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Notre Dame Football: 4 must-win games for the Irish in 2021

By Brad Weiss

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 01: Head coach Brian Kelly and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football players run on the field during player introductions before the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at AT&T Stadium on January 01, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 31-14. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 01: Head coach Brian Kelly and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football players run on the field during player introductions before the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at AT&T Stadium on January 01, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 31-14. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 12: Cole Kmet #84 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish gets tripped up after catching a pass against Kana’i Mauga #26 of the USC Trojans in the second half of the game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 12, 2019, in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated USC 30-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame Football: 4 must-win games for the Irish in 2021

No. 2: vs. USC

After the Cincinnati game, the Irish will head to Blacksburg to take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in their first real road game since Game No. 1. That is going to be a big matchup heading into their bye week, but by all indicators, the Irish have more talent and should be able to go into a tough environment and pull out a win.

After the bye week, the Irish welcome a familiar foe to Notre Dame Stadium, as the USC Trojans make the trip East to South Bend. This is going to be an exciting matchup, as the Trojans are expected to have a top draft pick in quarterback Kedon Slovis, and head coach Clay Helton could be fighting for his life at this point in the season.

Anytime the Irish and the Trojans get together it is must-see television, and this matchup is going to be in primetime this season. Going into this matchup, the Irish could be ranked high in the top-10 if they can get out to a clean start, giving this rivalry even more intrigue as we start the second half of the Notre Dame Football season.

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