Notre Dame Football: Predicting Fighting Irish's 2016 Win-Loss Record
Notre Dame's path to the 2016 College Football Playoff mostly travels through South Bend, but the Fighting Irish need to avoid road upsets along the way.
Most key matchups bring the opponent to Notre Dame, which has nine power-conference opponents on the upcoming slate. A particular league presents the biggest obstacles, though.
While the Irish don't yet have a starting quarterback, their outlook for 2016 shouldn't change much with either DeShone Kizer or Malik Zaire theoretically under center.
Rather, the X-factor for the upcoming year is Notre Dame's defense, as a few of the nation's best players will challenge the unit.
Note: Although most predictions won't change, the smallest factors can change the biggest games. For better or worse, those projections might not last once the regular season arrives.
Sep. 4 at Texas
1 of 12
Notre Dame and Texas took advantage of an open Sunday, pushing back their season-opening showdown on Labor Day weekend.
But all that did was delay the inevitable.
Although the Longhorns should actually be competitive this time around, the result won't change. In 2015, the Irish blasted Texas, 38-3.
The quarterback battle between Kizer and Zaire will only recently be decided, so don't be surprised if Notre Dame starts slowly on the road before finding a rhythm in the second half.
Prediction: Win
Sep. 10 vs. Nevada
2 of 12
Sandwiched between a pair of significant contests, Nevada will probably be overlooked in the headlines. Notre Dame must be careful not to do the same.
Last season, the Wolf Pack posted 210.6 rushing yards per game, which ranked 25th nationally. James Butler paced Nevada with 1,345 yards and 10 touchdowns. Tyler Stewart added 322 while throwing for 15 touchdowns to just seven interceptions.
The Irish will be clear favorites and shouldn't have much trouble dispatching the Wolf Pack, but the first half might be tighter than most expect.
Prediction: Win
Sep. 17 vs. Michigan State
3 of 12
Whichever team wins the trenches will win the game.
The Fighting Irish's offensive line should be a strength, while MSU's defensive front is dangerous as long as Malik McDowell is healthy. Conversely, the Spartans will still be settling the O-line, and Notre Dame's front seven is a concern.
For now, Notre Dame holds a slight edge because of the quarterbacks. Though Tyler O'Connor won't be overwhelmed in the environment, he's not a playmaker like Kizer or Zaire.
MSU's stingy defense will keep the Spartans around until the fourth quarter, but the Irish will seal the victory with a late score.
Prediction: Win
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Sep. 24 vs. Duke
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Duke could've presented an interesting matchup with a powerful quarterback like Thomas Sirk. However, a torn left Achilles may have ended his season before it began.
Instead, this should be a home triumph for Notre Dame. The Blue Devils will attempt to pound the ball with Jela Duncan and Shaun Wilson, and they'll find some success.
But the Irish will simply have too much offensive firepower to match. Although Duke should contend in the ACC Coastal, a road victory in South Bend won't be likely.
Injuries stink, but Notre Dame won't need to apologize.
Prediction: Win
Oct. 1 at Syracuse
5 of 12
Considering the coaching change, Syracuse isn't an easy team to project. Dino Babers' offensive scheme will benefit a program that gained the 10th-fewest yards last season.
However, expecting the Orange to learn a new system and upset a top-15 opponent at a neutral site is foolish.
Syracuse ran the second-fewest plays in 2015. Babers' Bowling Green squad had the second-most snaps. In other words, even when the Orange fail, they're going to fail fast.
Notre Dame's defense must be ready for the fastest pace it'll see all year, but a couple of Syracuse mistakes will lead to easy touchdowns and a comfortable victory at MetLife Stadium.
Prediction: Win
Oct. 8 at North Carolina State
6 of 12
Looking ahead to October matchups that could include a pair of undefeated squads, Notre Dame vs. North Carolina State probably isn't an immediate thought.
Nevertheless, it would be shocking if the Wolfpack weren't 4-0 by then. After all, they open the regular season against William & Mary, East Carolina, Old Dominion and Wake Forest.
If the Irish don't start fast, they'll join the likes of 2014 Florida State and 2015 Clemson, which needed strong second-half performances to stave off an upset. Both of those contests were in Raleigh, too.
Notre Dame will survive, but Irish fans will find themselves holding their collective breath in the fourth quarter.
Prediction: Win
Oct. 15 vs. Stanford
7 of 12
At some point, close victories become tight losses.
Christian McCaffrey is a difference-maker, but it's the combination of Stanford's star runner and secondary that will be most dangerous for the Fighting Irish.
No question, Notre Dame's receiving corps has talent. A target like Equanimeous St. Brown could progress rapidly and shine. However, the Cardinal's defensive backfield improved late in 2015 and has four clear starters returning.
Stanford will control the clock on offense and wrap up an important road victory with its defense.
Prediction: Loss
Oct. 29 vs. Miami
8 of 12
After losing to Stanford, the Irish will no longer have room for error. They'll regain winning form two weeks later against Miami.
Brad Kaaya is receiving buzz as a top 2017 NFL draft pick. However, the Hurricanes' offensive line is a mess, and the pass-catching group is thin. Plus, the secondary is a work in progress following the departures of Deon Bush and Artie Burns.
Perhaps Miami's turnaround under Mark Richt and Manny Diaz will be quicker than expected, but Notre Dame's issues are far less concerning. The Irish will pull away early in the fourth quarter.
Prediction: Win
Nov. 5 vs. Navy
9 of 12
Keenan Reynolds and Co. put a scare into Notre Dame for 30 minutes last season, but he leaves a massive void in the Navy offense.
The Midshipmen have simply lost too much production to compete with the Irish in 2016. Five of the six leading rushers and the entire offensive line departed. Most of all, Reynolds was a special player.
Navy's defense might be a bother and delay a blowout. Give or take five minutes from halftime, though, Notre Dame will start to create a gap the Midshipmen can't close in Jacksonville.
Prediction: Win
Nov. 12 vs. Army
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Army was a feisty 2-10 team. That's probably a strange thing to read, but the Black Knights had seven one-possession losses—including one against Penn State—in the 2015 campaign.
That's the pleasant way of suggesting Army might contend for bowl eligibility this season.
Of course, those six wins will need to happen during a different week. Notre Dame will dominate the 2016 "Shamrock Series" outing in San Antonio at the Alamodome.
Prediction: Win
Nov. 19 vs. Virginia Tech
11 of 12
Like Syracuse, Virginia Tech has a new coach with an uptempo plan. Unlike Babers, Justin Fuente inherited a roster built to frustrate a couple of top opponents.
He just needs a quarterback first.
Fortunately for the winner of that competition, the Hokies don't lack weapons. Travon McMillian ran for 1,000 yards, wide receiver Isaiah Ford also topped that mark and Bucky Hodges is a red-zone threat.
This is another contest where Notre Dame should be favored and should end up winning. However, projecting a margin here is difficult because the performance of Virginia Tech's offense in Fuente's first season is unknown now but will be obvious by mid-November.
Prediction: Win
Nov. 26 at USC
12 of 12
Thanks to a four-game winning streak, Notre Dame will be among the highest-ranked programs just outside the College Football Playoff. Win, and maybe they'll get in.
But the championship dream will die in the Coliseum.
USC's powerful offensive line and two-headed backfield monster of Justin Davis and Ronald Jones II will control the clock. Adoree' Jackson and Iman Marshall will lock up the Irish receivers.
A second straight New Year's Six bowl appearance will be a decent consolation, but Notre Dame will fall short of its ultimate goal.
Prediction: Loss
Regular-Season Record: 10-2
Stats from CFBStats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
