Notre Dame Football: Offseason Fact or Fiction

With the season opener still over two months away, our staff at Slap the Sign decided to play another round of “Fact or Fiction.”

Some may say we have an addiction to fact or fiction. My prediction is that this addiction to fact or fiction will not be an affliction.

I’m so sorry for making you read that. Thank you for not closing this article immediately. You the real MVP.

The way this works is each writer responds to a statement about the 2018 Notre Dame football team by labeling it as fact or fiction and then supporting their argument.

If you missed our first round of this, you can read it here. This time around, we will feature responses from Mason Plummer, J.P. Scott, Nathan Erbach, Sonny Martinez, and myself.

Fact or Fiction: Notre Dame will win all of their home games in 2018.

Mason: Fiction. While I do expect this Notre Dame team to do well this season, their home slate is too difficult to expect them to go undefeated. When you look at games against top-tier teams like Michigan, Stanford, and Florida State, you can expect the Irish to lose at least one of those match ups. I fully expect all three of those teams to be contending for one of the coveted College Football Playoff spots once December rolls around. Also, Vanderbilt and Pittsburgh are not going to roll over just because it’s Notre Dame. As optimistic as I am about the upcoming season, going undefeated at home seems unrealistic.

JP: Fiction. It’s going to be tough to sweep Michigan, Stanford, and Florida State. If you count the games against Syracuse and Navy games as well (since those are technically home games), the task becomes even more daunting. I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Irish lose one or more of those contests. That said, they could lose any one of them – as long as it’s close – and still remain in the College Football Playoff conversation.

Nathan: Fiction. With home contests against Michigan, Stanford, and Florida State, it’s ambitious to expect the Irish will come out of all of those unscathed. All three of those teams are expected to field solid teams – making it difficult to predict a 3-0 record in those games. Notre Dame could very well win double-digit games for the second season in a row, but I don’t think fans should anticipate a clean sweep at home.

Sonny: Fiction. Notre Dame’s home schedule is tougher than their road schedule. If you would have flipped the two, I would lean fact. I think Notre Dame loses to either Michigan or Stanford. Stanford, especially, is a risky game. Also, don’t sleep on a “rebuilding” Florida State team with Heisman candidate Cam Akers.

Jack: Fact. If you exclude the aberration that was the 2016 season, Brian Kelly is 27-4 in home games dating back to (and including) 2012. Only one of those four losses was by a margin greater than three points. As is expected from most football teams, the Irish play better at home. Yes, this 2018 home slate is tough. However, I would not be surprised if Notre Dame finishes the season with a perfect home record.