Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2014 Record: 8-5 (Defeated LSU in Music City Bowl)

1 Burning Question: Can Notre Dame Make The Playoffs?

This is the only acceptable question in South Bend, no matter the possibilities. Fortunately for head coach Brian Kelly and Notre Dame, they can face this question with more certainty than bravado in 2015. To make the playoffs, a team needs the following four things:

1. A manageable schedule.
2. Talent.
3. A little luck.
4. Good timing (playing its best against the best is one example).

While the last two items on the list are highly volatile in terms of measuring a team in the preseason, the first two can be scrutinized and discussed at great length. In short, however, the Fighting Irish have both a manageable schedule and plenty of talent.

Just because a schedule can be deemed “manageable,” it does not exactly mean that it is easy. For Notre Dame in its recent history, the schedule had been notoriously front-loaded. That is not the case this year, as the tougher games on the schedule are scattered throughout the three months of play.

The talent that Brian Kelly has assembled has been touted as the best at Notre Dame since his arrival. While this statement can be attributed to both the high level of recruiting and the projections of high NFL draft picks for the upperclassmen, it can (of course) be subject to on the field performance this season. There is no question that this is the deepest team Kelly has fielded in South Bend.

So, in short, Notre Dame has a great chance of making a legitimate playoff run, and the Irish absolutely can do it, provided that their talent blooms whilst navigating a schedule that will give them every chance to prove themselves to the playoff committee. The chance is so great that practically any coach that has been asked about the Irish in the preseason has politicked against the Irish, based on their fear of those possibilities, measured against their own.

2 Stats To Pay Attention To

159.5: Notre Dame’s rushing average per game in 2015. While the Irish weren’t horrible in this regard, they were mediocre. That per-game average landed them in the middle of the pack in all of the FBS. If the Irish want to make a serious run for the playoffs, they will need to see that per-game average soar upwards by over 40 yards.

35: The number of pass attempts in Malik Zaire’s career. While the general theory is that Zaire will help Notre Dame discover a rushing renaissance, and that the increase in production will help the Irish rediscover its winning ways, Notre Dame will have games when the fate of the season will rest on the arm of Zaire.

3 Games That Will Make Or Break The Season

Full 2015 Schedule
Sept. 5 – Texas
Sept. 12 – at Virginia
Sept. 19 – Georgia Tech
Sept. 26 – Massachusetts
Oct. 3 – at Clemson
Oct. 10 – Navy
Oct. 17 – Southern California
Oct. 31 – at Temple
Nov. 7 – at Pittsburgh
Nov. 14 – Wake Forest
Nov. 21 – Boston College (In Boston, at Fenway Park – Shamrock Series)
Nov. 28 – at Stanford

September 19 vs. Georgia Tech
Record in Last 5 Meetings: 3-2 (dating back to 1981; one meeting was a bowl game)
Last Year’s Result: Did not play

Why it matters: Georgia Tech was one of the hottest teams in the country at the end of the season last year. By the time they reach South Bend, the Yellow Jackets should be 2-0 and “buzzing” with accolades. This will be Notre Dame’s first real test of the season (with all due respect to Texas and Virginia), and Notre Dame will be able to make an early statement about its ability to contend for the playoffs.

October 3 at Clemson
Record in Last 5 Meetings: 1-1 all-time in the series (last meeting, 1979)
Last Year’s Result: Did not play

Why it matters: Clemson should be fairly highly ranked by the time Notre Dame arrives in Death Valley, and that will provide all the hype needed to make this a very important national game. A win for Notre Dame could possibly give the Irish wins over the the two teams many pick to be in the ACC Championship Game. Being able to boast of two statement wins would soundly trump claims, such as that of Dabo Swinney, that Notre Dame should be in a conference to play that “13th” game. As a reminder, Georgia Tech plays Alcorn State and Tulane to start the season, and Clemson starts its season with Wofford and Appalachian State. Tech and Clemson face off on October 10.

October 17 vs. Southern California
Record in Last 5 Meetings: 3-2
Last Year’s Result: L, 49-14

Why it matters: After last season’s thrashing at the hands of the Trojans, Notre Dame can not only excorcise the demons of 2014, but it can make a huge statement against a team that could be very highly ranked by the time it lands in South Bend. This game is for pride and for power, which makes the stakes higher as well as the rewards. If things go to plan, it would give the Irish at least three wins over top-25 teams within a month.

4 Key Players

Joe Schmidt, LB – After Joe Schmidt went down with a season- ending knee injury, the Irish defense started to fall apart. Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder was without a true field general to run his complex defensive scheme. Schmidt was given the team’s defensive MVP award despite missing much of the season for a reason. He is the ultimate team leader and backs it up with solid and smart play on the field.

Tarean Folston, RB – Folston was Notre Dame’s rushing leader last year, and he will be called upon to do much of the same and more this season. Folston is built for this type of responsibility, as his running style uses a mix of elegance and power that trumps a lack of elite top-end speed. The Irish will be focused on running the ball more this year, which makes its top back a top priority.

Jaylon Smith, LB – Smith was forced to play out of position for most of the season last year. With the return of both Joe Schmidt and Jarrett Grace, Smith should be allowed to do what he does best, and that’s rushing the passer while covering the edge in the pass game. Smith is the best athlete on Notre Dame’s roster, and it should be Notre Dame’s duty to unleash that freakish ability upon its opponents’ quarterbacks.

Malik Zaire, QB – With every Irish eye fixed on Zaire, there is no possible way to not put him on this list. He will be expected to run the offense with precision despite a lack of  extensive playing time, but he will also be called upon to be a true leader on the field in ways that Everett Golson was never able to display. His enthusiasm and competitive edge could be the weights that tip the balance of the scales for the Irish.

5 Bold Predictions

5. C.J. Prosise will be talked about in some circles as a legitimate Heisman contender because of his skill and usefulness at both running back and receiver — as well as his skill in the return game.

4. Pitt could be 7-1 when the Irish play the Panthers, and it will be a game that will be decided in the final minutes of regulation overtime.

3. Notre Dame will give up more rushing yards to Navy than to Georgia Tech.

2. Notre Dame will never get higher than No. 4 in the polls.

1. The Irish will finish the season 11-1 and gain the No. 4 spot in the CFB Playoff. Notre Dame will reach the title game, and any further prediction is just plain greedy.