Notre Dame Football: Games That Could Ruin Irish's 2015 Season

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Expectations are high for Notre Dame football with a slew of returning starters, and the regular season is creeping closer.

As we look toward the upcoming campaign, let’s break down Notre Dame’s schedule, assessing the games that could derail the Irish in 2015. Now, in determining games that could ruin a season, the emphasis isn’t on high-end opponents, not on the matchups likely viewed as toss-ups. Games that Notre Dame is expected to win, however, are ripe choices.

Virginia

Mike Stewart/Associated Press

Tucked between a season-opening, prime-time matchup against Texas and a Week 3 home clash with a strong Georgia Tech team, Notre Dame hits the road for a Week 2 visit to Virginia.

When we ranked all 12 (not 13) games in March, Virginia checked in as one of the easier matchups for the Irish. The Cavaliers went 5-7 last season and are dealing with turnover at quarterback.

But, if Notre Dame gets caught reflecting on the season opener against the Longhorns and/or looking ahead to Justin Thomas and Paul Johnson’s option attack, the Irish could be fighting in Charlottesville.

Of the potential trap games listed here, this tilt seems the least likely to slow Notre Dame.

Navy

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Ah, yes, a time-honored tradition as expected as gripes about Notre Dame’s independence: the always-tricky matchup with Navy.

For whatever reasons, the Midshipmen seem to always make life difficult for the Irish with their triple-option. “Trap game” and “Navy” are close cousins.

Irish head coach Brian Kelly has called the option offense “a great equalizer” in college football. Couple that history with the timing of this year’s Notre Dame-Navy battle, and the Irish should be on high alert against the Mids.

Navy stops in South Bend on Oct. 10, a week after Notre Dame travels to South Carolina to meet Clemson, and a week before the Irish host USC under the lights at Notre Dame Stadium.

The Irish faced a similar situation last year, traveling to Maryland to face Navy after the Voldemortian loss to Florida State and a bye week. Despite some struggles, Notre Dame was able to escape with a 49-39 victory.

Pittsburgh

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

After trekking through games against Texas, Georgia Tech, Clemson and USC, the Irish hit a much different part of their schedule starting at the end of October.

Notre Dame tussles with Temple on Halloween and Pittsburgh a week later before returning home for the senior day formalities with Wake Forest.

November can be a dangerous time, as Notre Dame learned two years ago in its most recent matchup with Pittsburgh. In 2013, the 7-2 Irish visited Pitt on Nov. 9 and couldn’t get past the Panthers, falling 28-21 and effectively ending any hopes of a BCS bowl berth.

This time, Notre Dame and Pitt meet Nov. 7, and the Irish will have their hands full with Panthers playmakers James Conner and Tyler Boyd.

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Mike Monaco is the lead Notre Dame writer for Bleacher Report. Follow @MikeMonaco_ on Twitter.