Notre Dame Football: Ranking the Difficulty of the Irish's 2012 Opponents

Despite the announcement that star linebacker Manti Te'o will return for his senior season, 2012 presents a number of challenges for Notre Dame. The team must replace Michael Floyd on the outside and three-fourths of its secondary, not to mention stabilizing the quarterback position.

The biggest challenge, however, may come from the schedule. Gone are Air Force, Maryland and South Florida, who combined to finish 14-22 in 2010. They are replaced by Miami, Oklahoma and BYU, which went 24-12 this season.

Although many opposing players must still make decisions on whether to declare for the NFL draft with eligibility remaining, the schedule appears far more daunting than the 2011 slate. From least to most difficult, here are how Notre Dame's 12 games rank for the 2012 season.

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No. 12: Vs. Navy (Sept. 1)

Notre Dame and Navy will take their rivalry overseas for the second time, returning to Ireland 16 years after their first meeting in Dublin.

The Midshipmen must replace their quarterback for the second straight year, as Kriss Proctor—who missed this year's game in South Bend—graduates. Alexander Teich, the fullback who gave the Irish fits in Navy's wins in 2009 and 2010, also departs.

Navy missed a bowl this season for the first time since 2002, and despite three wins in five seasons against Notre Dame, the Midshipmen provide the easiest test for the Irish in 2012.

No. 11: At Boston College (Nov. 10)

The Eagles suffered through a disappointing 4-8 season in 2011, including a 16-14 loss to Notre Dame in South Bend. Boston College now must wait to find out whether Nagurski and Butkus Awards winner Luke Kuechly will return for his senior season.

Injuries took their toll on the Eagles this season, as running back Montel Harris and wide receiver Ifeanyi Momah both missed the majority of the season. Boston College always brings a feisty defense, but the offense will again lack the firepower to seriously test the Irish defense.

Notre Dame has won three straight against the Eagles after dropping all six meetings between 2001 and 2008.

No. 10: Vs. Purdue (Sept. 8)

After three losses in five years, Notre Dame has turned the tables in its in-state battle with the Boilermakers, winning the past four meetings, including a 38-10 rout in West Lafayette in October.

QB Rob Henry missed the season with a knee injury, but is expected to be healthy for next fall. While Purdue will play in a bowl game for the first time since 2007, it did not defeat a team with a winning record this season.

Although Purdue has only won once in Notre Dame Stadium since 1974—and there's no reason the Irish shouldn't continue their home dominance of the Boilermakers in 2012—the game is only six days after Notre Dame returns from playing Navy in Ireland.

No. 9: Vs. Pittsburgh (Nov. 3)

The Panthers limped to a 6-6 finish this season, their worst record since going 5-7 in 2007.

First-year coach Todd Graham abruptly resigned, and the Pitt must now go through its third coach hiring process in the past 12 months.

RB Ray Graham will likely return after a knee injury cut his 2011 season short, and QB Tino Sunseri will also be back. The defense suffers a number of key losses from a unit that gave Tommy Rees and Brian Kelly fits in Notre Dame's 15-12 win at Heinz Field in September.

The teams' last seven meetings have been decided by one score, so expect another hard-fought battle when Pitt travels to South Bend in early November.

No. 8: Vs. Wake Forest (Nov. 17)

After falling to the Irish 24-17 this season, Wake Forest will make its first trip to South Bend next season with revenge on its mind.

Notre Dame trailed at halftime in Winston-Salem, but the defense clamped down on QB Tanner Price in the second half. Price returns in 2012, but he'll be playing behind an inexperienced offensive line.

Top wideouts Chris Givens and Michael Campanaro are both back, and you can always count on intelligence and discipline from any team coached by Jim Grobe.

No. 7: Vs. BYU (Oct. 20)

BYU returns to Notre Dame Stadium for the first time since a 49-23 loss in 2005, a game in which Brady Quinn set numerous stadium passing records, including six touchdown passes.

The Cougars' two-year quarterback derby officially ended last week when Jake Heaps announced he will transfer, leaving the team in the hands of southpaw Riley Nelson. BYU went 9-3 in its first year as an independent, winning eight of its final nine games.

Nelson will have to do without star left tackle Matt Reynolds in 2012, who bypassed the NFL draft to play his senior season in Provo. Running back JJ Di Luigi and top target McKay Jacobson also depart.

