Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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and 5-7 ledgers the past two seasons, including a 38-3 loss at Notre Dame in 2015, that will place third-year head coach Charlie Strong on the hottest seat in America, much like Brady Hoke (Michigan) and Will Muschamp (Florida) in 2014, and Mike London (Virginia) and Tim Beckman (Illinois) this past year. All were subsequently fired. Looking Ahead: The 2016 Schedule The record in parentheses includes bowl games played prior to Dec. 27. Sept. 3 at Texas (5-7) — The Longhorns will be in a make-or-break season for third-year head coach Charlie Strong after missing out on a bowl game in 2015. Sept. 10 Nevada (7-6) — The Wolf Pack have lost a minimum of six games in each of head coach and former Irish assistant Brian Polian's three seasons. Sept. 17 Michigan State (12-1) — The Spartans will be com- ing off a College Football Playoff berth this season, but Brian Kelly is 3-1 versus Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio. Sept. 24 Duke (8-5) —Junior quarterback Thomas Sirk re- turns after throwing for more than 2,600 yards to go along with 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2015. Oct. 1 vs. Syracuse (4-8) at East Rutherford, N.J. — Former Bowling Green head coach Dino Babers takes over for the Orange after the program fell short of bowl eligibility in each of the past two seasons. Oct. 8 at North Carolina State (7-5) — The Wolfpack will need to replace dynamic quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who departs after accounting for 50 total touchdowns and only nine interceptions the past two seasons. Oct. 15 Stanford (11-2) — Heisman Trophy finalist Christian McCaffrey returns after breaking the NCAA single-season mark for all-purpose yards (3,496 and counting, heading into the Rose Bowl Jan. 1). Oct. 29 Miami (8-5) — Former Georgia head coach Mark Richt takes over for the Hurricanes and leads a program Kelly has defeated twice by a combined score of 74-20 while with the Irish. Nov. 5 vs. Navy (10-2) at Jacksonville, Fla. — Head coach Ken Niumatalolo passed up an opportunity with BYU to stay with the Midshipmen, but quarterback Keenan Reynolds departs. Nov. 12 vs. Army (2-10) at San Antonio — After a very successful four-year run at Georgia Southern, head coach Jeff Monken's rebuilding project at Army is off to a 6-18 start. Nov. 19 Virginia Tech (7-6) — Legendary head coach Frank Beamer has retired and will be replaced by Justin Fuente, who went a combined 19-6 in his final two seasons at Memphis. Nov. 26 at USC (8-5) — The Trojans have removed the interim label from head coach Clay Helton, who faces a brutal schedule in 2016, finishing with the Irish in Los Angeles. — Andrew Owens Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey set the NCAA single-season mark for all-purpose yards — 3,496 and counting, heading into the Rose Bowl Jan. 1 — as a sophomore this year. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA