Notre Dame football: Big offensive questions entering 2022 Blue-Gold Game

Oct 9, 2021; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Drew Pyne (10) throws a warmup pass before the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2021; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Drew Pyne (10) throws a warmup pass before the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Notre Dame football
Nov 27, 2021; Stanford, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Joe Alt (76) blocks Stanford Cardinal linebacker Jordan Fox (10) during the fourth quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /

Notre Dame football: Big offensive questions entering 2022 Blue-Gold Game

Is the offensive line set in terms of starters?

It took weeks last season, but the Irish were finally able to land on a starting offensive line that could dominate, and they flourished down the stretch. The big additions were on the left side, with Joe Alt sliding in at left tackle, and Andrew Kristofic at left guard, and from there, the Irish offense was able to get things going on the ground, and through the air.

With Jarrett Patterson passing on the NFL, the entire starting offensive line is back from last season, but will it be the same group as the 2021 campaign. Rocco Spindler is a guy who is going to fight for a starting job this season, and we still do not know whether or not it will be Alt staying at left tackle, or Blake Fisher, who earned the starting job as a true freshman before getting injured against USC, getting his job back, and moving Alt to the right side.

With Harry Hiestand returning as offensive line coach after a few years away from the program, this group is in great hands and should be one of the better units in college football next season. The question is which starting five gets trotted out against Ohio State because whoever it is, they have a tall task ahead of them in Week 1.