Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2019 Notre Dame Football Preview
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8 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW In 2018, Notre Dame achieved a feat it hadn't since 25 years earlier in 1993. Last year marked the 16th time in the 25-season span from 1994-2018 that it was ranked in the season's preseason Associated Press poll — and the first time in those 16 it finished higher than the initial ranking (although in 1998 and 2015 Notre Dame placed at the same spot it began). The "fun part" is finishing in the top 25 when it had not been ranked because many teams in athletics thrive on the underdog mentality. In the nine other seasons from 1994-2018 in which Notre Dame was not ranked in the AP preseason poll, it placed in the top 25 five times — making a major bowl as a top-10 team in three of them (2000, 2005 and 2012), starting 10-1 in 2002 and finishing No. 11 in 2017. Here are the nine previous AP preseason rankings under head coach Brian Kelly and the outcome: 2010 Preseason Ranking: None This was natural because the Irish had gone 16‑21 the three previ‑ ous seasons under deposed head coach Charlie Weis. Finish: None (8‑5) It was the first year ever where Notre Dame won its final four games of the season and didn't finish ranked. 2011 Preseason Ranking: No. 16 This was a first such ranking in five years, thanks to the 4‑0 finish the year prior. Finish: None (8‑5) Notre Dame dropped out of the top 25 after the season‑opening loss to South Florida and fell to 0‑2 the next week at Michigan. It didn't return to the top 25 until the 11th week at 7‑3, and climbed as high as No. 22 before losing to Stanford and then Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl. 2012 Preseason Ranking: None After improving to 11‑0, Notre Dame on Nov. 18 was ranked No. 1 for the first time since Nov. 20, 1993, almost 19 years to the day. At 12‑0, Notre Dame would finish the regular season at the top spot for the first time since winning its most recent national title in 1988. Finish: No. 4 (12‑1) Following the 42‑14 loss to Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game, the Irish still had their highest finish since No. 2 in 1993. This also is one of only three times Notre Dame has placed in the AP top 10 the past 25 seasons. 2013 Preseason Ranking: No. 14 Based on the previous season, this might have been top 10 had starting quarterback Everett Golson not been suspended from school in the fall semester because of an academic indiscretion. Finish: No. 20 (9‑4) The Irish dropped out of the top 25 after falling to 3‑2 with a home loss to Okla‑ homa. The Pinstripe Bowl win over Rutgers elevated them from No. 25 to No. 20. 2014 Preseason Ranking: No. 17 Notre Dame was attempting to finish in the final AP rankings three years in a row for the first time since doing it seven straight from 1987‑93. Finish: None (8‑5) The Irish started 6‑0, were No. 5 and appeared to have won at No. 2 Florida State — but lost on a controversial call in the closing seconds and would finish the regular season falling in five of their last six contests. 2015 Preseason Ranking: No. 11 A College Football Playoff contender at 10‑1 right into the final week of the regular season, Kelly's crew ended up finishing where they started. Finish: No. 11 (10‑3) This is tied with 1995 and 2017 for the fourth‑best finish in the last 25 campaigns. 2016 Preseason Ranking: No. 10 The first time since the No. 2 rating in 2006 that Notre Dame began the season in the top 10. Finish: None (4‑8) The last time the Irish began the season in the AP top 10 and actually finished there as well was, once again, 1993. That year it was placed at No. 7 in the preseason and ended up No. 2 even though it had defeated No. 1 Florida State, 31‑24, on Nov. 13. 2017 Preseason Ranking: None Despite the 4‑8 finish the year prior, the Irish were No. 28 in the preseason poll from the "also receiving votes" category. Finish: No. 11 (10‑3) Notre Dame climbed as high as No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings with an 8‑1 start. Road losses at Miami (41‑8) and Stanford (38‑20) knocked the Irish out of the Big Six bowl picture, but the season was salvaged with a thrilling 21‑17 victory versus LSU in the Citrus Bowl Jan. 1. 2018 Preseason Ranking: No. 12 The return of a veteran defense was expected to keep Notre Dame in the 10‑3 range and offset some personnel losses on offense that included first‑round linemen Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey and top rusher Josh Adams, top receiver Equa‑ nimeous St. Brown — both of whom turned pro after their junior seasons — and fourth‑round tight end Durham Smythe. Finish: No. 5 (12‑1) The defense proved indeed to be the strength, joining Fresno State as the only two teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision that did not surrender more than 27 points in a game during the regular season. Quarterback Ian Book took control of the offense in the fourth game to give it better balance and to aug‑ ment the running of Dexter Williams, who was suspended the first four games. It also helped that "name" opponents such as Virginia Tech (6‑7), Florida State (5‑7) and USC (5‑7) found themselves reeling. PRESEASON RANK & FILE In 2018, senior defensive tackle Jerry Tillery helped lead the Irish to a higher finish in the final Associated Press poll (No. 5) than where it started in the preseason rankings (No. 12). PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL UNDER THE DOME