Why Notre Dame Is Ranked No. 16 in the AP Poll

The Associated Press released its preseason Top 25 rankings yesterday and Notre Dame found itself in the 16th spot.

The Fighting Irish always seem to find themselves in these preseason prognostications, but this season there's reason to believe the hype.

You are probably sitting there wondering why it is that Notre Dame actually deserves to be in the Top 25 this season.

Keep reading and you'll find out.

The Pieces Are in Place for an Explosive Offense

Brian Kelly has made a name for himself because of his prowess on the offensive side of the ball.

His offenses at Cincinnati were consistently the best in the Big East, and scoring 40 or more points per game was the norm.

However, last season's Fighting Irish offense fell short of expectations and certainly was never at full speed. The fan base wasn't pleased; they expected the offense to be rolling right away.

With one season of experience behind the team, that same fan base has reason to be excited.

The line returns mostly intact. There are proven playmakers at the skill positions and both quarterbacks have the capability to win football games.

Get excited, because this is going to be a breakout season for Brian Kelly's spread offense.

The 2011 Recruiting Class

One of the most pressing questions facing Brian Kelly upon being named head coach was his ability to recruit.

He and his staff have silenced those critics as Notre Dame brought in the 10th-ranked recruiting class per Rivals.com.

The most appealing part of the class is the speed and size in the front seven.

Defensive ends Stephon Tuitt (6'7", 295 pounds) and Aaron Lynch (6'6", 265 pounds) bring a tenacity to the edge that Notre Dame hasn't seen in years.

Joining those two players on the defensive side of the football are linebackers Ishaq Williams, Troy Niklas and Anthony Rabasa, among others.

Bringing in a tremendous recruiting class may not merit inclusion in the preseason Top 25 in the minds of the masses, but it certainly helped in this case.

Plenty of Viable Options at Quarterback

The play of Irish quarterbacks in 2010 was far and away one of the biggest issues surrounding the team.

That notion has become a positive one heading into this season.

There are four very talented quarterbacks on the roster in Everett Golson, Andrew Hendrix, Tommy Rees and Dayne Crist.

As reported by NBC Sports, Brian Kelly has stated that the battle for starting duties has come down to Crist and Rees despite the fact that Hendrix and Golson are better suited to run the offense.

The fact of the matter is that the coaching staff has four quarterbacks who have the ability to win football games.

Not many teams in the country can say that.

There's Finally a Focus on Defense

When was the last time Notre Dame had a truly elite defense?

It's sad that we are forced to wrack our brains for an answer.

The reason for the lack of a formidable defense has been an inability to recruit blue-chip defensive line prospects and a lack of focus on the defense itself.

Brian Kelly and his staff have changed the culture in South Bend; defense is now a top priority.

Just check out the last four games of last season. The Irish limited opponents to only 40 points in those four games.

I'm still not a true believer in the defense being an "elite" unit, but the pieces are there to reach that level.

That excellent recruiting class that I mentioned will also be a huge boost.

Returning Starters on Each Side of the Football

This may be an apparent fact, but it can't be overlooked.

Bringing back a core of returning starters is key to having a successful season.

That's the case for Notre Dame as the Irish bring back nine starters on offense and eight on defense.

Leading this team will be junior linebacker Manti Te'o, senior free safety Harrison Smith, senior wide receiver Michael Floyd and junior running back Cierre Wood, along with a veteran offensive line.

With 17 total returning starters, the expectations facing Notre Dame are enormous and have resulted in the team's ranking of No.16 in the AP Poll.

Brian Kelly's Track Record

Brian Kelly is a proven winner. There's no doubt about that.

The man won two Division II national championships at Grand Valley State.

He completely turned around a bottom-feeding Central Michigan program in only three years.

After leaving CMU, Brian Kelly took over perennial Big East doormat Cincinnati and brought the Bearcats to the BCS in his second full season as head coach.

As you can see, he has won everywhere he has been. There's no reason to believe Brian Kelly won't do the same at Notre Dame.

Because It's Notre Dame

You're not going to believe me, but this slide isn't intended to be an arrogant one.

Yes, Notre Dame has been a mediocre program for much of the last decade.

However, Notre Dame remains the face of college football. The team is like the New York Yankees of the NCAA.

Love 'em or hate 'em, the Fighting Irish are here to stay and have something to prove this season.

This is the year the team finally lives up to expectations and silences the doubters.

Here come the Irish.