Notre Dame Football: Fighting Irish Must Defeat Michigan State To Save Season

At the conclusion of spring practice, most Notre Dame fans would have found it inexplicable to think the Fighting Irish would start the season 0-2. But that's the reality and now they must defeat the 15th-ranked Michigan State Spartans to save their season.

Close losses or not, a team that started the season ranked in the AP top 25 shouldn't lose its home opener against South Florida or a road game against Michigan. To truly cement itself as one of the best teams in the nation, Notre Dame had to win those contests.

They didn't and the season is now teetering on collapse. A loss to the Spartans would not only drop their record to 0-3, but it would also end any hope of returning to the rankings this season, and it would put their bowl hopes in jeopardy.

The Fighting Irish are in a good position because their prestige means there is no chance they get overlooked for a bowl if they do make it to 6-6. Based on their play so far, however, it's hard to see them going 6-3 over the final nine games if they lose the first three.

The Vegas oddsmakers haven't lost all hope in Notre Dame yet, making the team five-point favorites for Saturday's game.

Head coach Brian Kelly made his thoughts crystal clear after the loss to Michigan (via Yahoo! Sports).

"“We’re not good enough. And I mean across the board. It’s turnovers, it’s sub-par special teams play, it’s the inability to make a stop, it’s all of those things. Pretty much told our football team that when we’re better as a football team, we’ll start winning.

(…)

“I feel so bad for our kids, because they’re battling their butts off. They’re playing really hard. They can be a good team. They’re not one right now, because of the mistakes we’re making. They just have to stay together, and they will. We’re committed to getting better.”

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Tommy Rees has seemingly solidified the quarterback position while Cierre Wood is doing just fine at running back. The defense and special teams have been the problems and until they're fixed, Notre Dame will remain inconsistent.

The hopes are always high in South Bend because the roster rarely lacks talent. For whatever reason, whether it be the pressure or just overhyped recruits, Notre Dame has failed to live up to preseason expectations in recent seasons.

With no ranked teams on the schedule after Michigan State until the regular season finale against Stanford (USC might be by the time the two teams play), there is still chance to bounce back.

It all starts with Saturday's visit from the Spartans. Kelly has to make sure his guys understand there is no going back and that they have to focus on the present. Win this game and the dominoes might finally start falling the right way for the Irish.

Otherwise, the season will be completely destroyed before anybody even knows what really happen. Losing is a slippery slope and Notre Dame must stop the skid now.