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Notre Dame Football: 4 biggest threats on the 2021 schedule

By Brad Weiss

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - OCTOBER 05: Head coach Brian Kelly and players of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish prepare to take the field for the game against the Bowling Green Falcons at Notre Dame Stadium on October 05, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - OCTOBER 05: Head coach Brian Kelly and players of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish prepare to take the field for the game against the Bowling Green Falcons at Notre Dame Stadium on October 05, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame Football (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Notre Dame Football (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

The Notre Dame Football team has a tough schedule in 2021, as they go back to playing Independent football after a year in the ACC.

The Notre Dame Football program is looking to win ten-or-more games for the fifth straight season, but they will have to do so with plenty of questions marks up and down their roster. The schedule for the 2021 campaign is out, and there are more than a few exciting matchups this upcoming season.

Here are the four biggest threats on the Notre Dame football 2021 schedule:

No. 4: Cincinnati Bearcats

If there is one game that current defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman certainly has circled on his 2021 schedule it is the Cincinnati game. Freeman was a huge part of the rebirth of Bearcats football during his time at the school, turning them into a legitimate College Football Playoff contender.

Now on the sidelines for the Irish, Freeman is in a position to defeat his old team in his first season away from them, but this is a solid Bearcats squad. Luke Fickell is going to have his team ready to go in this one, and he has some talent returning on both sides of the ball, including Desmond Ridder, who is an absolute playmaker at quarterback.

Before all is said and done this season, Ridder could be in the conversation for a Heisman Trophy, that is the kind of potential he has coming into the 2021 campaign. He is losing his top running back in Gerrid Doaks, but most of his weapons in the passing game are coming back for another go-around.

This is a team that was outstanding last season, and they will be coming off their bye week as they head to South Bend. The Bearcats and Irish have not played each other since 1900, and that was a 58-0 victory by Notre Dame, so hopefully, they can move their record to 2-0 against Cincinnati in this one.

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