Notre Dame Football: Best and Worst Case Scenarios for 2018

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 30: Brian Kelly the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish gives instructions to his team during the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl against the LSU Tigers at LP Field on December 30, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 04: Quarterback Clayton Thorson #18 of the Northwestern Wildcats scores against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

At Northwestern

Best: Quarterback Clayton Thorson has not yet returned after an ACL tear last season. Whoever wins the battle between Aidan Smith, TJ Green and Andrew Marty struggles to live up to the ability of Thorson. The running back stable, most likely lead by Jeremy Larkin, is also failing to perform at the level of Justin Jackson. The secondary, the main defensive concerns, still has some issues, allowing for another huge Wimbush day through the air.

Notre Dame beats Northwestern for the first time since 1994.

Worst: Clayton Thorson is back in full force, but the real story is on defense. The Wildcats’ defense plays similar to last season, when they were 20th in the nation in scoring defense. Paddy Fisher and Nate Hall, a pair of dominant linebackers, play great enough that any concern at safety has been erased.

The game turns into a battle on the ground, but Notre Dame’s advantage on both lines does enough to give the Irish a close win.

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