Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/145833
Under the Dome 9.5 Sportsbook's over/under win total for Notre Dame in the 2013 regular season, right between the popular projections of a 10-2 or 9-3 finish this season. Alabama at 11.5 is the popular pick for an unprecedented third straight national title. Top surprise: USC at 10.5 after last year's 7‑6 disappointment that has put head coach Lane Kiffin on one of the hottest coaching seats in America. 13 States represented among Notre Dame's 15 verbal commitments (through July 23) in the 2014 recruiting class. Ohio and New Jersey had two apiece. The others included New York from the East; Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina along the Atlantic border; Florida, Georgia and Tennessee from SEC territory; Missouri and Texas from the Plains and Southwest regions; and Indiana and Illinois also from the Midwest. That's not even including 2015 commit and offensive lineman Jerry Tillery from Louisiana. 15 Age of Dylan Moses, a 6-0, 217-pound outside linebacker/running back from Baton Rouge, La., when Notre Dame extended an offer to him this summer. He just completed the eighth grade and won't finish high school until 2017. Remember the days when most recruiting news came the final two months before National Signing Day in February? 133.47 SPARQ rating by Notre Dame 2014 running back commitment Elijah Hood at Nike's The Opening in Beaverton, Ore., this June. The score, which combines size (measured at 6-0, 221 pounds) with various physical testing, including a laser-timed 40 (4.48) and vertical jump (36.3 inches), ranked him among the top 10 among all contestants and qualified him for the finals on ESPNU. Hood was unable to run the 40 in the finals because of cramps but did post a 38-inch vertical. 2026 The year Notre Dame's contract with the Atlantic Coast Conference ends, after which it could have the option to become a full-time football member in any other league. The Fighting Irish officially became ACC members this July 1, but they won't begin as a partial member in football until 2014. "If Notre Dame decides to join a conference [in football] before 2027, contractually it has to join the ACC," said ACC commissioner John Swofford. "They would be welcomed with open arms."