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Adjusting expectations: What can Notre Dame fans hope for now?

By Greg Hadley

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (6) has pass broken up by Michigan State Spartans cornerback Vayante Copeland (13) during the second half a game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (6) has pass broken up by Michigan State Spartans cornerback Vayante Copeland (13) during the second half a game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) scores a touchdown in front of Michigan State Spartans cornerback Vayant Copeland (13) in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) scores a touchdown in front of Michigan State Spartans cornerback Vayant Copeland (13) in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

Best case scenario

Starting this week, Notre Dame turns things around. Even in this best-case world, it’s a bit much to expect the defense to suddenly become a competent unit, but the good news is the Irish have a few Nevada-esque games to get their feet back under them. Duke, Syracuse and North Carolina State all go down in relatively short order, leading up to the game of the season, a home contest against Stanford.

By then Stanford is still undefeated and the Pac-12’s best shot at the CFP. The Cardinal are ranked in the top five and enter as the rare road favorite. DeShone Kizer, however, delivers a flawless performance, matching Christian McCaffery at every turn in a primetime shootout that ends with Kizer orchestrating a magnificent two-minute drill to win the game. Notre Dame re-enters the rankings.

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The next week, the Irish face Miami, who is undefeated and in line to claim a Coastal Division title. Maybe the Hurricanes are even top 10 at this point. But it doesn’t matter. Kizer outduels Brad Kayaa, and the late October cold freezes out the Hurricane offense, who stalls against a surprisingly game Irish secondary.

Navy and Army put up a fight and punish the Irish rush defense, but they eventually fade. Virginia Tech flops completely in an easy Senior Day win. USC is a joke at this point and cannot defend their home turf, even though JuJu Smith-Schuster scores a few TDs.

Notre Dame makes it to a New Years Six bowl, probably the Orange Bowl, Kizer finishes as a Heisman finalist, Brian Kelly is a contender for coach of the year, and Brian VanGorder lives to coordinate another year.

The defense, while not fantastic, relies on its senior leadership of Cole Luke, James Onwualu and Isaac Rochell and shifts to bend-don’t-break mentality. BVG steps away from his overly complex scheme and keeps it simple for the young guys. Josh Adams sets himself up for a huge 2017.

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