Notre Dame football season preview 2020: Record predictions, depth chart analysis, breakout players
By Dante Pryor
Notre Dame football is a member of the ACC this season and could challenge Clemson for the conference title and earn a berth in the College Football Playoff.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are in the midst of their best run of football since the Lou Holtz era. The Irish have won 10 or more games four of the last five seasons and have made the College Football Playoff.
This run the Irish are on is due in large part to the uptick in recruiting and player development. During Brian Kelly’s tenure in South Bend — especially these last five seasons — the Irish have produced a high number of NFL-caliber players.
More specifically, they’ve produced more high-round NFL talent. During this five-year run, Notre Dame has produced 13 first or second-round draft picks, most since the Lou Holtz era. During this run, they’ve produced the likes of Quinton Nelson, Mike McGlinchey and Jerry Tillery.
Last season was one of Notre Dame’s best. They won 11 games on route to winning the Camping World Bowl against the Iowa State Cyclones and finishing ranked No. 12 in the final AP poll. Book had his most exceptional season at Notre Dame to date, throwing 34 touchdowns to six interceptions. Chase Claypool led the team with 1037 receiving yards.
The offensive line was solid once again, finishing 13th in sacks allowed giving up fewer than two sacks per game. The run game averaged almost five yards per carry and 180 yards per game despite injuries all season.
Defensively, the Irish struggled against the run, but they were phenomenal against the pass finishing third in pass defense and a respectable 32nd in sacks.
This season, the Irish come in as a favorite to win the ACC championship. That is not a typo. This season The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will play football in the ACC only. As the Atlantic Coast Conference moved to a conference-only schedule, the Irish decided to jump in with both feet this season.
They are scrapping divisions, and the top two teams based on winning percentage are going to play for the conference championship. Can Notre Dame be one of those two teams? Here is a preview of their season.