Where Notre Dame football fits in positional rankings at start of 2024 season

With the Notre Dame football season about to kick off, it’s important to know just how the Irish are expected to match up against the rest of the sport. After all, with the 12-team playoff field, the season is about more than just winning and losing. It’s how teams and players look compared to one another.

The analysts at NCAAF Nation put together their rankings of the top 12 teams at several different position groups. Honestly, if this is how the rest of the sport sees the Blue and Gold, perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that so many people think they’ll be one and done.

Notre Dame football does have some real contenders on the list. But there are also some position groups where they don’t make the Top 12. 

Notre Dame football quarterbacks

Right at the top of the list of somewhat surprising position group rankings is that Riley Leonard and company don’t rank higher than 12th.

There are some very good quarterbacks in the sport today, but if we’re talking about an actual position group, one has to wonder how a QB room as deep as the Irish have isn’t in the Top 10 instead at the very bottom at No. 12 of 12.

Running backs

That the Irish aren’t ranked among the top teams at the running back position is the least surprising of any rank. Not even Notre Dame seems to know who exactly is going to take the starting spot. 

Even when there is a starter named, this group is going to have to prove itself before it gets anywhere near the Top 12 in college football.

Notre Dame football defense not getting enough love

While you can see the rest of the rankings up above, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that the linebacker corps is not among the Top 12. I think when all is said and done, they absolutely would be.

There’s also the fact that the defensive line is No. 6, which seems good on its face, but thet Irish front has a chance to be the best in the business. Same with Notre Dame football’s DBs being ranked third instead of first.