Viane Talamaivo 6’3 330. But this time it is expected that they will get a closer look at Jarron Jones and Sheldon Day, who did not play in the Coliseum.

 

The Trojans, however, are vulnerable on defense. This is just not yet a Pete Carroll quality defense.

 

Certainly, Su’A Cravens and wunderkind Adoree Jackson are two of the best defensive backs in college football regardless of class. Biggie Marshall may be the next Trojan frosh phenom at Cornerback. But the Trojan front seven is something less than imposing. It will be another year (2016) before Troy fields an outstanding defense, at least in the front seven. Freshmen like John Houston, Porter Gustin, Jacob Daniel, Osa Masina and Rasheem Green will still be freshmen when the game is played.

 

Third Saturday in October. USC. Revenge on the mind. On a rainy Saturday, October 23, 1965, fifty Autumns ago, Ara’s Irish got their revenge for the 1964 national championship robbing loss to USC by pounding USC 28-7 as Larry Conjar muscled in four touchdowns. It will be interesting.

 

(3) Stanford Cardinal, Stanford Stadium, November 28.

 

A Brian Kelly coached Notre Dame team has not defeated Stanford at Stanford Stadium. Stanford returns a veteran Kevn Hogan at quarterback. Late in the year, against Cal, UCLA and Maryland in the bowl game, Hogan seemed to shed his proclivity toward turnovers and played flawlessly. In those last three games, Hogan completed 45 passes in 59 attempts for 637 yards, with four touchdown passes against one interception. Hogan added 21 carries for 142 net rushing yards. He may be poised for a breakout Senior season. Stanford did lose a lot of the standbys in its defensive front seven and may not be as formidable a defense as in the past. The biggest unknown in this game is which team will have been impacted the most significantly by the inevitable injuries that occur during a college season. This game could be the feature game of Thanksgiving Weekend, or a complete yawn, of interest only to partisans of both schools.

 

(4) Georgia Tech, Notre Dame Stadium, September 19thh

 

Georgia Tech had a breakout season in 2014, escaping a 7-6/8-5 rut. They won three of their last four games, beating Clemson by 22, Georgia by six and Mississippi State by 15, the only loss by 2 to Florida State in the ACC Championship game. The Rambling Wreck lost their 2d, 3rd, 4th and 5th leading rushers, but return the fleet Justin Thomas, as fast a quarterback as the Irish have faced in recent years, perhaps ever. Further, you just know that Paul Johnson will have some runners ready to accept Thomas’ pitches and handoffs.

 

The dark side of the Yellow Jackets moon is that they are not imposing defensively. In the last three games, against sound offenses like Georgia, Florida State and Mississippi State , Georgia Tech allowed over 30 points per game.

 

This is a tricky scheduling spot for the Irish, right after the road trip to Charlottesville. This could be an uncomfortable Saturday, a Navy style nail biter, waiting for the Irish to outscore the Engineers.

 

Georgia Tech’s last visit to Notre Dame Stadium was for the 2007 opener. Ol’ Schematic Advantage sculpted his “David” of an (ahem) advantage, composing an “Eroica” of a game plan which relied on Demetrius Jones being the piñata for the Engineer defense. Tech won 33-3 under the crafty leadership of Chan Gailey. It was not a pretty sight. The Irish used that game as a springboard to a 3-9 season, including home losses on successive Saturdays to Navy and Air Force. Amortizing the bloated head coach’s bloated salaries, at least the losses were cheaper than the wins.

 

(5) Texas, Notre Dame Stadium , September 5th.

 

Charley Strong is building something special in Austin, after ending the Country Club that Mack Brown enabled. A lot of players would not accept Strong’s discipline and left on their own, joining the ones that Strong dismissed directly. It was so cathartic, so cleansing, that Roger Goodell sought Strong’s counsel in how to establish, for the lack of a better phrase, an “RKG” culture.

 

Strong reversed the recruiting momentum which Kevin Sumlin’s Aggies had established in the Lone Star State. Strong started 6-7 but is just beginning to build his program and restore Longhorn glory.

 

He will bring a solid defense to South Bend, but his offense is still under construction.

 

Notre Dame catches Texas early in Strong’s upward arc, and the Irish will have a significant experience and offensive skill edge. But the last time a former ND assistant came in for an opener with an “inferior” team, Skip Holtz’ USF Bulls embarrassed and upset the Irish in the 2011 opener.

 

(6) Pitt Panthers, Heinz Field, November 7th.