No. 6: Vs. Miami (Oct. 6)

After a 33-17 Irish blowout in the 2010 Sun Bowl, Notre Dame and Miami will meet again in October at Chicago's Solider Field. The Hurricanes went 6-6 in Al Golden's first season, but now await potential sanctions from the NCAA for illegal activity by a booster.

QB Jacory Harris and LB Sean Spence graduate, and RB Lamar Miller and DT Marcus Forston have already declared for the NFL draft. The 2012 Hurricanes will be a young team, but will again possess the talent and speed always present at Miami.

October in the Midwest is subject to a wide range of weather conditions, and the Irish may benefit from conditions similar to those in El Paso last December. Temperatures in the high 30s made west Texas feel much more like South Bend than South Beach.

No. 5: Vs. Stanford (Oct. 13)

The Cardinal will suffer its biggest loss since John Elway after Andrew Luck plays his final game in a Stanford uniform in January's Fiesta Bowl. There is still plenty of talent returning, but Luck's production and leadership cannot be replaced.

Two key players who could leave early are offensive linemen Jonathan Martin and David DeCastro, who allowed Stanford to maintain a run-first identity despite having a quarterback as good as Luck. Running back Stepfan Taylor returns, but star tight end Coby Fleener departs.

The front seven that dominated Notre Dame's offensive line this season returns primarily intact and should get linebacker Shayne Skov back after missing the second half of the season. The Irish seniors will be hoping to avoid becoming the first class to go 0-4 against the Cardinal.

No. 4: At Michigan State (Sept. 15)

Notre Dame's best performance in 2011 came against the Spartans, who played in the Big Ten Championship Game and just missed out on a trip to the Rose Bowl. Losses will be significant for Michigan State in 2012.

Three-year starting quarterback Kirk Cousins departs, as do his top two targets, Keshawn Martin and B.J. Cunningham. The two-headed backfield of Le'Veon Bell and Edwin Baker will have to shoulder much of the offensive load.

DT Jerel Worthy could turn pro early, but most of the back seven will be back. The Irish will be looking to erase bad memories from a controversial overtime loss in East Lansing in 2010. MSU has won 14 straight games in Spartan Stadium.

No. 3: Vs. Michigan (Sept. 22)

If college football games were 59.5 minutes long, Notre Dame would have won three straight against Michigan. The Irish have blown leads in the final 30 seconds of the past three meetings, however, and now face a mental block against one of their most bitter rivals.

Denard Robinson, who has been at his best against Notre Dame, will be back for perhaps his final season in maize and blue, and most of the Wolverines' offensive skill players return. Center David Molk is a significant loss on the offensive line, and the defense loses a number of key pieces as well, including linemen Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen.

With this being Notre Dame's marquee home game, there is a good chance this game will be played at night. We can only hope it's half as exciting as last year's game under the lights in Ann Arbor.

No. 2: At Oklahoma (Oct. 27)

The preseason No. 1 team never quite found its rhythm in 2011, losing three games—including one by 34 points and one at home to 5-7 Texas Tech to end a six-year winning streak in Norman. These two teams have not met since a 34-30 Irish win in 1999, Bob Stoops' first season in charge of the Sooners.

WR Ryan Broyles departs, and QB Landry Jones is expected to declare for the NFL draft. Injuries ravaged OU this past season, but even if they're completely healthy, the 2012 Sooners aren't expected to be as dominant as some of Stoops' previous teams.

Blake Bell—a 6'6", 250-pound sophomore who ran a "Bellicopter" package this season that emphasized his running ability—will take over under center. There is still a talent gap between the two schools, but this is a much more winnable game for Notre Dame than it seemed a year or two ago.

No. 1: At USC (Nov. 24)

Say what you want about Lane Kiffin, but the Trojans' coach is one heck of a play-caller.

Yes, having Matt Barkley helps, but USC was playing as well as anyone in the country when their probation-shortened season ended with a 50-0 rout of UCLA.

Barkley may or may not be back in Los Angeles, but the Trojans will have the best wide receiver duo in the country in Robert Woods and Marquise Lee. Curtis McNeal showed flashes of brilliance at running back this season, and he'll take over full time for Marc Tyler next fall.

If Barkley returns, the Trojans will likely be a Top-Five team heading into the season. Notre Dame will need a far better performance than they put forth this season in a 31-17 loss to USC in South Bend.