Notre Dame Football: Big 3 Will Lead Fighting Irish to a Bowl Win This Year

I won’t lie to you.

If I was a diehard Notre Dame fan, I’d be more than discouraged.

So, Fighting Irish fans, I’m telling you right now—don’t panic!

It’s a long season and there are plenty of games to be won.

Even if they fall to Michigan State this weekend, I still wouldn’t be overly concerned about the future.

Notre Dame will earn a bowl bid, and they’ll win it.

These are simply the growing pains the team must endure for the stretch run of the season. They opened with a bit of a murderers' row-esque schedule, with three very difficult opponents.

The important thing to take away from the first two losses is that the Fighting Irish were right there in both games. More importantly, they boast one of the best “Big Threes” in all of college football.

The combination of quarterback Tommy Rees, running back Cierre Wood and wide receiver Michael Floyd will soon prove to be too great for any defense to handle.

This was Rees’ first start of the season in arguably the most hostile environment possible—a night game in Michigan in prime time.

The crowd was electric and Rees did nearly everything possible—aside from his costly fumble—to win the game. There’s no shame in losing to Denard Robinson, who makes a case each week to be called the most dynamic player in the nation.

Rees is a gamer, and that’s what matters most. He makes mistakes like any other quarterback, but it’s the way he handles himself immediately afterward that impresses me most. He knows how to move past a mistake as quick as anybody in the land and will lead the Fighting Irish to many victories.

Without even playing every down for the Irish, he’s already amassed 611 yards and five touchdowns. That’s impressive. He has a bigger arm and much better accuracy than I thought.

More importantly, he has the poise in the pocket. He’s turning himself into a professional. I can’t help but think that if Rees was the starter against South Florida, Notre Dame would at least be 1-1 heading into Week 3.

We all know about Floyd.

The kid is a monster all over the field. I don’t think there’s a cornerback at this level that can shut him down. He has strong hands, but he knows how to use his size to create separation and abuse cover men.

In two games, he’s accumulated 313 yards and two scores. It’s difficult to ask for much more from him.

Despite boasting one of the top QB-WR tandems, the key to this offense is Wood. Through two weeks, he’s making a claim to be considered a top-five running back across the country.

Wood reminds me a lot of Philadelphia Eagles star LeSean McCoy. He has the uncanny ability to make men miss on the drop of a dime. His agility and quickness is nearly unrivaled.

Unlike last year, I’m seeing more power in his game. That was the only knock I had on him last season—he wasn’t powerful enough.

This year, he clearly packed on some muscle and is no longer afraid of contact. He’s running with authority and will run through arm tackles with ease.  

Wood crossed the century mark in both games to open the season. He has 238 yards and two scores heading into Week 3. Despite going against a high quality Michigan State Spartans team, I’m calling Wood a lock to open the season with three straight 100-yard performances.

Each of these three men has what it takes to dominate at this level.

I’m still not calling the Spartans game a must-win. Michigan State is a great team, so nobody should be calling for head coach Brian Kelly's head if they lose this contest.

This team was seconds away from victory against Michigan and was thrown off due to weather against South Florida.

Notre Dame’s Big Three will put the pressure on the opposition each week. They will continue to put up points and will thrive down the stretch.

Don’t be surprised if you see this team rally off nine straight wins to end their season—including victories over USC, Maryland, Boston College and Andrew Luck’s Stanford—on the way to a bowl victory.

I don't care who they play during Bowl season. Put them against the elites for all I care. Oklahoma, LSU, Alabama, whoever. The Fighting Irish will compete with any one of them.

Led by Rees, Floyd and Wood, this team will be a well-oiled machine by December. These three can compete with any defense in the nation and will be a major threat to whoever they play during bowl season.