 

The good news is that this is a favorable schedule spot for the Irish, coming between a trip to Lincoln Financial to play Temple and a home game against Wake Forest. The further good news is that, once again, Pitt has a new coach, the all too familiar Pat Narduzzi, fresh in from East Lansing. This is Kelly’s fifth meeting against Pitt, and the fourth different Pitt head coach he will have faced, following Wannstedt, Todd Graham and Paul Chryst. The Irish seldom have an easy go of it in Pittsburgh. Narduzzi, in his year of acclimation to the ACC, might rise to the occasion against a very familiar foe.

 

Pitt’s QB Todd Voytik, is more runner than passer, and bruising James Conner is a pile driver evoking past Pitt bulldozers like Ironhead Heyward and Henry Hynoski.

 

(7) Boston College Eagles, Fenway Park, November 21st.

 

The Irish play in another former professional football venue, the home of the Boston Patriots of Butch Songin and Gino Cappelletti. While the map says Boston, this is a Shamrock Series game and the Irish should own the crowd, at least the sober portion. Steve Addazio is another former Notre Dame assistant and has compiled a14-12 record in 2 seasons in Chestnut Hill, including last year’s rout of USC, 37-31 when his Eagles racked up over 400 yards rushing against the Trojans.

 

Addazio loses the straw that stirred the Eagles’ offensive drink, quarterback Tyler Murphy. While Addazio prefers to “ground and pound” it will be difficult without any semblance of a passing threat. The Irish play BC the week before the trip to Palo Alto. Neither team’s performance will be as bad as the spectators’ sight lines. Folks will be reminded why they stopped playing football in Fenway. But those devious Eagles have sneaked an open date in the Saturday before the Irish invade the Fens and Fenway.

 

( University of Virginia, Scott Stadium, September 12th.

 

Mike London is a dead man walking. London is a mind-boggling 23-38 but somehow was granted a fifth year. Carrying coals to Newcastle UVA finished 9th in Rivals recruiting rankings for 2015 in the ACC. But the Wahoos play a little defense and return 8 defensive starters, so they will not go quietly on their campus. Nevertheless, with the Irish having Pitt, BC, Wake and UVA on the schedule, the ACC rotation is very kind to the Irish in 2015.

 

(9) Navy , Notre Dame Stadium October 10th

 

What a perfect spot! Right between a visit to Clemson and a home game against USC. Keenan Reynolds returns, older and wiser. Prepare to be aggravated and frustrated when the Irish are on defense, delighted when they are on offense. Kelly’s Irish have averaged 45.6 ppg against the Middies in five contests. Enjoy the game, ignore the post-game injury report.

 

(10) Temple Owls, Lincoln Financial field, Halloween.

 

Matt Rhule, along with Justin Fuente and Jeff Brohm, should be one of the coaches moving on up after the 2015 season if he continues his progress with the Owls. Rhule improved his team from 2-10 to 6-6, featuring wins over SEC foe Vanderbilt and prolific East Carolina. Temple returns its quarterback, P.J. Walker, along with 8 other offensive starters and all 11 defensive starters. This is the first game for the Irish after an open Saturday on October 24th.

 

(11) Wake Forest, Notre Dame Stadium, November 14th

 

Not at the bottom only because of the presence of UMASS. Wake is in a tough spot in the ACC, and even alum Jim Grobe, one tough cookie, could not make a go of it.

 

Dave Clawson put up a 3-9 in his first year in sylvan Winston-Salem and claimed he had Wake’s greatest recruiting class ever, though it finished 11th in the ACC recruiting ranking on Rivals. On its last visit to South Bend lost a 38-0 rout to the Irish. In this instance past performance just might be an indication of a future result. The only complicating factor this time is that it is Senior Day.

 

(12). UMASS, Notre Dame Stadium, September 26th

 

UMASS has produced legendary athletes like Julius Erving and Marcus Camby. Neither played football. Mark Whipple put up a 3-9 last year, earning victories over Kent State, Eastern Michigan and Ball State. This should not be a challenge.

 

2015’s schedule is odd. It does not have the overhanging doomy, gloomy presence that Michigan and FSU offered going into 2014. But there is a potentially uncomfortable stretch from 10/3 to 10/17 when the Irish play At Clemson, Navy and USC. It is not any one opponent that is overwhelming, but the sequencing of the three that is nettlesome. The answer? Just win!

