Notre Dame Football Preview, Best Players, Top Transfers, Season Prediction, Win Total 2024

Notre Dame College Football Preview 2024

The landscape of collegiate athletics is evolving, and Notre Dame football is in a perfect position to benefit, improve, and potentially dominate because of it.

The university is uniquely positioned to leverage the changing rules and regulations, - as loose as they all might be - with the possibilities arising to generate more money, get even better talent, and be an even bigger have in a college landscape of way too many have-somes .

Is your school rich? Does it have a good media deal with the potential to be even better?

Like way, WAY better? (Save that for another day.)

Does it have the fan base and alumni with the will and the means to do whatever it takes? Does it have an already great situation that might be just one or two tweaks away from going to a whole new VIP lounge level?

Oh yeah on all of that when it comes to Notre Dame, and it has the coach and the momentum to get there soon, if not now.

But forgetting about the boring administrative stuff, and all the policy changes, and figuring out how to divide the gigantic pile of revenue, the more immediately tangible positive for Notre Dame is the change to the College Football Playoff.

Over the ten years of the CFP there was one wacky upset - TCU over Michigan two seasons ago. And even then, the SEC came to breakfast when it was time to decide a national champion.

Just getting to the four-team tournament was an honor over the last ten years, but the CFP hasn’t been the NCAA Tournament, or like any other playoff in any other sport. You couldn’t just get hot from three, or get a hot run from a goalie standing on his head, or utilize an epic pitching performance to overcome a talent disparity.

In the four-team College Football Playoff, yeah, maybe you got by an Alabama or an Ohio State or a Clemson in the right year, but all that meant is that you had to get by an Alabama or an Ohio State or a Clemson or a 2019 LSU or a 2023 Michigan to win the national title.

Notre Dame has been able to take its cuts over the last decade-plus, only to find out just how far it was away from being a real rock-and-roller.

Alabama 31, Notre Dame 14, and it wasn’t even that close in the College Football Playoff semifinal for the 2020 season.

Clemson 30, Notre Dame 3 at the end of the 2018 season - and no, it really, really wasn’t that close, even though some have tried arguing with me about this.

Alabama 42, Notre Dame 14 in the BCS Championship to end 2012 - and that REALLY wasn’t that close.

But the 12-team playoff should be different.

Longer playoff, more chances for injuries, more opportunities for top players to come down with a case of NFLitis, more shots for strange stuff to happen with the thing going to late January now.

And then there’s the other key thing that might happen going forward - this goes back to the new changes and regulations. Under Marcus Freeman, maybe Notre Dame comes up with a monster like 2023 Michigan, or 2022 Georgia, or a number of Alabama teams, or that 2016 Clemson squad.

At the very least, with eight double-digit win seasons in the last 12 years, two more nine-win campaigns, and only one real dud in that bunch, Notre Dame keeps putting itself in a position to succeed.

The 2021 team would’ve made the expanded CFP. The 2019 team would’ve been in, too, along with the 2014 and 2017 squads. It would’ve been six expanded playoff appearances - and really, really close to seven - in the last ten years.

Keep winning, starting getting into this new College Football Playoff on a regular basis, and keep hammering away. Eventually one of these Irish teams will break through and have the right run in late December through January.

The 2024 Notre Dame Fighting Irish might just be the one to do it.

Notre Dame Football Preview 2024: Offense

- It’s Round Three for Mike Denbrock at Notre Dame. He was the offensive line coach for the Irish in the early 2000s, left, came back, and was a key figure under Brian Kelly in the 2010s.

He became the offensive coordinator at Cincinnati and then reunited with Kelly at LSU before returning this season to once again take over the OC job and handle the tight ends.

No pressure, but his attack with the talent in place has to be great, even with a slew of new parts in the mix.

Last year’s offense was great in pass protection, cranked up the ground game, and got a good year from Wake Forest transfer quarterback Sam Hartman. But now …

- Riley Leonard has the potential to be the best quarterback the Irish have had in a long, long time. The Duke transfer is big and can move, but he missed most of last year with an ankle problem that didn’t get better until he had it fixed.

Yes, he only threw three touchdown passes for the Blue Devils last year, but he ran for 352 yards and four scores in his shortened campaign and came up with the win over Clemson.

He threw 20 touchdown passes in 2022 and went into last year as an underground whisper of a possible first-round draft pick - that chatter could ramp up fast again. Everything appears to be on track for him to be healthy and rolling by the start of the season.

Sophomore Steven Angeli was a strong reserve last season, hitting 77% of his passes with seven touchdowns, with most of the work coming in a near-perfect performance in the bowl win over Oregon State. Coming in is CJ Carr, a 6-3, 210-pound dual-threat recruit with big-time upside.

- The Irish didn’t have any one receiver who’ll be sorely missed. Chris Tyree was a factor, averaging close to 19 yards per catch, but he only made 26 grabs. He left for Virginia, and Rico Flores took off for UCLA after finishing second on the team with 27 catches. The Irish will be more than okay.

