Notre Dame football: USC, OSU named ‘most likely’ to go undefeated 2022
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team will take on both USC and Ohio State this season, two teams named most likely to go undefeated in 2022.
Going into the 2022 college football season, we are going to get a good idea right away whether or not the Notre Dame football team is a legitimate playoff contender. Instead of scheduling a cupcake for Week 1, the Irish will head to Columbus, Ohio, where they will take on the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The Buckeyes went 11-2 last season, and won the Rose Bowl, but will lose a ton of talent to the NFL Draft this April, including two potential first-round wideouts in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. Still, CJ Stroud returns, and he is a favorite for the Heisman Trophy, so the new-look defense for the Irish will be tested right away.
For the Buckeyes, they are considered a legitimate CFP contender this season as well, and one publication feels they may not lose.
Recently, Connor Muldowney of Saturday Blitz put together a list of the five teams in college football with the most potential to go undefeated in 2022, and two of the Irish’s opponents were listed. Both USC and Ohio State were named as teams ‘most likely’ to go undefeated this season, and the Irish have an opportunity to ruin that for both of them.
For those counting at home, Notre Dame football takes on USC to close out their season on the road.
Notre Dame football is a contender in 2022 as well
Truth be told, if the Irish get past Ohio State in Week 1, they have a good chance to reel off a ton of wins in a row. They will host Marshall and Cal after the Ohio State matchup and then hit the road to take on UNC, who is losing star quarterback Sam Howell to the 2022 NFL Draft as well.
From there, Notre Dame should be the favorites throughout the rest of the regular season, but depending on what USC looks like in Lincoln Riley’s first season as head coach, another big test could come in late November.
Beating Ohio State would be huge on so many levels for this program, as it is head coach Marcus Freeman’s alma mater, and where he got his start coaching. Notre Dame football has the talent to run the table this season, but Ohio State is a hurdle that could make or break their season.