 

The counterpoint is the last five games are as undaunting a stretch as the irish have played in recent years. But know this: if the nincompoops in the media and the nattering nabobs of the internet are screaming bloody murder about a soft November schedule for the Fighting Irish (Temple, Pitt, Wake, BC, before the Stanford finale) it will simply be a clear indicator that the Irish came out of the first seven games with a solid, contending record. We want a

 

November outcry and secular peasants with pitchforks! Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.

 

Go Irish!

 

Nice post, after reading this I'm starting to realize just how hard this schedule might be. We won't know until the season gets going as usual but there are some teams we know will be very good. I can't see us beating USC, and the schedule doesn't set up nicely with that Navy game at all.

 

I could easily see us losing to the top 4 teams you have here, splitting those and going 10-2 will make me a happy camper.

No question this might actually be a very tough schedule given the teams ND plays and when they are on the schedule. I must say after reading DomerDudes report, I didn't realize exactly how many rushing teams we play this season. We are going to need every one of those D-lineman if we stand a chance at 10 wins. Think about it, Navy, GT, BC, Pitt are all smash mouth running teams. With teams like USC, Clemson, and Texas who have the talent at running back to line up and punch you in the face need be if they get bored with passing it I you. Temple, Umass, and Wake should be our only breathers. I hope we have enough bodies and size to make it through the season.

http://www.uhnd.com/articles/football/notre-dames-unusual-2015-football-schedule-19485/

 

It’s different this time, with no Big Ten teams on the schedule. There are six ACC teams on the schedule. The Irish departure from the Big Ten is unequivocal. The Irish center of opponent gravity is not in Chicago anymore.

 

We will rate the GAMES in perceived degree of difficulty. This is based on quality of the opponent, where we play them and when we play them. This is not an attempt to rank the TEAMS on a preseason basis or where they’d be expected to rank at season’s end.

 

(1) CLEMSON, Death Valley, October 3rd.

 

Think back to the Arizona State game of 2014. A normally dour crowd jacked up to a frenzy for the first visit by the Irish in a long time. Except this is not a normally dour crowd. This will be a BIG GAME for the CLEMSON faithful. They see FSU and South Carolina and Georgia Tech every other year, but this is NOTRE DAME. Watch the ticket prices climb on Stubhub. The Irish last visited Death Valley in 1977, and men and women of a certain age will remember the hostile crowd and some highly unusual penalty calls. On one drive the Irish had to amass 120 yards because of rabid zebras. Clemson, often obscured by the long shadow cast by Florida State has achieved a new plateau in the last three seasons. They are 32-7, with bowl wins over LSU, Ohio State and Oklahoma. Of the seven losses, three were to Florida State, two to South Carolina, and one each to Georgia and Georgi a Tech.

 

Clemson did lose a lot of their defensive talent, and Deshaun Watson, the designated heir apparent to the prolific Tajh Boyd, struggled with injuries during his freshman year. You may not have this game circled on your calendar, but rest assured that Clemson does. Clemson has thrown one other log on the bonfire. They play Louisville on Sept. 17th, a Thursday night. They do not play again until the Irish come to town some 16 days later. Crouching Tiger, indeed.

 

(2) USC, Notre Dame Stadium, October 17th

 

This will be a very big game, with an opportunity to wipe away the bad taste of last November. The Trojans have a lot of offensive ordnance, with one of college football’s most explosive receiving corps, age notwithstanding. Cody Kessler had a glistening 39/5 TD/Int ratio, especially appreciated in these parts. While Agholor departs for the draft, George Farmer may finally be getting healthy, but even if he’s not, Juju Smith is the next great Trojan receiver. Sarkisian is adding a couple of tall JCS to this class, so he is trying to make the rubble bounce at wide receiver. Troy has a huge offensive line with Zach Banner, 6’9” 350, Damien Mama 6’5” 370 and Viane Talamaivo 6’3 330. But this time it is expected that they will get a closer look at Jarron Jones and Sheldon Day, who did not play in the Coliseum.

 

The Trojans, however, are vulnerable on defense. This is just not yet a Pete Carroll quality defense.

 

Certainly, Su’A Cravens and wunderkind Adoree Jackson are two of the best defensive backs in college football regardless of class. Biggie Marshall may be the next Trojan frosh phenom at Cornerback. But the Trojan front seven is something less than imposing. It will be another year (2016) before Troy fields an outstanding defense, at least in the front seven. Freshmen like John Houston, Porter Gustin, Jacob Daniel, Osa Masina and Rasheem Green will still be freshmen when the game is played.