The new coaching staff will do even more with TE Mitchell Evans, who led the team with 29 grabs for 422 yards. The combination of Jayden Thomas, Jaden Greathouse, and Jordan Faison is experienced enough to be even more dangerous.

Adding even more pop is Kris Mitchell, a deep-threat transfer from FIU who caught 64 passes last season with six scores, and Clemson transfer Beaux Collins, who caught 91 passes for 1,290 yards and 11 touchdowns over the last three seasons. Former QB Tyler Buchner will play a role, too, in a jack-of-all-trades wayThis will be a strength, but …

- The offensive line hardly a negative, but it has the spotlight on with Joe Alt now a Los Angeles Charger and Blake Fisher a Houston Texan.

Tosh Baker backed up Alt on the left side last year but will likely start out on the right. Former top recruit Charles Jagusah, who started in the bowl game, will get the first look on the left side.

Both starting guards, Pat Coogan and Billy Schrauth, are back, and versatile Ashton Craig will move in at center.

- Notre Dame has become a bit of a factory lately for good college running backs. Audric Estime ran for 29 touchdowns over the last two years, and now he’s a Denver Bronco. Kyren Williams was a 1,000-yard back before shining for the LA Rams, and Tony Jones Jr., Dexter Williams, Josh Adams, and CJ Prosise were all great over the last ten years.

Now it’s Jeremiyah Love’s turn to be the main man after averaging over five yards per carry and finishing second on the team with 385 yards. Jadarian Price is back after finishing third with 272 yards and three touchdowns.

Notre Dame Football Preview 2024: Defense

- Al Golden is a whale of a defensive coordinator. The mediocre run at Miami—32-25 in 4.5 years as the head man—overshadowed the success he had building up Temple into a winner for a few seasons.

After a few years as an NFL assistant, he came aboard at Notre Dame in 2022, and the defense went from 43rd in the nation to 21st in his first season, and then to fifth last year.

The pass defense gave up 14 touchdowns but picked off 14 passes and was third in the nation in yards allowed. The run defense allowed fewer than three yards per carry six times, the pass rush was fine, and the 24 takeaways mattered.

Six starters have to be replaced, but there’s a whopper of a recruiting class coming in to boost the depth, and a few transfers are filling in the gaps, starting with …

- The pass rush lost a few parts, but it’s not a problem with the pressure coming from several spots. Jordan Botelho is a big end who can get behind the line, but is best holding up against the run. Duke transfer RJ Oben is the key to the pressure, coming in after making 14.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss over the last three seasons.

The tackles are terrific. Howard Cross - second on the team in tackles with 66 - and Rylie Mills aren’t huge, but they hold up, can move, and they should stay fresh with veterans Donovan Hinish and Jason Onye experienced enough to play bigger roles. Running inside on the Irish will be a problem.

- Leading tackler JD Bertrand is done from the linebacking corps after leading the team with 76 stops, Drayk Bowen is a slightly bigger option for the middle. He got in a little work last season, but he should be a statistical star.

The developed depth is thin, and Jaylen Sneed has to step up on the outside after making 14 stops in limited time. However, Jack Kiser—185 tackles in the last four seasons—is a strong veteran to work around somewhere on the outside.

- If the secondary isn’t the team’s biggest strength, it’s close. It lost corner Cam Hart to the Los Angeles Chargers, and safeties DJ Brown and Thomas Harper are done after combining for 86 tackles, but again, this bunch is good.

Benjamin Morrison is one of the nation’s top corners and a big-time pro prospect. He picked off nine passes and broke up 14 over his first two years. Now it’s up to Jaden Mickey to hold up on the other side—teams will stay away from Morrison.

Xavier Watts is a do-it-all safety who picked off seven passes last season and was fourth on the team with 52 stops.

Sixth-year senior Jordan Clark comes in from Arizona State after making 97 stops with 13 broken-up passes over the last two seasons, and Rod Heard will push for a spot after coming up with 194 career tackles with ten tackles for loss and eight broken-up passes for Northwestern.

Notre Dame Football Preview 2024: Special Teams

The Irish lost a good one in punter Bryce McFerson. He averaged over 45 yards per punt and placed five of 38 inside the 20, but he left for Maryland. Chris Salerno will get a look, but be shocked if new option, Australian James Rendell, doesn’t rise up and win the job in fall camp.

Mitch Jeter is coming in from South Carolina to take over the placekicking duties after hitting 12-of-14 last year—both misses were from beyond 50 yards.

Several players will get a shot in the return game, but Jadarian Price is back as the main kick returner after averaging over 34 yards per return—he took one 99 yards for a touchdown against USC.

WR Jordan Faison will get a chance on punt returns; he averaged 14 yards on his two attempts last season.

The Irish ranked 96th in the nation in punt coverage, allowing 10.13 yards per return on 23 attempts, and 85th in kickoff returns, allowing 21.2 yards per return.

