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.
Notre Dame's Season Record and Bowl Game Prediction
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.
Notre Dame Team MVP
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.
Notre Dame Breakthrough Player
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.
Notre Dame's Top Freshman
Lou: Devin Studstill, Safety
Matt: Devin Studstill, Safety and Daelin Hayes, Defensive End
Bryan: Devin Studstill, Safety
Notre Dame's Most Anticipated Game
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.
Upset Alert
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.
2016 Notre Dame Opponent On The Rise
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.
2016 Notre Dame Opponent On The Decline
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.
2016 Heisman Trophy Winner
Lou: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
Matt: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
Bryan: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
2016 National Coach Of The Year
Lou: Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
Matt: Les Miles, LSU
Bryan: Chris Petersen, Washington
2016 College Football Playoff Semi-Finalists
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
2016 College Football National Championship Game
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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