Notre Dame Football: Ranking the remaining 2019 opponents

Let’s take a look at how the remaining teams on the 2019 Notre Dame football schedule stack up.

With the 2019 college football season now half over, it’s a little easier to look around the country and figure out who some teams really are. Today, we’re doing that with the rest of the teams on the Notre Dame football schedule.

You could use a number of metrics and rubrics for this exercise, but I’m just going off the good ol’ tried and true eyeball test.

6. Stanford

Nobody could have predicted how bad Stanford would be this season. We’re just so used to seeing this program be solid everywhere, especially in the trenches. That has not been the case in 2019. Whether it’s recruiting or player development, something is not right on “The Farm.”

5. Virginia Tech

The Hokies have us scratching our heads as well. There is just too much talent on this team for them to look as unimpressive as they have. Their 4-2 record is padded by wins over Furman, Old Dominion, and Rhode Island. They are in the bottom half of the country in both passing and rush yards, and allow nearly as many points per game as they score.

4. Boston College

The Eagles are probably a little better than their 3-3 record would suggest. All three losses are to Power 5 teams, although one was to Kansas. What makes them dangerous is their ability to control the tempo with the rushing attack. They are the ninth-best team in the country when it comes to moving the ball on the ground.

3. Navy

The Midshipmen have righted the ship — pun intended — after last year’s nightmare season where they only won three games. They are back to beating the team they should beat, including logging an impressive win over Air Force. Quarterback Malcolm Perry is as good a signal caller as Navy has had in years, and he’ll be a handful for the Irish defense.

2. Duke

David Cutcliffe doesn’t get enough credit as he should for quietly building up Duke football into a tough out every week. They are solid and disciplined everywhere, but the defense is what makes the Blue Devils a difficult task. They just keep teams out of the end zone. Only Alabama and Pitt have been able to score more than three touchdowns against them. Hopefully Notre Dame football can join that club.

1. Michigan

The Wolverines are the most “meh” team in the Top 25. They only have one loss, but it was really bad, and none of their wins made you say “Wow!.” At the end of the day, the Fighting Khaki Pants get the top spot based on talent and potential — but it’s not exactly a high bar they’re clearing.