Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2020 Notre Dame Football Preview
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22 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Someday, all such inquiries will be re- viewed with better perspective. For now, an approach of moving forward while hoping for the best has to remain. MOST ANTICIPATED GAMES 1. Clemson (Nov. 7) A popular pick to ad- vance to a sixth straight College Football Playoff and capture its third na- tional title in five years, Clemson could be the first foe to enter Notre Dame Stadium with a No. 1 ranking since USC in the 2005 showdown. Although the Tigers might be in some form of rebuild while revamping the offen- sive line and replacing wideouts Tee Higgins (NFL) and Justyn Ross (surgery), who com- bined for 10 catches, 201 yards and three scores in the 30-3 CFP win over Notre Dame in 2018, they are a good bet to enter the con- test with a 40-game regular-season winning streak (including ACC title games). Not since the 31-24 triumph versus No. 1 Florida State on Nov. 13, 1993 that tem- porarily made Notre Dame No. 1 have the Fighting Irish recorded a one-for-the-ages victory. A win in this potential mini-CFP matchup probably would qualify. 2. Wisconsin (Oct. 10) Although the Badgers don't recruit at a Clemson or even Notre Dame level, they epitomize toughness and sound fundamentals — a la Stanford from 2010-16 — recording 63 victories the past six years. The Lambeau Field venue, if indeed held there, will be mitigated by the specter of the pandemic. Still, the first meeting between the two programs since the 1964 opener at Madison under first-year Notre Dame head coach Ara Parseghian and his renaissance campaign likely will play a significant role on whether Notre Dame will face Clemson with an unblemished ledger. 3. USC (Nov. 28) The last time a four-year Notre Dame graduating class swept the archrival Trojans with a 4-0 mark was the class of '94. Head coach Brian Kelly is 7-3 versus USC, which has taken the Irish to the limit the last two years and could feature a pass- ing attack even more lethal than Clemson's. Head coach Clay Helton might be on the hottest coaching seat in the FBS this season after a 13-12 mark the past two years, but his squad is favored to win the Pac-12 South. Could this become a job-saving game? 4. Navy (Sept. 5 or 6) Never mind that Navy was 11-2 and finished No. 20 last year in the Associated Press poll. Or that history will be made with the first meeting ever — among the 94 straight since 1927 between these two schools — at Navy- Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on the An- napolis campus. Just the fact that there could or will be football after all and to see how it all evolves after an unprecedented spring and summer will pique the curiosity and anticipation of a sports-starved nation. 5. Arkansas (Sept. 12) Yes, we realize that the reeling Ra- zorbacks have had c o n s e c u t ive 2 - 1 0 campaigns and lost 19 straight SEC games. Still, similar to the opener at Navy, this first game at home and how everything operates inside and outside of Notre Dame Stadium amidst the pan- demic scare will be of intrigue. And regardless, this is still a first-time SEC opponent that in 2017 and 2019 did have top-25 recruiting classes by Rivals. The game at Pittsburgh Oct. 17 might be more of an "upset special," but just seeing Notre Dame Stadium open again for busi- ness could be uplifting. Running back Travis Etienne and the Clemson Tigers, who defeated the Fighting Irish 30-3 in the 2018 College Football Playoff, could be the first foe to enter Notre Dame Stadium with a No. 1 ranking since USC in 2005. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA