Prediction No.10 for the 2016 Notre Dame Football Season: The Irish Will Be Ranked in the Top Five by Week Four

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will be in the top five by week four.

This prediction is quite possible for a number of reasons. First of all, a number of early preseason rankings have Notre Dame already in the top ten. So the Irish will be close to a top five ranking by the time kickoff rolls around on September 4th in Austin.

Second, the Irish have a few matchups in the first four weeks that if they win could help leapfrog themselves into the top five. In week one, the Irish will travel to Texas to take on what should be a much improved Longhorn team. If the Irish can win, and possibly win convincingly the college football world will be put on notice. Since this game is being played on a Sunday night it will be the only thing on all the attention will be on the Irish. A win on the road at Texas, in primetime, could go a long way in the minds of voters.

In week three Notre Dame welcomes longtime rival Michigan State to Notre Dame Stadium. This is the game where Notre Dame could really make the jump. The Spartans are losing a lot from last year’s Big Ten Championship team, but Mark Dantonio has MSU in a position where they will compete every year no matter what the circumstances are. Most preseason predictions I have seen the Spartans anywhere from a top ten to a top 15 team. This Notre Dame vs. Michigan State matchup could be a top ten matchup. A win over a top ten opponent would most certainly catapult the Irish into the top five.

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Lastly, there a number of top 15 matchups early in the season such as Florida State vs. Ole Miss and USC vs. Alabama that could shake things up in the polls. There a number teams in front of Notre Dame that could lose early, which would help the Irish move up.

All of this is dependent on the Irish taking care of business against Nevada in week two. The Wolfpack are coming off a 7-6 season. The Irish should be heavy favorites in this one.

The Irish have plenty of opportunities in the first three weeks to make some noise and work their way up the polls. By the time the Duke game rolls around in week four, Irish fans will have themselves a top five team and hopes of a College Football Playoff spot.