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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PALO ALTO, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal in action against the California Golden Bears at Stanford Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Stanford

Best: Stanford comes in with an Oregon hangover, and as a result, the defensive line is a little beaten down. Notre Dame’s running backs earn short bursts with the occasional long run. This opens up the passing game for Wimbush to make clutch throws at the end of the game.

Bryce Love is held to “just” 75 yards, and Notre Dame wins a close one.

Worst: Lead by a deep Stanford offensive line, Bryce Love runs all over the Irish defense for 175 yards (not that crazy, he did it 4 times last season) and three touchdowns. Stanford’s defense, one of the top in the country, plays lights out, completely shutting down the Irish run game and forcing Wimbush into bad run situations and awkward throws.

The game gets ugly, and Stanford blows out the Irish.

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