Notre Dame football: Way too early 2021 schedule preview

Notre Dame football 2021 schedule: Weeks 10-12

Virginia

• Last Meeting: 2019, 35-20 Notre Dame Wins
• Notre Dame Leads All-Time Series 3-0

Virginia would just as soon forget the 2020 season., as a year after making the Orange Bowl, the Hoos went just 5-5. The Cavaliers do have solid momentum, though, as a bad 1-4 stretch to open the season was matched by a 4-1 to end it.

Of course, that one loss was to rival Virginia Tech in a game that likely saved Justin Fuente’s job. They shouldn’t give the Irish many issues next season, but they are a tough, well-coached team, and it would be bad to look past them.

Georgia Tech

• Last Meeting: 2020, 31-13 Notre Dame Wins
• Notre Dame Leads All-Time Series 29-6-1

Georgia Tech is still finding themselves in the post-Paul Johnson world. No one pretended it would be a quick transition, as they needed to completely turn their offense over into a new system, but things have been frustratingly slow. They have their quarterback at least, but they’re not there yet and they won’t touch the Irish. It should be a good senior day.

Stanford

• Last Meeting 2019: 45-24 Notre Dame Wins
• Notre Dame Leads All-Time Series 20-13 (Additional Win Vacated by Notre Dame)

Renewing the Stanford series, the Irish will head to California to end the 2021 season. The Cardinal have been regressing under David Shaw, as the PAC-12 has regressed as a whole. It doesn’t help that their style of play has become antiquated around them, and recruits no longer want to play on the west coast for a variety of reasons.

The Irish should win this game based on talent alone, but Brian Kelly has historically struggled against Stanford, so you can never be too sure.