Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame Team News and Picks

Notre Dame is one of the most storied college football programs in the country, and the Fighting Irish are routinely one of the top teams in the land. The Fighting Irish are back to being an independent team in 2021 after they played in the ACC a season ago.

Head coach Brian Kelly is back to lead the Fighting Irish, but he will be without quarterback Ian Book. Kelly named Jack Coan as the starting quarterback in August, and that will provide some experience at that position.

The Fighting Irish begin the 2021 season on September 5 as they take on the Florida State Seminoles.

2020 Summary

The 2020 season for Notre Dame was a strange one, and it was also one that was history. The Fighting Irish competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) because COVID-19 restrictions forced them to cancel nearly all of their other games.

It was a great year for Notre Dame in the ACC as they went undefeated in regular-season action to earn a spot in the ACC title game. The Fighting Irish suffered a loss to Clemson in that game, but were still selected as the fourth team in the College Football Playoff.

Notre Dame took on the Alabama Crimson Tide in the semifinal round, and the season ended with a loss in that game. The Fighting Irish finished with a 10-2 record in 2020, but it was another season without winning a National Championship.

Key Players

Quarterbacks tend to dominate the sport of college football, and the key player for Notre Dame will come at that position. Jack Coan has been named the starting quarterback this season, and he will try to replace what Ian Book did for the team.

Running back Kyren Williams rushed for over 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns a season ago, and the Fighting Irish will look to get the ball in his hands a ton. Williams will be joined in the backfield by Chris Tyree, and he has the speed to break off some big runs.

New Additions

Coan is a new addition to this Fighting Irish squad, at least as it relates to his starting quarterback position. Coan had a solid career at the University of Wisconsin and that experience should give the Fighting Irish stability under center.

Wide receiver Lorenzo Styles Jr. is another big addition to the Fighting Irish roster, and he figures to get on the field as a true freshman. The Fighting Irish are mostly set at the skill positions, but Styles could crack the roster.

Notre Dame lost several offensive lineman to the NFL Draft a season ago, but help is on the way. Offensive guard Cain Madden was one of the top recruits in the country, and he should be an impact player right away for the Irish.

Key Subtractions

The biggest loss for Notre Dame comes at the quarterback position as Ian Book has ended his career with the Fighting Irish. Book was not a player that put up massive stats during his career at Notre Dame, but he was a winner and the unquestioned leader of the team.

Defensive coordinator Clark Lea has also left the program, and that is going to be a big loss on the defensive side of the ball. Notre Dame is always a team that losses players to the NFL Draft each season, but Book is the only real player that will be missed by the Fighting Irish this season.

Divisional Outlook

Notre Dame is back to being an Independent team this season and therefore they won’t be competing in any league. The Fighting Irish had a great run in the ACC, but they will be playing teams from all across the country this season.

Notre Dame Team Offense

Notre Dame wants to run the football, and that is how offensive coordinator Tommy Rees is going to conduct his offense. Kyren Williams is going to see plenty of touches, but the Fighting Irish are going to have to find some balance.

Even though quarterback Jack Coan is new to South Bend, he does have plenty of college football experience at a high level. Coan was known for being extremely accurate while at Wisconsin, but he also didn’t take many shots down the field.

Notre Dame will be able to score, but they will do it by running several plays.

Notre Dame Team Defense

There are some real question marks on the defensive side of the ball for Notre Dame, even though there is still plenty of talent. A new defensive coordinator will make things even more challenging, but Notre Dame should still be way better than average.

Linebacker Drew White is back for Notre Dame and he will once again be the leader of that unit. Safety Kyle Hamilton will be another key for Notre Dame this season, and he is finally fully healthy for the Fighting Irish.