Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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his team's prospects during the pre- season. But even the Notre Dame head coach couldn't help but cringe a bit before putting a positive spin on playing what looks to be the roughest lineup of games in the country. "We believe that we're going to put B Cruel And Unusual Road For The Irish UPON FURTHER REVIEW TODD D. BURLAGE rian Kelly did his best to stay clear of any "tough schedule" references when talking about is gone, but make no mistake, this is a still a talented and deep team that in many respects has supplanted Notre Dame as the top academic football program in the country. The Stanford defense will be stout again and two-time 1,000- yard rusher Stepfan Taylor also returns. Stanford wins its fourth straight in the series. Stanford 28, ND 24 Stanford — Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck a football team on the field that will take one game at a time," Kelly said. "Because that's what you'll have to do with the kind of schedule that we have put together this year. We see it as a great challenge. We want to play these kinds of schedules." The 12-game regular season slate breaking, the Wolverines have beaten the Irish five times in the last six meetings, with the last three wins coming by just four points apiece. Michigan QB Denard Robinson loves this matchup, hitting ND with 940 total yards and eight touch- downs in the last two games. Robinson continues his series dominance. UM 31, ND 20 Michigan — In a series best described as heart- includes five teams ranked in the pre- season Associated Press poll: USC (1), Oklahoma (4), Michigan (8), Michi- gan State (13) and Stanford (21). The schedule also features seven teams that went to a bowl game last season and six that won at least 10 contests in 2011. It's never good to be the voice of gloom when talking Irish football, but with this list of opponents, winning eight games for a third straight year would be cause for celebration. Following is a capsulated look — and some predictions — as to how the Irish will fare this season. Opponents are listed from easiest to hardest. three starters on offense from an inconsistent team that dropped five of its final six games last year after starting the season 5-2. This should be a rout for Notre Dame, but with USC up a week later, the Irish might need to guard against looking ahead. ND 35, WFU 6 Wake Forest — The Demon Deacons return only been a feisty opponent in recent years with three upset wins over Notre Dame in the last five meet- ings. The option offense Navy operates is always difficult to defend, but given that the Irish have the entire preseason to prepare for the unique system, there will be no upset this year. ND 28, Navy 21 Vs. Navy (at Dublin) — The Midshipmen have been one of the toughest games on the Irish schedule, just not this year. That said, BC returns 18 starters — the most of any team on the 2012 Irish docket. But the Eagles ranked near the bot- tom of the NCAA in every offensive category last season, so experience may not help much. ND 30, BC 17 At Boston College — The Eagles have always 4 PRESEASON 2012 Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly faces a treacherous schedule that might make a third straight eight-win season a cause to celebrate in 2012. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND Purdue — Another Irish opponent that could be sneaky good this year, the Boilermakers return 15 offensive and defensive starters on a team that won three of its last four games in 2011. This one could be close, but the home-field advantage for Notre Dame makes the difference. Purdue won only one road game last year. ND 42, Purdue 24 the preseason radar, even after winning 10 games last season and losing at Texas by only one point. The BYU defense ranked No. 13 in the country and was key to nine wins in the last 10 games last season. A tough test, but the Irish survive. ND 27, BYU 24 Brigham Young — The Cougars have stayed off incredibly inconsistent during a six-win season in 2011, starting with victories over Buffalo and Maine but never winning consecutive games the rest of the way. The Panthers return eight starters on offense, including quarterback Tino Sunseri and star running back Ray Graham, potentially making this a difficult test for ND. ND 27, Pitt 17 Pittsburgh — The underachieving Panthers were rival the classic games of the 1980s, but the Sol- dier Field setting will draw plenty of interest and provide Notre Dame with another very tough Sat- urday. The Hurricanes find a way to win this one on defense, where six starters return from a unit that gave up only 20.08 points per game in 2011. Miami 17, ND 14 Vs. Miami (at Chicago) — This matchup won't Notre Dame must find a way to move the ball against a Spartans defense that returns eight start- ers from a unit that ranked sixth in the country last season. The Irish beat Michigan State last year, but have lost four of the last seven meetings. Unfor- tunately, make that five of eight. MSU 24, ND 21 At Michigan State — Another rough road test, niche in recent years as making even the most av- erage of quarterbacks look like a Heisman hopeful, and Sooners starter Landry Jones is anything but average. Couple Jones' talents with an inexperi- enced and thin cornerback crew for Notre Dame, and this road trip to Norman can't get over with "soon" enough. OU 38, ND 24 At Oklahoma — The Irish defense has carved its and it is again stacked on offense with Heisman frontrunner Matt Barkley at quarterback. The only chance for the Irish is to finally limit turnovers — nine for ND against USC in the last two games. But ball security won't be enough — the Trojans claim their 10th victory in the last 11 tries against the Irish. USC 42, ND 30 At USC — No breaks here. USC just keeps rolling, will help determine if indeed the Irish can claw their way to eight regular-season wins and celebrate a terrific campaign. But let's face it, an unsettled quarterback situation and what's clearly the toughest sched- ule in the country make a run to the BCS for ND a long shot at best, and this projection for a 6-6 season much more likely. ✦ The Stanford and Miami games Todd D. Burlage has been a writer for Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 2005. He can be reached at tburlage@blueandgold.com BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED