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The 2024 season for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame will bring challenges as expectations remain high to enter the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.
Last season, the Irish averaged 432 yards and 39 points per game on offense and gave up 282 yards and 16.6 points per game. This season head coach Marcus Freeman returned to the Atlantic Coast Conference via the Transfer Portal with his second straight quarterback transfer in Riley Leonard (from Duke). The team also added dynamic receivers in Kris Mitchell (from FIU) and Beaux Collins (from Clemson). The team adds two new starters in RJ Oben (from Duke) and Jordan Clark (from Arizona State) on defense.
Will the latest additions to the team translate to wins during the season and a berth in the College Football Playoffs?
Week 1: at Texas A&M Aggies
This year marks the sixth all-time meeting between the two schools with Notre Dame holding a slight lead 3-2. The teams last met in 2001 when the Aggies won 24-3. The game will also be a reunion as Leonard and Oben take the field against their former coach in Mike Elko, who takes the reigns as the new coach with Texas A&M.
For the Irish, starting the season against a ranked opponent will only help them as they build their resume for the CFP. With Leonard entering to lead the offense, he will have new weapons in Mitchell and Collins and a returning Jeremiyah Love to take over at running back for Audric Estime. In Leonard, the Irish have a dual-threat fighter with a solid arm and surprising quickness when he escapes the pocket to extend and make plays.
The Irish start off the 2024 season with a win after a battle with the Aggies.
Record: 1-0
Week 2: Northern Illinois Huskies
In a first-ever matchup, the Huskies will clash with the Fighting Irish. Northern Illinois averaged 369 yards and 25 points per game on offense, and allowed 319 yards and 21 points on defense as the team finished 7-6 after a win in the Camellia Bowl.
For the Irish, minimizing the impact of Huskies running back Antario Brown will be crucial. Last season Brown ran for 1,296 yards and 10 touchdowns as he averaged 6 yards per carry. The Irish return several key players on defense like Howard Cross who finished second on the team in tackles, Jack Kiser who finished third.
The Irish prove to be too much for the Huskies.
Record: 2-0
Week 3: at Purdue Boilermakers
The Fighting Irish and the Boilermakers continue their storied history where the Irish have dominated and hold the overall edge in the series 57-26-2. The last matchup between the two was a 27-13 win by the Irish in 2021. Last season the Boilermakers averaged 380 yards and 24 points per game on offense and allowed 382 yards and 30.4 points per game on defense.
For the Irish, a border war of sorts against the Boilermakers will be a good game for the Irish as they continue to find their footing. The Boilermakers return their leading tackler on defense in Dillon Thieneman and the team leader in sacks, linebacker Kydran Jenkins. While the offensive line for the Irish is a strength for the team, a veteran Boilermakers defensive front will be a solid challenge for the offense this early in the season.
In a surprisingly close game, the Irish escape with a win against the Boilermakers.
Record: 3-0
Week 4: Miami (Ohio) RedHawks
This matchup brings the Irish and the RedHawks together for just the third meeting between the two programs. The Irish are 2-0 in the series with wins coming in 1909 and 2017, with the matchup in 2017 ending in a 52-17 win by the Irish. The RedHawks averaged 324 yards and 25.6 points on offense and allowed 326 yards and 16 points on defense last season. Returning to lead the offense is quarterback Brett Gabbert. Receivers Javon Tracy and Cade McDonald return to help the offense.
For the Irish, a fourth straight week and Freeman's team will be laser-focused. Despite the RedHawks returning their top two tacklers from a season ago, the defense for the Irish is equally formidable.
Notre Dame is too strong for the RedHawks as they comfortably cruise to the win in the matchup.
Record: 4-0
Week 5: Louisville Cardinals
The Irish take on the Cardinals in the fifth matchup between the schools. With the series tied at two games a piece, the 2024 edition will be a tie-breaker after the Cardinals won last season 33-20. This season, both teams welcome new quarterbacks to lead the offense with Leonard and Tyler Shough for the Cardinals. Last season the Cardinals made it to the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship game and averaged 415 yards and 30.7 points per game on offense, and surrendered 307 yards and 19.7 points on defense.
For the Irish, the clash will be the second in a stretch that will see the Irish play five of seven at home. The game will be a defensive battle as both teams return the majority of their respective defenses. The Irish will be focused on meeting the challenge and seeking a bit of revenge after last season's loss in Louisville.
In a bit of a nail-biter, the Cardinals escape with a hard-fought win in South Bend, Ind.. The defensive line for the Cardinals leads the way against a younger offensive line for the Irish
Record: 4-1
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: Stanford Cardinal
Coming off a bye week, the Irish welcome the Cardinal for the next chapter in their series. All-time, the Irish hold a 22-14 advantage. While the Irish won last season's meeting, the two schools have alternated wins since 2021. While the Cardinal begin play in the ACC, head coach Troy Taylor and his team will look to improve from last season when the offense averaged 352 yards and 20.8 points per game while allowing 462 yards and 37.7 points per game on defense. The good news is quarterback Ashton Daniels returns to lead the offense and wide receiver Elic Ayomanor returns to build off his 1,000-yard freshman season.
