Notre Dame football: Irish have the talent to run the table in 2022
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team has a tough 2022 schedule, but they also have the talent to run the table and make the College Football Playoff.
Last year, the Notre Dame football team lost only one game during the regular season, a home loss to the Cincinnati Bearcats. The loss ended up being the only one they needed to keep them out of the College Football Playoff, as the Bearcats were the fourth, and final team to get in, and the Irish finished at No. 5 overall.
In 2022, the schedule is set for them to possibly run the table, but the slate is a lot harder than it was a year ago. Notre Dame football begins and ends its season with teams that could threaten for a College Football Playoff berth as well, so getting it right this summer is paramount if they want to do something special.
Notre Dame football to take on Ohio State in Week 1
Of course, we will know immediately how good this Irish team could be in 2022, as they open up the season against the Ohio State Buckeyes. That matchup could be a top-5 battle depending on what the preseason rankings look like, and should be an absolute instant classic inside Ohio Stadium.
After the Buckeyes, the schedule gets a lot easier, and if the defense is what many feel it will be, they should give Ohio State a lot of trouble. Remember, they have potential first-round picks in the secondary, and coming off the edge, so no offense is safe against them this season.
On offense, Michael Mayer is the best tight end in the country, the offensive line may be the best overall, and they have a bunch of running backs who can take over a game. Sure, the quarterback is a bit of an issue right now, but whoever earns the starting job will have enough talent around him to have a breakout season, much like Jack Coan did last year.
The Irish finish out the season with the USC Trojans, a team with a new head coach and quarterback, and one that many feel could be a CFP contender as well. The Irish have the talent to run the table this season, but it will be the bookend games that define what they do in 2022.