Notre Dame Football: Irish drop a spot in latest USA Today top-25 ranking
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame Football team fell a bit in recent top-25 rankings but still made it as a top-10 team entering the 2021 season.
For the Notre Dame football team to get back to the College Football Playoff, they are going to have to have a lot of things go the right way. On offense, they are replacing eighty percent of their starting offensive line from a year ago, as well as the all-time winningest quarterback in program history.
Still, there is a lot to like about this Notre Dame offense, including an exciting group of wide receivers, a revamped offensive line, and elite players at the running back and tight end positions. Kyren Williams and Michael Mayer have All-American potential and will be a key for an offense that is replacing signal-caller, Ian Book.
The defense should be outstanding in 2021, as Marcus Freeman is one of the best defensive coordinators in college football. He is taking over a veteran group on all three levels, and while they need to replace three 2021 NFL Draft picks, they have enough talent to do so.
Notre Dame Football ranked No. 9 overall by USA Today
In their recent top-25 ranking for the 2021 college football season, USA Today dropped the Notre Dame football team from No. 8 to No. 9 but still kept them in their top-10. It is no big secret that the outlet had Alabama at No. 1, and Ohio State and Clemson in their top-4, with Oklahoma, rounding out what would be the College Football Playoff.
Remember, Notre Dame was the fourth team in the CFP last year, taking on Alabama in the semifinal round, so dropping to No. 9 would be a bit of a fall for the Irish. In the piece, Erick Smith spoke about the team’s need to replace Book, and how that could be an issue as they move to Jack Coan.
Smith also said the team could return to the CFP this upcoming season, but Freeman’s defense would need to be implemented “smoothly.”
Overall, there is reason to believe that the Irish could battle for a spot in the CFP, as the schedule is not too tough throughout. Sure, they will have to iron out the issues with the roster, but Brian Kelly has a tremendous staff, including Freeman, as well as some of the best talent college football, has to offer.