Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 21 2. Stanford (Sept. 29) Speaking of Harbaugh, his remarkable work at Stanford from 2007‑10 established a physi‑ cal, blue‑collar program that has become an irritant to Notre Dame because of the combina‑ tion of academic prowess with consistent on‑ field results that include a 7‑2 record against the Irish in the last nine meetings — and a current three‑game winning streak. The 2019 Notre Dame senior class graduat‑ ing with a 0‑4 record against the Cardinal is unacceptable. The atmo‑ sphere in this night home game should rival the feeling of "enough is enough" the Irish had during their 49‑14 shellacking of archrival USC last October. When Stanford won 37‑14 at Notre Dame in Kelly's first season (2010), he reportedly stated the Irish will have the look of that 12‑1 Cardinal in a few years. It did in 2012, but time is overdue to continue that pattern. 3. At Virginia Tech (Oct. 6) Since becoming a partial football member in the ACC in 2014, Notre Dame is 0‑3 in the three "marquee" night road games in the league. The No. 5 Irish lost a controversial 31‑27 decision at No. 2 Florida State in 2014. In 2015 as the No. 9‑ranked team, it fell at No. 11 Clemson (24‑22), which played for the national title. And last year as the No. 3 team, Notre Dame was crushed 41‑8 at No. 7 Miami. Virginia Tech in 2018 probably is not in the same class as that trio. Nevertheless, this is a good test for the Irish in a hostile venue. Plus, with the game coming the weekend after Stanford, Notre Dame must demonstrate it can either avoid a letdown after a win over the Cardinal or a collapse from a defeat. 4. At USC (Nov. 24) If the season goes as planned with Col‑ lege Football Playoff contention entering this contest, eventually this should rank as Notre Dame's top game in 2018. A lot more business has to be taken care of first. This is a season of ending streaks: first the aforementioned three‑game losing string to Stanford, followed by snapping the 0‑3 drought in night road games against ranked ACC competition (potentially Virginia Tech this year). Let us also not forget the Irish currently have a school‑record five consecutive losses in regular‑season finales since 2013 either at Stan‑ ford or USC. The Trojans will be eager to atone for the 49‑14 humili‑ ation at Notre Dame last year the way the Irish were in 2015 at home versus USC after losing by that same 49‑14 count in 2014. 5. Florida State (Nov. 10) Everything seems to be coming up in threes for the 2018 Notre Dame team: end‑ ing a three‑game losing streak to Stanford, snapping a three‑game losing streak in ACC road night games — and halting a current three‑game losing streak to Florida State. This included a gut‑wrenching 31‑27 loss in 2014 and the 18‑14 defeat in the 2011 Champs Sports Bowl after building a 14‑0 lead in the second half. The Seminoles are attempting to put the pieces together under first‑ year head coach Willie Taggart following last year's 7‑6 result that sent Jimbo Fisher to Texas A&M. Regardless, top‑10 talent and speed is seldom in short supply in Tallahassee. Hosting a warm‑weather team in November on Senior Night is a rare opportunity upon which Notre Dame needs to capitalize. Top Five Most Anticipated Games The Irish and Wolverines will renew their rivalry following a three-year hiatus, with plenty on the line for both squads. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA 1. Michigan (Sept. 1) After Notre Dame roared to a 31‑0 triumph versus the Wol‑ verines in 2014, it appeared the almost annual series from 1978‑2014 would not be re‑ newed for decades. Four years later, the brief two‑year series in 2018‑19 serves as a pivotal tone‑setter this season for head coaches Brian Kelly and Jim Harbaugh. For Kelly, he cannot afford to be‑ come the first Irish coach ever to lose three openers (South Florida in 2011 and at Texas in 2016). For Michigan's Jim Harbaugh, he is in the throes of a three‑game losing streak, is com‑ ing off a disappointing 8‑5 campaign, and is 0‑3 versus Ohio State and 1‑2 against Michigan State. Both teams badly need this win to avoid instant negative energy about an inability to take it to the next level.