The Notre Dame football team is trending in the right direction, and a national championship could be closer than some may think.
The Notre Dame football team will attempt to get back into the College Football Playoff this upcoming season, and they could have the roster to do so. After plenty of likely 2022 NFL Draft picks decided to come back for Marcus Freeman’s first full season as the head coach in South Bend, the Irish are loaded on both sides of the ball.
Sure, there is a question at quarterback, as it remains to be seen whether true sophomore Tyler Buchner will be given the keys to the car, but there is a lot of talent around whoever takes over for Jack Coan in 2022. The offensive line is mostly back, outside of offensive guard Cain Madden, and there are a plethora of weapons in the passing game.
When you consider that the running back group is very deep, even with Kyren Williams leaving, you have to like all of the ways that Tommy Rees can hurt you this upcoming season.
Then there is the defense, where the Irish saw Justin and Jayson Ademilola decide to come back, as well as potential 2022 second-round pick, Isaiah Foskey, one of the best edge rushers in the country. The secondary will be bolstered with All-American safety transfer Brandon Joseph, and the linebacker group is going to be a veteran unit who have played in some huge games before.
So, this begs the question of how close the Irish are to breaking their national championship drought.
Notre Dame football: It is time for the Irish to end their championship drought
How long has it been?
You have to go back to the 1988 college football season to see the Irish’s last national title win, a span of nearly 35 years. For a program as proud as the Irish, that is way too long of a time, but they have been knocking at the door in recent years.
In fact, Notre Dame football has been to two of the last four College Football Playoffs, and played in a national title game back in 2012, when they were embarrassed by the Alabama Crimson Tide. Still, despite making it to the College Football Playoff, they were never really seen as a contender, and have not fared well in big games in recent memory.
For the Irish to get over the hump in terms of being a legitimate title contender, they have to bridge the gap in terms of recruiting, and that is something they seem to be accomplishing with Freeman at the helm. Notre Dame football is back to being one of the elites in the country, and in 2022, they have as good a chance of anyone of finally winning it all.
Recently, the talented Chris Peterson from SaturdayBlitz.com put out his list of five teams that have the best chance to end their national title drought, and the Irish were one of the teams listed.
Notre Dame football: It is time for the Irish to end their championship drought
Could the 2022 season be the one to end the drought?
We are going to get a good look at this Notre Dame football team right out of the gate, as they will travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. Many feel that the Buckeyes will be title contenders in 2022, especially with a talent like C.J. Stroud at quarterback, so Freeman’s defense is going to have quite the task to open up the 2022 campaign.
From there, the slate gets easier for the Irish, as they take on Marshall, Cal, and UNC before their bye week. In fact, their real tests will not come until late in the season, as they host the Clemson Tigers on November 5, and close ou their regular-season slate with USC on the road in what could end up being a make-or-break game for Notre Dame.
Notre Dame football: Breaking down Marcus Freeman’s key decisions in the Fiesta Bowl
The Notre Dame football team lost their bowl game against Oklahoma State, and here, we look at the key decisions by Marcus Freeman.
There is a good chance that the Irish have one loss, or are even undefeated heading into the CFP, records that should end up getting them in. In terms of talent, they have the right blend of vets and young players who can get the job done in the postseason, and by the time we roll around to that point, Freeman will have so many more battles under his belt.
So yes, the Irish have a legitimate chance to end their drought this season, and for those players who came back, that would be as sweet as it gets.