After a bye week to process the first loss of the season, coach Freeman and the Irish will be focused on continuing their winning ways against the Cardinal.
The Irish come in strong and win comfortably against the Cardinal.
Record: 5-1
Week 8: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The Irish battle the Yellow Jackets in the latest edition of the series between two storied teams. The last meeting in 2021 was a 55-0 win by the Irish and the all-time series has been dominated by the Irish, 30-6-1. The Yellow Jackets and head coach Brent Key are building something in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets averaged 425 yards and 31 points on offense last year and surrendered 438 yards and 30.5 points on defense. The Yellow Jackets offense returns all but one starter along the offensive line as the dynamic duo of quarterback Haynes King and running back Jamal Haynes return to build off their season from last year.
For the Irish, facing the playmakers for the Yellow Jackets will present a unique test for the defense. The Irish win a hard-fought battle with the Yellow Jackets.
Record: 6-1
Week 9: Navy Midshipmen
The annual game between the Fighting Irish and the Midshipmen will take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The series has been one-sided in favor of the Irish who hold an 80-13-1 record all-time against Navy. The Midshipmen return a veteran team that averaged 300 yards and 18 points on offense, and surrendered 354 yards and 22 points per game in 2023. The Midshipmen return the leading rusher and receiver from the offense and call on Blake Horvath to lead the offense.
For the Irish, despite the matchup against the Seminoles on the horizon, the matchup against the Midshipmen will be a tune-up.
The Irish run away with this one and win comfortably.
Record: 7-1
Week 11: Florida State Seminoles
In a heavyweight bout, the Florida State Seminoles travel to South Bend to take on the Fighting Irish. Despite a 6-5 series lead for the Seminoles, the Irish have won the last three meetings with the last coming in 2021 when Notre Dame won 41-38 in Tallahassee, Fla. This year, the Seminoles and head coach Mike Norvell have done a great job to rebuild a team that averaged 402 yards and 34.6 points on offense, and allowed 306 yards and 16 points on defense in 2023.
For the Irish, coach Freeman will have his team laser-focused on what could be a preview for a playoff matchup. With top-quality talent for both teams, the game is set to be one of the best games of the season.
Under the bright lights of a prime-time game, the Seminoles come away with the win.
Record: 7-2
Week 12: Virginia Cavaliers
A good game for the Irish to regain their form after a gut-wrenching loss the previous week. The Virginia Cavaliers travel to South Bend in just the fifth matchup between the schools. In the all-time series, the Irish have won the four previous matchups with the last being a 28-3 win at Virginia. Last season, the Cavaliers averaged 369 yards and 23 points on offense while giving up 409 yards and 34 points on defense. Virginia also returns the leading rusher from a season ago as quarterback Tony Muskett leads the offense.
For the Irish, the game marks a bit of a homecoming as Chris Tyree returns to South Bend as a member of the opposition.
The Irish rebound with a win against the Cavaliers as they build toward an at-large bid in the playoffs.
Record: 8-2
Week 13: Army Black Knights
Week 13 brings the latest Army Black Knights matchup for the Irish. In the all-time series, Notre Dame leads 39-8-4. The Irish are winners of the past 15 matchups with the last one being a 44-6 win in 2016. Last season, the Black Knights averaged 312 yards and 21 points on offense while surrendering 364 yards and 21 points per game on defense.
For the Irish, as the season winds down, the game before the clash with the USC Trojans will allow the Irish to tune up and get some reserves some valuable playing time. The Black Knights return the leading passer and running back in dual-threat quarterback Bryson Daly. On defense, the Knights return the second-leading tackler on the team from a season ago Kalib Fortner.
The Irish win in comfortable fashion. With the clash against USC coming up to close out the regular season, coach Freeman and the leaders on the team keep the Irish focused on the task at hand.
Record: 9-2
Week 14: at USC Trojans
The season for the Irish concludes with a clash against the Trojans of Southern California. In the all-time series between two iconic programs, the Irish hold the lead 49-37-5. The Irish won last season's clash in South Bend 48-20. Last season, the Trojans averaged 467 yards and 42 points per game on offense and gave up 439 yards and 35 points per game on defense.
For the Irish, with the CFP within reach, they won't be able to take their foot off the gas. Finishing the season over a possibly ranked Trojans team will go a long way toward a berth into the playoffs. This season, both the Trojans and the Irish will play in what could very well be an eliminator game where the winner could see themselves in the playoffs.
While winning by 28 points won't be replicated, the Trojans turn the tables and get a win against the Irish in the regular season finale.
Record: 9-3
What it Means for Notre Dame in 2024
With a bit of a streaky season, Notre Dame's prediction of finishing 9-3 on the season is respectable. The Irish secure an at-large bid for the College Football Playoffs.
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