The 2016 season is just over a week away, which makes this arguably the most exciting time of the year.

Everyone is undefeated, just about every team has championship aspirations of some kind and every coach, player and fan is wondering just how good their team is going to be.

Before the season kicks off, the staff at Blue & Gold Illustrated is ready to give its preseason predictions and bold prognostications.

In the first part of the series Lou Somogyi, Matt Jones and Bryan Driskell take a look at the overall predictions for the 2016 season, for both Notre Dame and the rest of the country.

Lou: 10-2 and a trip to the Capital One Orange Bowl

Matt: 11-1 and a trip to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

Bryan: 11-1 and a trip to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

Matt and Bryan have Notre Dame making it to the College Football Playoffs. The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and The Fiesta Bowl.

Lou: DeShone Kizer, QB, Junior

Matt: Tarean Folston, RB, Senior

Bryan: Nyles Morgan, MLB, Junior

This is not a prediction on which player will win the award handed out at Echoes ’16, Notre Dame’s season-ending awards banquet. This is a prediction of which player will prove to be the most important to Notre Dame’s success this season.

Lou: Nyles Morgan, MLB, Junior

Matt: Nyles Morgan, MLB, Junior

Bryan: Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Sophomore

Notre Dame’s breakthrough player in 2016 will be the guy that goes from backup or non-factor player to being an impact player in 2016.

Lou: Devin Studstill, Safety

Matt: Devin Studstill, Safety and Daelin Hayes, Defensive End

Bryan: Devin Studstill, Safety

Lou: Stanford Cardinal

Matt: Texas Longhorns

Bryan: Stanford Cardinal

Notre Dame’s most anticipated game is the one that our writers believe could have the biggest impact on the season, or most defines what the 2016 season will be about.

Lou: Texas Longhorns

Matt: Stanford Cardinal

Bryan: Virginia Tech Hokies

A look at the game that most scares our writers, the one where a team that Notre Dame should be favored to beat stands the best chance to pull off the upset.

Lou: Miami Hurricanes

Matt: Texas Longhorns

Bryan: Miami Hurricanes

A prediction regarding which Irish opponent is trending upwards, with a chance for a breakthrough season.

Lou: Duke Blue Devils

Matt: Duke Blue Devils

Bryan: Duke Blue Devils

A prediction regarding which Irish opponent is going to have the toughest time replicating its recent success.

Lou: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

Matt: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

Bryan: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

Lou: Jim Harbaugh, Michigan

Matt: Les Miles, LSU

Bryan: Chris Petersen, Washington

Lou: Alabama Crimson Tide, Clemson Tigers, Michigan Wolverines, Oklahoma Sooners

Matt: LSU Tigers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma Sooners

Bryan: Clemson Tigers, LSU Tigers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Ohio State Buckeyes

Lou: Clemson Tigers vs. Michigan Wolverines

Matt: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. LSU Tigers

Bryan: Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. LSU Tigers

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