Notre Dame Spring Game 2018: Date, Start Time, TV Schedule, Live Stream and More

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish hope consistency is the theme surrounding the 2018 Notre Dame Spring Game on Saturday. 

While Brandon Wimbush returns under center after the team posted a 10-win campaign a year ago and a triumph in the Citrus Bowl, the loss of major presences up front such as Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey could pose major problems. 

Touting Wimbush as improved and with an arsenal of weapons around him, though, head coach Brian Kelly and his staff don't sound concerned. 

2017 Notre Dame Spring Game

When: Saturday, April 21 at 12:30 p.m. ET

Where: Notre Dame Stadium

TV: NBC Sports Network

Live Stream: NBCSports Live Extra

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Like most major programs in the spring, this Blue-Gold spring football game splits the roster up into offense and defense. There are two 15-minute quarters in the first half before a pair of 12-minute quarters in the second, the latter featuring a running clock. 

Wimbush will wear the red jersey a year removed from completing 49.5 percent of his passes for 1,870 yards and 16 touchdowns against six interceptions. He added another 803 yards and 14 scores as a rusher. 

Despite the presence of someone like Ian Book, it sounds like Wimbush has the blessing as starter. 

"I don't know that I've seen separation as much as I've seen Brandon show a lot more confidence," Kelly said, according to Adam Derengowski of WSBT. "There is definitely a difference in the way he's performing at that position as compared to last year. So if that continues to trend, that puts us in a really good position at quarterback."

No matter who lines up under center, the Fighting Irish will be looking for guys like Tommy Kraemer to now lead the unit in the offensive trenches. It starts at the top though, as Pete Sampson of Irish Illustrated pointed out: 

This is especially important because Notre Dame is still trying to figure out the pecking order in the backfield and at wideout. Running back Josh Adams is gone, but Dexter Williams is a candidate to be the workhorse back after posting 360 yards and four scores on a 9.2 yards-per-carry average last year. He's likely flanked by Tony Jones Jr., who scored three times. 

At wideout, the task is replacing Equanimeous St. Brown, Notre Dame's leading receiver from a year ago. Chase Claypool returns after catching 29 passes for 402 yards and two scores to sit second in receiving, but the unit as a whole needs somebody to step up and fill slots on the depth chart.

One thing Notre Dame shouldn't have to worry too much about? The defense looks promising at most levels. The line is experienced and deep and the second unit should boast all senior linebackers, with younger contributors like Asmar Billal starting to carve names out for themselves as well. 

The secondary is slightly more convoluted. Julian Love is a rising name to know at cornerback, yet safety is a question mark—and one Kelly and his staff might look to figure out during the spring game against various quarterbacks. 

Speaking of figuring things out, the depth chart at safety could have more clarity if the coaching staff decides to move Jordan Genmark-Heath to safety. 

"Jordan is a dynamic player," Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea said, according to the Indy Star's Laken Litman. "We don't move a guy unless we identify things that we think he brings to the table that will allow him to be successful. It's not something we’re doing just to throw paint at the wall."

Call it one of the many things Notre Dame has to figure out over the course of the spring, a decision-making process sure to gain serious traction starting Saturday. 

The decisions influenced there will have a season-long impact, so it isn't hard to see why Notre Dame fans make the program's spring game one of the biggest in the country.