Notre Dame football: Irish could face No. 1 pick in 2023 Draft in Week 1
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team kicks off their season against the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2022, and possible No. 1 overall pick, C.J. Stroud.
While most big-time programs will be kicking off their season with a cupcake game, the Notre Dame football team will be playing in a playoff atmosphere inside Ohio Stadium against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Irish battling Ohio State in Week 1 will be must-see television, and their defense will be tested against a player who could be the first one off the board in the 2023 NFL Draft.
In a recent mock draft over at ProFootballNetwork.com, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud went No. 1 overall to the Houston Texans. If he is the No. 1 selected player in 2023, that would make twice in the last three seasons that the Irish will have taken on the top player selected in the following draft.
During the 2020 college football season, the Irish took on Clemson star Trevor Lawrence in the College Football Playoff and lost, ending their season one game away from playing for a national title. Notre Dame football took on Clemson during the regular season that year as well, but COVID kept Lawrence from playing.
Notre Dame football has a tough matchup in Week 1
The Week 1 matchup against Ohio State is huge for many reasons, but a win would give the Irish a victory over a possible CFP contender right out of the gate. It is also the alma mater of head coach Marcus Freeman, who was a standout linebacker for the Buckeyes during his college days and started his coaching career as a graduate transfer there in 2010.
Many feel that the Buckeyes are loaded this season, and could be one of the last teams standing, possessing multiple first-round talents on the offensive side of the ball. In fact, not only is Stroud considered the top quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft, but wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba could be the first wideout off the board as well.
Overall, this is going to be an incredible test for this Notre Dame defense, one that saw a few 2022 draft prospects come back to school for a shot at a national title this season. Stroud is a special talent and will be a tough matchup for any defense this season, so we will see right out of the gate if the Irish are legitimate title contenders this season.