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Notre Dame Football: Top Storylines vs Duke

By Connor McJunkin

ATHENS, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Brian Kelly looks on during warmups prior to playing the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Brian Kelly looks on during warmups prior to playing the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 02: Cole Kmet #84 of Notre Dame football can’t make the catch in the end zone in the first half against Reggie Floyd #1 of the Virginia Tech Hokies at Notre Dame Stadium on November 02, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

After a sloppy, frustrating, last-second victory over Virginia Tech a week ago, Notre Dame football moved to 6-2 and now has its sights on the Duke Blue Devils.

The good news is Notre Dame football bounced back last week vs Virginia Tech. The bad news is it was about as ugly as a win as you could get – one of those wins where you almost feel like they lost.

But, they didn’t. And a win will always be better than the alternative.

The Irish are now 6-2 and keeping their New Year’s Six Bowl dreams alive for at least another week. They inched ahead slightly to No. 15 in the AP Poll as well, and opened up in the same spot in the first CFP rankings released on Tuesday.

After successfully defending their home turf for the 16th consecutive game, Notre Dame will pack up and hit the road to take on 4-4 Duke. The same Duke that still has players on the roster from the last time these two teams played – a 38-35 Blue Devil victory and one of the handful of embarrassing losses linked to Brian Kelly’s Irish tenure.

The Blue Devils jumped out to a 3-1 start to the season, with their lone loss being to Alabama. Since throttling Virginia Tech 45-10, Duke has struggled, dropping three of its last four with two of those losses by a combined six points.

As with almost every single Irish opponent, Duke is coming off a bye week and has plenty of playmakers that will give Brian Kelly and company all they can handle.

Notre Dame did what they had to do last week and got back in the win column, but this team still has a long way to go to consider this a successful season.

The next test is here, and it has to be passed.

Here are the top storylines for this week;s matchup with the Blue Devils:

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