Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/259072
BY LOU SOMOGYI O ne of the unique aspects of Notre Dame's 2014 schedule is the Irish will play only three times on the road at an on-cam- pus site, with the first such game not coming until Oct. 18 against defending national champ Florida State. The neutral site contests feature Purdue (Indianapolis), Syracuse (East Rutherford, N.J.) and Navy (Landover, Md.). Then again, Notre Dame's three on- campus road games are against teams that combined for 34 victories last season, with each of the three squads posting at least 10 wins. Home or on the road, the 2014 schedule will pres- ent its share of potential pitfalls. Our ranking of the schedule in order of the challenge to win follows: COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF MATERIAL There is maybe only one game where Notre Dame might be a prohibi- tive underdog. 1. AT FLORIDA STATE (14-0) Winter News: Four Seminoles de- parted early for the NFL Draft: run- ning backs James Wilder and Devonta Freeman, wide receiver Kelvin Benja- min and nose guard Timmy Jernigan … Backup quarterback Jacob Coker transferred to Alabama, where he is eligible to play this season because he is graduating in May … Defensive co- ordinator Jeremy Pruitt took the same position at Georgia, leading to the pro- motion of linebackers coach Charles Kelly to DC. AHEAD OF SCHEDULE An early cursory rating of Notre Dame's 2014 slate 2014 NOTRE DAME SCHEDULE Aug. 30 Rice Sept. 6 Michigan Sept. 13 vs. Purdue^ Sept. 27 vs. Syracuse# Oct. 4 Stanford Oct. 11 North Carolina Oct. 18 at Florida State Nov. 1 vs. Navy* Nov. 8 at Arizona State Nov. 15 Northwestern Nov. 22 Louisville Nov. 29 at USC ^ Shamrock Series at Lucas Oil Stadium in India- napolis; # at Met Life Stadium in East Ruther- ford, N.J.; *at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.