 

Third Saturday in October. USC. Revenge on the mind. On a rainy Saturday, October 23, 1965, fifty Autumns ago, Ara’s Irish got their revenge for the 1964 national championship robbing loss to USC by pounding USC 28-7 as Larry Conjar muscled in four touchdowns. It will be interesting.

 

(3) Stanford Cardinal, Stanford Stadium, November 28.

 

A Brian Kelly coached Notre Dame team has not defeated Stanford at Stanford Stadium. Stanford returns a veteran Kevn Hogan at quarterback. Late in the year, against Cal, UCLA and Maryland in the bowl game, Hogan seemed to shed his proclivity toward turnovers and played flawlessly. In those last three games, Hogan completed 45 passes in 59 attempts for 637 yards, with four touchdown passes against one interception. Hogan added 21 carries for 142 net rushing yards. He may be poised for a breakout Senior season. Stanford did lose a lot of the standbys in its defensive front seven and may not be as formidable a defense as in the past. The biggest unknown in this game is which team will have been impacted the most significantly by the inevitable injuries that occur during a college season. This game could be the feature game of Thanksgiving Weekend, or a complete yawn, of interest only to partisans of both schools.

 

(4) Georgia Tech, Notre Dame Stadium, September 19thh

 

Georgia Tech had a breakout season in 2014, escaping a 7-6/8-5 rut. They won three of their last four games, beating Clemson by 22, Georgia by six and Mississippi State by 15, the only loss by 2 to Florida State in the ACC Championship game. The Rambling Wreck lost their 2d, 3rd, 4th and 5th leading rushers, but return the fleet Justin Thomas, as fast a quarterback as the Irish have faced in recent years, perhaps ever. Further, you just know that Paul Johnson will have some runners ready to accept Thomas’ pitches and handoffs.

 

The dark side of the Yellow Jackets moon is that they are not imposing defensively. In the last three games, against sound offenses like Georgia, Florida State and Mississippi State , Georgia Tech allowed over 30 points per game.

 

This is a tricky scheduling spot for the Irish, right after the road trip to Charlottesville. This could be an uncomfortable Saturday, a Navy style nail biter, waiting for the Irish to outscore the Engineers.

 

Georgia Tech’s last visit to Notre Dame Stadium was for the 2007 opener. Ol’ Schematic Advantage sculpted his “David” of an (ahem) advantage, composing an “Eroica” of a game plan which relied on Demetrius Jones being the piñata for the Engineer defense. Tech won 33-3 under the crafty leadership of Chan Gailey. It was not a pretty sight. The Irish used that game as a springboard to a 3-9 season, including home losses on successive Saturdays to Navy and Air Force. Amortizing the bloated head coach’s bloated salaries, at least the losses were cheaper than the wins.

 

(5) Texas, Notre Dame Stadium , September 5th.

 

Charley Strong is building something special in Austin, after ending the Country Club that Mack Brown enabled. A lot of players would not accept Strong’s discipline and left on their own, joining the ones that Strong dismissed directly. It was so cathartic, so cleansing, that Roger Goodell sought Strong’s counsel in how to establish, for the lack of a better phrase, an “RKG” culture.

 

Strong reversed the recruiting momentum which Kevin Sumlin’s Aggies had established in the Lone Star State. Strong started 6-7 but is just beginning to build his program and restore Longhorn glory.

 

He will bring a solid defense to South Bend, but his offense is still under construction.

 

Notre Dame catches Texas early in Strong’s upward arc, and the Irish will have a significant experience and offensive skill edge. But the last time a former ND assistant came in for an opener with an “inferior” team, Skip Holtz’ USF Bulls embarrassed and upset the Irish in the 2011 opener.

 

(6) Pitt Panthers, Heinz Field, November 7th.

 

The good news is that this is a favorable schedule spot for the Irish, coming between a trip to Lincoln Financial to play Temple and a home game against Wake Forest. The further good news is that, once again, Pitt has a new coach, the all too familiar Pat Narduzzi, fresh in from East Lansing. This is Kelly’s fifth meeting against Pitt, and the fourth different Pitt head coach he will have faced, following Wannstedt, Todd Graham and Paul Chryst. The Irish seldom have an easy go of it in Pittsburgh. Narduzzi, in his year of acclimation to the ACC, might rise to the occasion against a very familiar foe.

 

Pitt’s QB Todd Voytik, is more runner than passer, and bruising James Conner is a pile driver evoking past Pitt bulldozers like Ironhead Heyward and Henry Hynoski.

