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Notre Dame Football: How the 2018 Schedule Stacks up against 2017

By Sonny Martinez

TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 18: Corey Robinson #88 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish catches a touchdown over Jalen Ramsey #8 of the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 18, 2014 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 18: Corey Robinson #88 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish catches a touchdown over Jalen Ramsey #8 of the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 18, 2014 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 07: Matthias Farley #41 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish intercepts a pass on the 1-yard line in the second quarter in front of Jordan Whitehead #9 of the Pittsburgh Panthers during the game at Heinz Field on November 7, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 07: Matthias Farley #41 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish intercepts a pass on the 1-yard line in the second quarter in front of Jordan Whitehead #9 of the Pittsburgh Panthers during the game at Heinz Field on November 7, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

Game 7: 2017 USC vs 2018 Pitt

Although Notre Dame absolutely destroyed USC 49-14, there’s no denying just how great USC was last season. The Trojans finished the season 11-3, including a Pac-12 Championship victory over Stanford. Pitt had a 5-7 record last year, and were in the lower half of scoring, rushing, passing, and total in offensive AND defensive ranks in every category except rush defense. Pitt also only returns 11 starters. You’d think Pitt would put up more of a fight, but USC is clearly the better team and a much tougher opponent.

2017: 4
2018: 3

Game 8: 2017 North Carolina State vs 2018 neutral site Navy

NC State’s 9-4 record wasn’t a good indication of just how talented they were, especially on defense. Bradley Chubb, BJ Hill and Justin Jones were all drafted in the first round last year. The Wolfpack offense wasn’t bad, either, averaging 32.3 PPG. Navy is always a tough opponent, if for nothing else the triple option is always a challenge to defend. Navy only went 7-6 last year, but 4 of those losses were in a one possession game. Navy’s quarterback threats, notice there was at S at the end, also will provide a more difficult challenge. Both Malcolm Perry and Zach Abey are great runners, although Navy’s overall inability to complete a pass will need to improve. Because of the triple option, I’d lean Navy as a tougher opponent.

2017: 4
2018: 4

Game 9: 2017 Wake Forest vs 2018 @ Northwestern

As mentioned earlier, Wake Forest was a pretty good team last year. 8-5 was a solid year. Northwestern is coming off a 10 win season which includes an inexplicable 41-17 loss to Duke that I still can’t wrap my head around. The Wildcats do have a good amount of questions, especially at running back with the loss of Justin Jackson. They also have some questions in the secondary after losing both starters at safety. I would say the 2017 Wake Forest game, even at home, would be the tougher of the two.

2017: 5
2018: 4

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