Notre Dame Football: What the preview magazines have to say

Street and Smith

The former Sporting News kicks things off with the Irish number 11 in their preseason top 25. Clemson, who Notre Dame faces November 7, is ranked number 1 and is Street & Smith’s pick to win the National Championship. The clash with the Tigers is ranked as one of the 5 most can’t miss games of the season, saying this should be a “much closer matchup” than the last time the two met in the 2018 Cotton Bowl. We can only hope.

Other ranked Irish opponents include Wisconsin at 12 and USC at 18. Daelin Hayes is the lone All-American, making the second team.

Street & Smith mentions to keep an eye on freshman running back Chris Tyree, who they rank 3rd in Notre Dame’s top recruits behind tight end Michael Mayer and wide receiver Jordan Johnson. They note that while small, the class is full of “top end talent.”

Tommy Tremble is projected to start at tight end, while Ohio State grad transfer Isaiah Pryor is projected to be  the backup to Houston Griffith.

Two Irish opponents are projected into either the College Football Playoff or New Year’s Six, the aforementioned Clemson Tigers, who the publication has defeating both Penn State and Ohio State. Wisconsin is projected to the Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma. In total, 9 opponents are projected to appear in a bowl.

As for Notre Dame, the Irish are projected into the Orange Bowl to face the 7th ranked SEC East Champion Florida Gators.