Simulating to find the best Notre Dame Football team in the Brian Kelly era
Simulating to find the best Notre Dame Football team in the Brian Kelly era
The Final Four
The four-team bracket will be broken up simply. 2012 will take on the one seed, as the first unbeaten team. They will play 2017, as the four seed. The 2018 and 2020 teams will play each other as the two and three seeds respectfully. The winner of each game will play for the championship to be called the best team to ever play at Notre Dame, under Brian Kelly.
2012 Notre Dame vs. 2017 Notre Dame
At the half, the 2017 team was up by two touchdowns. Then, the 2012 team had a 17 point the third quarter and the 2017 team was never able to recover. The real difference over the course of the game was that the 2012 team held 2017 in check on the ground. Their leading rusher was Brandon Wimbush, who only had 46 yards. Add an interception from Wimbush and the 2012 team was able to do just enough to win.
Final Score: 2012 Notre Dame 27, 2017 Notre Dame 20
2018 Notre Dame vs. 2020 Notre Dame
Halfway through the fourth quarter, Jonathan Doerer tied the game at 10. That’s where it would hold until overtime. 2018 scored first, on a Dexter Williams run, but they missed the extra point. In response, Book threw to Avery Davis to tie the game and Doerer wouldn’t miss this extra point. Irish win. 2020 Book had the stronger game, throwing for 250 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, 2018 wasted a strong game on the ground from Williams, who had 115 yards and a touchdown.
Final Score: 2018 Notre Dame 16, 2020 Notre Dame 17
Championship Game: 2012 Notre Dame vs. 2020 Notre Dame
It was a 23-9, 2020 lead, going into the 4th quarter. That’s when the 2012 team went looking for a miracle. Kyle Brindza hit a long 40-yard kick to make it 23-12 before Theo Riddick ran it in to make it a three-point game with five minutes left. The 2012 team got the ball back with a chance to tie, and they made Brindza the hero. The game was tied at 23 as the regulation clock expired. In overtime, 2012 had the ball first, once again relying on a Brindza kick. Kyren Williams finished them off in 2020’s response, though, as he ran in the game-winner.
2020 became the best team Kelly has had on the back of a massive day from Kyren Williams, who had 179 yards and 2 touchdowns. For 2012, Everett Golson struggled to a 12/29 passing day, and you have to think he should’ve been benched for Tommy Rees. Brindza also had a massive day, nailing six kicks.
Final Score: 2012 Notre Dame 26, 2020 Notre Dame 30
So, what do you think? Was the 2020 team the best Notre Dame team under Brian Kelly?