 

(7) Boston College Eagles, Fenway Park, November 21st.

 

The Irish play in another former professional football venue, the home of the Boston Patriots of Butch Songin and Gino Cappelletti. While the map says Boston, this is a Shamrock Series game and the Irish should own the crowd, at least the sober portion. Steve Addazio is another former Notre Dame assistant and has compiled a14-12 record in 2 seasons in Chestnut Hill, including last year’s rout of USC, 37-31 when his Eagles racked up over 400 yards rushing against the Trojans.

 

Addazio loses the straw that stirred the Eagles’ offensive drink, quarterback Tyler Murphy. While Addazio prefers to “ground and pound” it will be difficult without any semblance of a passing threat. The Irish play BC the week before the trip to Palo Alto. Neither team’s performance will be as bad as the spectators’ sight lines. Folks will be reminded why they stopped playing football in Fenway. But those devious Eagles have sneaked an open date in the Saturday before the Irish invade the Fens and Fenway.

 

( University of Virginia, Scott Stadium, September 12th.

 

Mike London is a dead man walking. London is a mind-boggling 23-38 but somehow was granted a fifth year. Carrying coals to Newcastle UVA finished 9th in Rivals recruiting rankings for 2015 in the ACC. But the Wahoos play a little defense and return 8 defensive starters, so they will not go quietly on their campus. Nevertheless, with the Irish having Pitt, BC, Wake and UVA on the schedule, the ACC rotation is very kind to the Irish in 2015.

 

(9) Navy , Notre Dame Stadium October 10th

 

What a perfect spot! Right between a visit to Clemson and a home game against USC. Keenan Reynolds returns, older and wiser. Prepare to be aggravated and frustrated when the Irish are on defense, delighted when they are on offense. Kelly’s Irish have averaged 45.6 ppg against the Middies in five contests. Enjoy the game, ignore the post-game injury report.

 

(10) Temple Owls, Lincoln Financial field, Halloween.

 

Matt Rhule, along with Justin Fuente and Jeff Brohm, should be one of the coaches moving on up after the 2015 season if he continues his progress with the Owls. Rhule improved his team from 2-10 to 6-6, featuring wins over SEC foe Vanderbilt and prolific East Carolina. Temple returns its quarterback, P.J. Walker, along with 8 other offensive starters and all 11 defensive starters. This is the first game for the Irish after an open Saturday on October 24th.

 

(11) Wake Forest, Notre Dame Stadium, November 14th

 

Not at the bottom only because of the presence of UMASS. Wake is in a tough spot in the ACC, and even alum Jim Grobe, one tough cookie, could not make a go of it.

 

Dave Clawson put up a 3-9 in his first year in sylvan Winston-Salem and claimed he had Wake’s greatest recruiting class ever, though it finished 11th in the ACC recruiting ranking on Rivals. On its last visit to South Bend lost a 38-0 rout to the Irish. In this instance past performance just might be an indication of a future result. The only complicating factor this time is that it is Senior Day.

 

(12). UMASS, Notre Dame Stadium, September 26th

 

UMASS has produced legendary athletes like Julius Erving and Marcus Camby. Neither played football. Mark Whipple put up a 3-9 last year, earning victories over Kent State, Eastern Michigan and Ball State. This should not be a challenge.

 

2015’s schedule is odd. It does not have the overhanging doomy, gloomy presence that Michigan and FSU offered going into 2014. But there is a potentially uncomfortable stretch from 10/3 to 10/17 when the Irish play At Clemson, Navy and USC. It is not any one opponent that is overwhelming, but the sequencing of the three that is nettlesome. The answer? Just win!

 

The counterpoint is the last five games are as undaunting a stretch as the irish have played in recent years. But know this: if the nincompoops in the media and the nattering nabobs of the internet are screaming bloody murder about a soft November schedule for the Fighting Irish (Temple, Pitt, Wake, BC, before the Stanford finale) it will simply be a clear indicator that the Irish came out of the first seven games with a solid, contending record. We want a

 

November outcry and secular peasants with pitchforks! Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.

 

Go Irish!

 

 

This ^^^^^is a better read then you can find any where on the internet. I tip my hat to those that take the time to do the study and then present it here.

No mention of possible playoff opponents?

 

11-1 is disappointing, but acceptable.

 

12-0 is the goal.

 

Anything less than 10 wins and, well, the little faith I have left in Kelly will be gone.