Key To The Notre Dame Football Season

Hold up against the run.
The Irish run defense should be a brick wall, and it has to hold up in every game.

The team was great overall last season, but everything changed when the other team couldn’t do anything on the ground. Notre Dame was 8-0 when allowing fewer than four yards per carry, and 2-3 when giving up more - and one of those wins was the late thriller against Duke.

Really, how much does this mean? Since 2017, the Irish are 51-2 when allowing fewer than four yards per pop.

Notre Dame Key Player

Charles Jagusah, OT RFr.
The Irish have other options to play around with at tackle, but it would make life a whole lot easier if Jagusah could lock down Joe Alt’s old spot on the left side and be close to THAT good.

This is hardly a big worry - he has the NFL 6-7, 330-pound size and frame to go along with the feet to handle the gig - but if he struggles at all doesn’t play up to the high expectations, it will matter.

Notre Dame Football Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss

Top Transfer In: Riley Leonard, QB Sr.
The 6-4, 216-pounder has all of the pieces in place. He’s got the NFL size, an accurate arm, and he’s a dangerous runner who has to be accounted for on every play.

A great basketball player from a hoop playing family, he’s a true baller when he has to be - his 98-yard rushing day with a score was enough to keep the offense moving in the shocker over Clemson to open up last year.

He has the skills to grow into a top NFL prospect, but he has to get over the ankle injury that held him down last year.

Top Transfer Out: Holden Staes, TE Jr.
Mitchell Evans is in for a big year for the Irish at the spot, but considering how good the coaching staff is at making tight ends great, it would’ve been nice to have the 6-4, 242-pound Staes back. He caught 15 passes with four going for scores, and now he’ll be in the Tennessee mix.

Notre Dame Key Game

at Texas A&M, Aug. 31

Everyone will be pumped for the matchup with Florida State on November 9th, and the regular season finale at USC will be a really big deal, as always.

However, for an Irish team with realistic aspirations of a special season, securing a victory in College Station before September starts would be massive.

There are plenty of landmines ahead on the schedule, but winning this game would crank up the expectations of an 8-0 record before the Seminoles come to town.

10 Best Notre Dame Football Players

1. Benjamin Morrison, CB Jr.
2. Xavier Watts, S Sr.
3. Riley Leonard, QB Sr.
4. Howard Cross, NT Sr.
5. RJ Oben, EDGE Sr.
6. Mitchell Evans, TE Sr.
7. Rylie Mills, DT Sr.
8. Jack Kiser, LB Sr.
9. Kris Mitchell, WR Sr.
10. Rod Heard, S Sr.

Notre Dame 2023 Fun Stats

- Average Yards Per Pass: Notre Dame 9.1, Opponents 5.5

- 2nd Quarter Scoring: Notre Dame 144, Opponents 44

- Fumbles: Opponents 24 (lost 8), Notre Dame 13 (lost 8)

Notre Dame Football 2024 Win Total Prediction: What to Expect This Season

Finish in fifth place.

Sixth wouldn’t be bad, and seventh would be okay too, but landing at No. 5 would be ideal.

Actually, that’s not quite right.

Notre Dame should realistically aim to be ranked in the top four of the final College Football Playoff rankings. However, since it can't compete for a conference championship - which guarantees a top-four spot and a first-round bye in the expanded CFP - the highest seed the Irish can achieve is fifth.

That’s not the worst scenario. Consider this - all top teams will have to play 13 games. The top four in the CFP will have dealt with a neutral-site game in a conference championship. If the Irish secure the fifth spot, their 13th game will likely be a home matchup against teams like Liberty, Memphis, or Boise State.

But first, the team must win at least ten games - ideally 11 to secure that fifth seed - to qualify for the newly-expanded 12-team tournament.

Barring a rash of injuries, the team is good enough to do it - anything less than ten victories and this schedule would be a massive disappointment.

At Texas A&M, at home against Florida State, and at USC. There might be a slip somewhere else in the mix - like at Georgia Tech or at home against Louisville - but win two of those three games and the Irish should get in.

Set The Notre Dame Win Total At … 10

Likely Wins: Army (in Bronx), Miami University, Navy (in East Rutherford), Northern Illinois, Virginia

50/50 Games: Florida State, at Georgia Tech, Louisville, at Purdue, Stanford, at Texas A&M, at USC

Likely Losses: No likely sure-thing losses

2024 Notre Dame Football Schedule

Aug 31 at Texas A&M
Sept 7 Northern Illinois
Sept 14 at Purdue
Sept 21 Miami University
Sept 28 Louisville
Oct 5 OPEN DATE
Oct 12 Stanford
Oct 19 at Georgia Tech
Oct 26 vs Navy (in East Rutherford)
Nov 2 OPEN DATE
Nov 9 Florida State
Nov 16 Virginia
Nov 23 Army (in Bronx)
Nov 30 at USC