Although the 2020 football season is in limbo with the COVID-19 pandemic, preparations have to be made with a business as usual approach. Thus, here is Part I of our 12 to 1 countdown of the 2020 schedule in terms of who we regard Notre Dame most likely to defeat and why.
In each of these games from 12 to 7, we anticipate the Fighting Irish will be favored by at least double digits to up to three or four touchdowns at the time of the game. Four of these six will be among the first four contests of the year. The parentheses indicate last year’s team record.
Over the next couple of weeks, BlueandGold.com writer Patrick Engel will do features on each team with their respective beat reporters. This is more of a cursory overview:
12. Western Michigan (7-6), Sept. 19
Replacing graduated 30-game starting quarterback Jon Wassink — the 2019 Wuerrfel Trophy winner for his service off the field in addition to his play on it — is Kaleb Eleby, who as a freshman in place of an injured Wassink last year passed for 1,092 yards at a 62.6 percent completion rate in five games.
The Broncos were 1-6 away from home last year and allowed 51 points to Michigan State and 52 to Syracuse, the lone two Power Five teams they faced.
11. Vs. Navy (11-2) in Ireland, Aug, 29
The Brigade of Midshipmen maximize their potential with their execution of the triple option, but the reality is Notre Dame still can overwhelm them, as it did in last year’s 52-20 victory.
Plus, they graduate electrifying quarterback Malcolm Perry, who in 2019 rushed for 2,017 yards, 6.8 yards per carry and 21 touchdowns while also passing for 1,084 yards at an astounding 22.6 yards per completion.
10. Duke (5-7), Oct. 31
Under 13th-year head coach David Cutcliffe, this program is similar to Wake Forest and Navy: well-coached, sound and usually competitive teams that overachieve. Last year, the Blue Devils collapsed to a 1-5 finish, among them a 38-7 loss at home to Notre Dame.
Quarterback Chase Brice enrolled as a graduate transfer from Clemson after having a hand in the Tigers’ run to the 2018 national title. Hired as the new offensive line coach was Greg Frey, previously of Florida State and Michigan.
9. Vs. Georgia Tech (3-9) in Atlanta, Nov. 14
There’s a way to go yet under second-year head coach Geoff Collins after transitioning from a triple-option scheme in 2019. Georgia Tech ranked 124th nationally among 130 teams in scoring last season with a paltry 16.7 points per contest, while the defense allowed 32.4 points per game to rank 104th.
The future is showing promise after signing a No. 24-ranked freshman class (one spot behind the Irish) in the 2020 cycle. Plus, the Ramblin’ Wreck added four transfers with potential impact, among them former Notre Dame safety Derrik Allen.
We rank this game a little higher in degree of difficulty because it comes on the road the week after playing likely No. 1 Clemson, the biggest home game for the Fighting Irish since hosting No. 1 USC in 2005. Letdown will be the theme here.
8. Vs. Wake Forest (8-5) in Charlotte, Sept. 26
Head coach Dave Clawson’s troops should remain competitive and play in a fifth straight bowl thanks to two mainstays bypassing the NFL Draft: receiver Sage Surratt (66 catches for 1,001 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2019) and defensive end Carlos Basham (57 tackles, 11 sacks and three forced fumbles).
Starting quarterback Jamie Newman, who passed for 2,868 yards and ran for 574 in 2019, opted to use his final season as a graduate transfer at Georgia. Replacement Sam Hartman passed for 1,984 yards in 2018 when Newman was injured.
7. Arkansas (2-10), Sept. 12
This is odd, isn't it, to have a 2-10 team rated a potentially more challenging contest than foes who had winning records, especially 11-2 Navy?
Coming off back-to-back 2-10 seasons — and sporting a 19-game losing streak in the SEC dating back to 2017 — the Razorbacks will be guided by first-year head coach Sam Pittman, who was Georgia’s offensive line coach from 2016-19 after holding the same position at Arkansas from 2013-15.
The return of running back Rakeem Boyd, who rushed for 1,133 yards, 6.2 yards per carry and eight touchdowns in 2019, should aid graduate transfer quarterback Felipe Franks. In his three seasons of a roller-coaster career at Florida (with 2019 cut short by injury), Franks passed for 4,593 yards with 38 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
More than anything, this is a gut feel that if traditional SEC doormat Vanderbilt could give Notre Dame all it could handle during a 22-17 loss in 2018, Arkansas is just as capable. The Razorbacks signed top 30 classes in 2016 (30th), 2017 (24th) and 2019 (20th), so there will be some quality talent with which to work.
2020 Schedule
Aug. 29 — vs. Navy (Ireland)
Sept. 12 — Arkansas
Sept. 19 — Western Michigan
Sept. 26 — vs. Wake Forest (at Charlotte, N.C.)
Oct. 3 — vs. Wisconsin (at Green Bay, Wis.)
Oct. 10 — Stanford
Oct. 17 — at Pitt
Oct. 31 — Duke
Nov. 7 — Clemson
Nov. 14 — vs. Georgia Tech (At Atlanta)
Nov. 21 — Louisville
Nov. 28 — at USC
Tomorrow: Part II, 6 to 1
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