No mention of possible playoff opponents?

 

11-1 is disappointing, but acceptable.

 

12-0 is the goal.

 

Anything less than 10 wins and, well, the little faith I have left in Kelly will be gone.

 

You better light your votive candle now

No mention of possible playoff opponents?

 

11-1 is disappointing, but acceptable.

 

12-0 is the goal.

 

Anything less than 10 wins and, well, the little faith I have left in Kelly will be gone.

 

1 loss is disappointing? Are you on the right message boards?

 

For a couple of years now, I have looked at 2015 as "the" year....but that defense....ugg.

 

Though I agree that 0 losses is the goal, I think the 2015 schedule = 2 losses (with an improved D) and 4+ if BVG can't figure out tempo.

1 loss is disappointing? Are you on the right message boards?

 

For a couple of years now, I have looked at 2015 as "the" year....but that defense....ugg.

 

Though I agree that 0 losses is the goal, I think the 2015 schedule = 2 losses (with an improved D) and 4+ if BVG can't figure out tempo.

 

I think that D is going to be much better than anyone thinks. Too much talent for it not to be. Let's not forget, all of the issues started after Schmidt went down. Then Day missed time. Jones missed time. Riggs missed time. Heck, everyone just about missed time. New system. New players. Young players. That is a recipe for disaster, which is was. But I think many of those issues will be cleared up this year.

 

I know LSU wasn't a great team, but they did have a top 10 defense in most major categories. #9 in overall defense. ND went up and down the field with a QB in his first start. Had 5.2 yards per rush vs a team that gave up 4.2 prior to that.

 

Yes, the D gave up some big plays, but one was a KO return, which isn't the defense, the other was the best RB in the country making some great plays. Not to mention ND was without their two starting D-tackles, their Captain middle LB etc.

 

So, with Zaire in his first start, ND had 449 yards against a team that came in giving up 316 per game. Gave up 315 to Alabama. Yes, they had some struggles early with young players, just like ND, but they ended up being a great defense. Hadn't given up more than 315 yards in the previous 6 games.

 

So what does all that mean? Heck, I don't know. But, I don't see a true top 10 defense on that schedule. So, assuming Kelly doesn't totally screw it up, ND shouldn't have trouble scoring, playing ball control, running it down teams throats and using Fuller et al over the top to keep them honest.

 

Really, ND has a power run team, with a capable running QB, a massive O-Line, elite RB, with WRs who can stretch the field stopping you from bringing an extra defender in to the box. This can't be stopped except by the truly elite defenses. ND doesn't play those.

 

If the defense can be servicable (I think they'll be more than that), ND wins 10 easy. If the defense is good, 11-12 is the number.

 

Of course, Kelly could start Golson, try to throw the ball all over the field and we'll all watch ND win 8 games again.

As most people familiar with my posts have noticed ,MY CONFIDENCE in coach Kelly's ability to deliver double digit winning seasons has been basically trashed----although its true that ON PAPER we should win 10+ and that if you look at our roster we have higher ranked recruits then most everyone we play , except maybe USC this year---FSU last year etc----BUT THAT HAS BEEN TRUE SINCE KELLY ARRIVED!

 

We always look to have the talent to win consistently yet the most consistent thing we have done since Kelly arrived is win 8 games!

 

The 12-1 season was awesome---but the other 4 seasons were ALL UNDERPERFORMING TEAMS!

 

This year we have a LOADED OFFENSE and a QUESTIONABLE DEFENSE going against a fairly tough slate of games.....

 

Unfortunately the safe bet would be 9 wins ---

 

New coaches, sketchy STs and sketchy defense coupled with Kelly's uncanny skill at BLOWING ONE GAME a year with a BONEHEAD strategy or play ----all that makes WINNING 10 GAMES a very tough challenge.

 

Hopefully we don't play to form and we surprise in 2015 with strong balanced team play wire to wire----but I would be hesitant to put too much money on it!

 

aloha's

 

Of course, Kelly could start Golson, try to throw the ball all over the field and we'll all watch ND win 8 games again.

 

I'm hoping Golson stays and is a backup who's there incase Zaire gets injured from all the running he'll be doing. However who here believes that will be the case? I know Kelly is in love with throwing the ball all over when he doesn't have to so I'm still a bit worried.

 

Golson stays and somehow wins the job I will be shocked but it is a possibility is it not? Atleast we have a proven OC who will hopefully be given the full reigns of this offense.