Notre Dame will have a good football season. But how good?
The Irish could be better than the 10-3 edition, which finished ranked No. 14 in the final polls last season. But that would require successfully rebuilding a spectacular offensive line and adequately replacing a productive quarterback and standout running back.
Or it will require fielding a defense so strong it can carry the team to 10 wins.
That may indeed be the case.
The defense in South Bend, especially the secondary, legitimately could be better than the unit that ranked fifth in the country in 2023.
Seven starters are back from that defense which last season held nine opponents to 20 points or less.
The Irish are particularly powerful in the defensive backfield. Safety Xavier Watts was the defensive player of the year in 2023, while cornerback Benjamin Morrison earned All-American acclaim.
Also, safety Rod Heard II, a two-year starter at Northwestern, came in via the transfer portal to bolster the secondary.
The defensive front is formidable, too. Howard Cross III, one of nine sons of former NFL players on the Notre Dame roster, is back to build on his 2023 performance in which he posted 66 tackles.
He’s joined by returning starter Jordan Botelho and Rylie Mills.
Notre Dame lost edge rusher Javontae Jean-Baptiste, who led in sacks last season, to the NFL, but picked up through the transfer portal linebacker R.J. Oben. He led Duke in sacks last season.
There are concerns at linebacker, though no major worries.
That’s not the case on offense — particularly up front.
Gone are tackles Joe Alt, an All-American, and Blake Fisher. Alt was the fifth player selected in the NFL Draft. Fisher was a second-round pick for the Houston Texans.
The interior linemen are solid, but efforts to shore up the tackle position via the transfer portal came up empty.
That’s potentially problematic in protecting quarterback Riley Leonard, a transfer from Duke. Leonard already has a tall task of replacing Sam Hartman, who passed for 2,689 yards and 24 touchdowns.
But Leonard has to do it behind a questionable line and with good, though not great receivers and coming off ankle surgery that forced him to miss much of spring drills.
Further, the Irish may not be able to rely as heavily on its running game. Powerful Audric Estimé, a fifth-round draft choice, rushed for 1,341 yards and 18 touchdowns last season.
Notre Dame likely looks to sophomore Jeremiyah Love to try to replace that production. He gained 385 yards and scored one touchdown in a backup role.
2023 record: 10-3
Primary area of strength: The Irish were ranked fifth in the nation in total defense in 2023. The unit projects to be strong again. All-American Benjamin Morrison is among the nation’s top cornerbacks. Safety Xavier Watts won the Nagurski Award. The Irish lost sacks leader Javontae Jean-Baptiste, but Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills are back in the defensive line. Edge rusher R.J. Oben comes in from the transfer portal. Linebacker Jack Kiser is in his sixth year.
Primary area of concern: Offensive line is typically a strength in South Bend. That’s doesn’t appear the case this year. The tackles positions are particularly worrisome with the loss of NFL draft choices Joe Alt and Blake Fisher. Projected left tackle Charles Jagusah is better suited to play guard. Projected right tackle senior Tosh Baker has been a career backup. Hopes to improve there via the transfer portal were unsuccessful. The interior line should be solid with guard Pat Coogan and Billy Schrauth.
Top three players
Key additions
Key departures
2024 Notre Dame schedule
