The Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2014 offseason was a one of many turnover and change. Both the offensive coordinator Chuck Martin and the defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, took head coaching jobs at UConn and Miami (OH). They have been replaced by Brian VanGorder as the defensive coordinator and Mike Denbrock as the offensive coordinator. The Irish lost 8 players to the NFL;OT and Captain Zack Martin to the Dallas Cowboys, DL Stephon Tuitt to the Pittsburgh Steelers, TE Troy Niklas to the Arizona Cardinals, DL Louis Nix III to the Houston Texans, OG Chris Watt to the San Diego Chargers, LB Prince Shembo to the Atlanta Falcons, CB Bennett Jackson to the New York Giants, and WR TJ Jones to the Detroit Lions. As well as those 8, Notre Dame had 5 undrafted free agents. This is the first year of the College Football Playoff,where the four "best" teams in the country will be in the playoff. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are coming off a 9-4 season which saw them win at Yankee Stadium in the Pinstripe Bowl over Rutgers. This year Everett Golson is back after serving a one year suspension for academic reason. During the offseason Notre Dame had to suspend 5 players while the investigation into academic dishonesty is ongoing. As well the Thursday before the week one game vs Rice, which they managed to win 48-17, defensive captain Austin Collinsworth hurt his knee and missed the game.
Schedule:
Rice-48-17, Notre Dame wins
Michigan- Under the lights, I think Notre Dame will win 30-27.
Purdue- 45-7, Notre Dame wins.
at Syracuse- This game is being played at a Metlife Stadium in New Jersey; I think Notre Dame will win 45-3.
Stanford- I think this game might be a worse loss for Notre Dame if it was in Stanford but it is not so it will be 30-27 Stanford wins.
North Carolina-I think Notre Dame gets back to it's winning ways in this game winning 27-3.
at Florida State- This could possibly be a trap game, and as ND Fan I hope it is especially if Florida State has a loss by then, but I think Florida State will win 50-3, if FSU does not have a loss however the score will be 25-23, Notre Dame pulls the upset.
at Navy- Notre Dame will win beat Navy 35-3.
at Arizona State- This will be Notre Dame's trap game and they will put it out at the end 23-20.
Northwestern- Notre Dame will pull it off coming out of their trap game which saw them losing by a touchdown at halftime, they win 55-7.
Louisville- Notre Dame will beat Bobby Petrino's Louisville Cardinals 40-14.
at USC- Notre Dame will beat Steve Sarkisian's Trojans in the Coliseum by a score of 35-29.
Notre Dame will finish the regular season with a record of either 11-1 or 10-2. If they have one loss I think they will make the inaugural college football playoff, losing to Florida State in the Rose bowl. If they have two losses I think they will play in the Orange Bowl against Duke and win by a touchdown, 21-14.
Brian Kelly might be copying Lou Holtz after they beat Duke or they will be moving towards next season after losing in the first round of the inaugural college football playoff.
