Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UPON FURTHER REVIEW TODD D. BURLAGE for the foreseeable future. Michigan's improved offense exploits an inexperienced Irish defense. (Michigan 35, ND 30) SEPT. 13: VS. PURDUE (1-11) AT INDIANAPOLIS Two stats sum up the one-win season for Purdue in 2013 — the Boilermakers were outscored 456-189 and outrushed 2,825-805. Perhaps Purdue can find modest improvement this year, but not here. (ND 42, Purdue 13) SEPT. 27: VS. SYRACUSE (7-6) AT EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Considered a "trap" because it leads into a tough three-game stretch for the Irish against Stanford, North Carolina and Florida State, the Orange start 2014 with momentum after four wins in its final six games last season. (ND 27, Syracuse 21) OCT. 4: VS. STANFORD (11-3) With the loss of star running back Tyler Gaffney, the Cardinal will pass the torch in its physical run game to Barry Sanders Jr. Stanford has beaten the Irish four out of the last five years and will find a way again. (Stanford 24, ND 21) OCT. 11: VS. NORTH CAROLINA (7-6) After a difficult 1-4 start last season, UNC head coach Larry Fedora rallied and secured six wins in his team's last seven games, including a 39-17 beat- down of Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl. (ND 27, North Carolina 17) OCT. 18: AT FLORIDA STATE (14-0) Rivalry renewed, against the top-ranked team in the country. The defending national champion and the reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Win- ston in enemy territory … yikes. (Florida State 38, ND 24) NOV. 1: VS. NAVY (9-4) AT LANDOVER, MD. The names change but the option style and toughness remain the same. Navy always gives Notre Dame fits, but a bye week before this game should help Irish game preparations. (ND 34, Navy 28) NOV. 8: AT ARIZONA STATE (10-4) A program left for dead has been reinvented under third-year head coach Todd Graham, who has secured 18 wins during his first two seasons in Tempe, Ariz. He did, however, lose eight starters from his 2013 defense. (ND 31, Arizona State 30) NOV. 15: VS. NORTHWESTERN (5-7) Hopes were high for the Wildcats last season after a 4-0 start. But a heartbreaking loss to Ohio State triggered a seven-game losing streak and squashed a promising year. (ND 41, Northwest- ern 27) NOV. 22: VS. LOUISVILLE (12-1) This once irrelevant football program became elite behind quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and head coach Charlie Strong. Both are gone now and the Irish roll. (ND 31, Louisville 14) NOV. 29: AT USC (10-4) Former Trojans head coach Lane Kiffin is out and new sheriff Steve Sarkisian returns to USC where he worked under Pete Carroll and immediately returns USC to prominence. (USC 21, ND 17) The scores indicate that Notre Dame should have enough offensive fire- power to put up points with any team in the country this season. But given the uncertainty within the defensive front seven, an 8-4 finish is realistic with this difficult schedule. ✦ Todd D. Burlage has been a writer for Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 2005. He can be reached at tburlage@blueandgold.com