Notre Dame Football: Predicting where the first loss will occur
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame Football team is going back to their Independent schedule, and here is where they will likely lose their first game.
The 2021 Notre Dame Football team will open their slate on the road against Florida State, in a matchup that some feel is one of the better battles in Week 1. For the Irish, they will be out to show that despite all the losses to the NFL Draft, they still have the talent to be a force in college football once again.
Looking at the recent rankings heading into the Summer, the Irish are projected to land anywhere from No. 6 overall, to No. 18, this due to all the question marks on the roster. When looking at their schedule, it is always fun to predict wins and losses, and where their first loss could come.
Notre Dame Football could lose vs. Cincinnati
Early on, I believe the Irish will dominate their schedule, beating Florida State on the road, and then pummeling both Toledo and Purdue at home. From there, the Wisconsin game is interesting, but one they should win, as Jack Coan looks to beat the team he led to the Big Ten title game two years ago.
After the trip to Soldier Field, the Irish play host to Cincinnati, and this is where I feel the schedule gets tough. In fact, the Bearcats have the best chance to be Notre Dame’s first loss, thanks to some explosive playmakers on both sides of the ball.
Of course, looking at their schedule, if everything falls into place with all the new faces, the Irish could technically run the table. They play a ton of games at home, and in fact, do not play in another team’s stadium after their first game until their sixth game of the season.
Overall, this is a Notre Dame Football team that should turn some heads this upcoming season, and they should be able to string together wins early on. If Coan is the real deal, this is a team that has the talent on defense to shut down any offense that comes their way, making them a sleeper to return to the CFP in 2022.