Notre Dame Football: Irish to play in two of top-10 games in 2021
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame Football program has a tough slate ahead of them this season, and two of their games were recently named in the top-10 in 2021.
Last season, the Notre Dame Football program did not play their Independent schedule, as the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in what should have been a normal college football season. Instead, they joined the ACC for a year, going undefeated, and clinching a spot in another College Football Playoff.
In 2021, the Independent schedule returns, and it is a schedule that has plenty of games you are going to want to circle on your calendars. They play their rivals again, and some of the better players in the country, all the while trying to continue to move forward after losing a bunch of talent this offseason.
Notre Dame Football must navigate tough competition once again
In a recent article over at 247Sports, Brandon Marcello laid out the top-10 games for the upcoming 2021 college football season. For the Irish, they were one of a few teams who showed up twice on the list, coming in at No. 10 overall, and again at No. 6, two games they play at home.
At No. 10, it is the USC game, which was not played during the 2020 pandemic but will get its restart in late October this season. The Trojans have a potential first-round quarterback in Kedon Slovis, who will be looking to cool off the hot seat of Helton.
The No. 6 game on the 2021 slate according to Marcello is the Irish’s matchup against Cincinnati on October 2. This is a game with a ton of storylines, especially Marcus Freeman, who came over to the Irish after a successful stint with the Bearcats.
Remember, this is a Cincinnati team that was dominant this past season, going to a New Years Six Bowl game, and Freeman’s defense is a big reason why. They return an elite player at quarterback in Desmond Ridder, but like Notre Dame, they lost a bunch of talent this offseason as well.
Recently, we wrote how this could be the first loss of the season for the Irish, who would be coming off their matchup inside Soldier Field against the Wisconsin Badgers. Overall, this is an exciting schedule for the Irish this upcoming season, and these two games will certainly be must-watch television.