Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/699309
BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 131 Notre Dame with a No. 11 ranking nationally in their top 25. That's behind one opponent in Stanford (No. 10) — but ahead of all the others, including USC (No. 17) and Michigan State (No. 22). "The Irish were closer than you might re- member to being playoff-good last season," the magazine declared. "There was the nar- rowest of defeats at Clemson on the first Sat- urday of October, and then nothing but Ws until a crushing 38-36 loss at Stanford in the regular-season finale." The quarterback battle is tabbed as "good news" in a way, accompanying the No. 11 national ranking, with the publication not- ing: "There's no wrong answer here, as each player [Kizer and Zaire] is capable of deliver- ing the finest season for a quarterback in Brian Kelly's time in South Bend." The described "bad news," however, begins at other position groups. Only the offensive backfield (No. 5) and offensive line (No. 8) break into the magazine's top-10 national rankings, whereas last year, the Irish featured the No. 2 receivers group, No. 4 offensive line, No. 4 linebacker group, No. 5 defensive back group, No. 6 offensive backfield and No. 10 defensive line. "The other skill spots [besides quarterback] on offense took heavy losses, and star defenders Jaylon Smith, KeiVarae Russell and Sheldon Day have moved on," the magazine explained. "It's probably fair to say the starting 22 invites more ques- tions than it did a year ago." As usual with Notre Dame's long-standing independent status, the Irish are all over Lin- dy's feature examining the top non-conference games nationally. Irish games at USC (No. 6), versus Michigan State (No. 7) and against Stanford (No. 8) all check in among the top 12 nationally. That doesn't count the Irish's season opener at Texas, with a scheduled Sunday night kick- off on ABC making the "other opening-week goodies" category. A unique stat highlights the "Key Number" category, with the digits 27 representing Notre Dame's returning starts on the offensive line. "That's the low-mark of the Kelly era," Lin- dy's noted. "The Irish averaged 60 returning starts in the previous six seasons." SPORTING NEWS This publication is the median of the three, pegging the Irish at No. 10 nationally. That ranking is sandwiched between two oppo- nents in Stanford (No. 9) and Michigan State (No. 11), with USC also checking in nearby at No. 15. Differing from the previous two magazines is Texas breaking into the top 25 at No. 24. The lead in the team preview is again the quarterback battle, although it seems a consen- sus is almost reached with the three publica- tions in Kizer being the favorite to win the job. This magazine tabbed the junior Kizer the team's "Difference-Maker." "Notre Dame will have plenty of fresh faces in South Bend for 2016 following one of the most prolific offenses of the Brian Kelly era," the publication noted. "One familiar face will be returning quarterback DeShone Kizer, who took more than 700 snaps last season despite not taking over as the starter until the third game." Beyond the quarterback breakdown, the magazine notes several other position battles exist, with only 10 returning starters ranking the Irish among the least-experienced teams in the country. "That doesn't mean the cupboard is bare," the publication countered. "Like at running back. C.J. Prosise left for the NFL, but Tarean Folston (who missed most of last year with a knee injury) and Josh Adams make it a posi- tion of strength." One difference in Sporting News and the prior two magazines is in the analysis of Notre Dame's schedule. This publication wrote the Irish face a challenging slate, while Athlon and Lindy's tabbed Notre Dame's 12 opponents as an easier group. "The Fighting Irish lost several impact players to the NFL, but Kelly has built depth through recruiting," the magazine noted. "It will be interesting to see how much that shows against a tough schedule that includes the usual rivals, plus Michigan State, Virginia Tech and Miami." ✦ What They're Saying About The Irish Athlon — "After the last three seasons, Notre Dame has to wonder when good fortune will start to swing back in favor of the Irish. Since arriving ahead of schedule and appearing in the 2012 national title game, Notre Dame has been beset by injuries and academic casualties." Lindy's — "Talent remains, but it's inexperienced and unevenly spread over the roster. Two of Notre Dame's best players are at quarterback in Kizer and Zaire. But how that competition plays out won't be what pushes this season one direction or another. The defense must be better fundamentally; if so, the Irish will have their sights set on big postseason prizes." Sporting News — "Will it be the voice of a senior, the body of work or superior talent that carries the weight for this Notre Dame football team? That's the dilemma facing Fighting Irish football coach Brian Kelly in the pivotal quarterback competition that will serve as the cornerstone of the 2016 season." Blue & Gold Illustrated Staff Predictions Lou Somogyi Bryan Driskell Regular Season Record 10-2 11-1 Bowl Game Cotton Bowl Peach Bowl Team MVP DeShone Kizer DeShone Kizer Breakthrough Player Nyles Morgan Alizé Jones Most Anticipated Game Stanford Stanford Upset Alert Texas Virginia Tech Opponent on the Rise Miami Miami Opponent on the Decline Duke Duke Coach of the Year Jim Harbaugh, Michigan Chris Petersen, Washington CFP Championship Game Alabama vs. Michigan Notre Dame vs. LSU Andrew Ivins Jordan Wells Regular Season Record 10-2 10-2 Bowl Game Orange Bowl Cotton Bowl Team MVP DeShone Kizer DeShone Kizer Breakthrough Player Shaun Crawford Alizé Jones Most Anticipated Game Texas USC Upset Alert Miami NC State Opponent on the Rise Miami Texas Opponent on the Decline Michigan State Duke Coach of the Year Chris Petersen, Washington Les Miles, LSU CFP Championship Game Alabama vs. Florida State Clemson vs. Florida State Andrew Owens Regular Season Record 11-1 Bowl Game Cotton Bowl Team MVP Nyles Morgan Breakthrough Player Shaun Crawford Most Anticipated Game USC Upset Alert Texas Opponent on the Rise Texas Opponent on the Decline Michigan State Coach of the Year Jim Harbaugh, Michigan CFP Championship Game Clemson vs. Oklahoma Crystal Ball: Notre Dame Predictions Preseason Publication Rank Projected Bowl Athlon Sports No. 8 Orange vs. Louisville Lindy's Sports No. 11 Cotton vs. Houston Phil Steele's No. 9 Orange vs. Clemson Sporting News No. 10 TaxSlayer vs. Penn State