In just a few days, Notre Dame will open the 2024 football season with, indisputably, its toughest game. With that in mind, where do the rest fall? How challenging is a schedule that could make or break an 11-1 or 10-2 Irish team’s postseason hopes? Here’s a breakdown of a Notre Dame slate that ranks as the 54th-strongest in the nation.
No. 12 — Navy
When: Oct. 26 (Game Eight)
Where: MetLife Stadium
Back in the mid-2010s, Notre Dame fans had legitimate reasons for apprehension about a matchup with Navy. The Midshipmen consistently hung tight with the Irish, and contests like the 2017 game suggested that the former could completely control the flow of play via the triple option.
Those trends have largely disappeared over the last six years. Since 2018, the Irish have beaten Navy by three touchdowns or more in four of five meetings. In last year’s 42-3 victory in Dublin, Notre Dame’s stout defense overwhelmed Navy’s rushing attack. With the core of that unit back for the Irish, expect a similar result in the Meadowlands.
No. 11 — Northern Illinois
When: Sept. 7 (Game Two)
Where: Notre Dame Stadium
I rank this game with respect for Notre Dame’s 2022 home opener. That year’s Irish came home from a physical, Week One loss at Ohio State and proceeded to lose to Marshall. This game sets up similarly, coming on the heels of what projects as a grueling season-opener at Texas A&M.
But let’s be real. Northern Illinois barely cleared .500 both overall and in the Mid-American Conference last year. Beyond 1,000-yard running back Antario Brown, the Huskies provide very little to write home about. Notre Dame, a 56-3 winner in last year’s home opener against Tennessee State, should take care of business here — regardless of what happens at College Station.
No. 10 — Army
When: Nov. 23 (Game Eleven)
Where: Yankee Stadium
This game should offer a wonderful opportunity for Irish fans — ideally with their eyes on the College Football Playoff — to relax. Whether you’re a fan of the Shamrock Series or not, it’s impossible to deny the significance of Notre Dame and Army at Yankee Stadium. The two met 100 years ago at the Old Yankee Stadium, where Knute Rockne and the Four Horsemen scored a 13-7 win.
To solidify the ranking, remember that the Irish are 11-0 in Shamrock Series games. While they haven’t all been glamorous victories, Notre Dame has found itself on top year after year. Despite the efforts of Jeff Monken’s respectable Army program, the Irish should have no trouble in The Bronx.
No. 9 — Virginia
When: Nov. 16 (Game Ten)
Where: Notre Dame Stadium
Another part of Notre Dame’s month-long stretch without a true road tilt, the Virginia game falls on Senior Day. The Irish have won seven consecutive Senior Day games. They have steamrolled Boston College and Wake Forest — Senior Day opponents of similar stature to Virginia — during Marcus Freeman’s tenure.
At this point, the Irish will also have just played a rivalry home game against Florida State. Either they’ll be in a late-season groove after a big win or agitated and ready to punish somebody. Virginia, a middling program with a young quarterback and offensive line, isn’t in a position to offer too much pushback.
No. 8 — Stanford
When: Oct. 12 (Game Six)
Where: Notre Dame Stadium
Like Northern Illinois, the thought of a mid-October home date with Stanford provokes unwanted flashbacks to 2022’s Cardinal upset. But it’s an entirely different ball game this year. First, Notre Dame will host Stanford in the afternoon for the first time since 2014. Additionally, the Cardinal have a different head coach in Troy Taylor, who went 3-9 in his first year.
Once the Irish extinguished their turnover woes in Palo Alto a year ago, they annihilated Stanford behind Audric Estimé. While they may not boast a 200-yard rusher, they’ll be coming off two straight home games and a bye week. At full strength or close to it, Notre Dame should have their way.
No. 7 — Miami (Ohio)
When: Sept. 21 (Game Four)
Where: Notre Dame Stadium
Not one, but two MAC opponents get a shot at the Irish in 2024. The Redhawks check in as easily the more formidable of the pair, coming off a 10-3 season that brought home a conference championship. And with sixth-year quarterback Brett Gabbert returning alongside two 100-tackle linebackers, they won’t roll over in front of a big crowd.
The simplest comparison for this matchup is Notre Dame’s 2023 clash with Central Michigan. Another upshot MAC program slotted in as the fourth Irish opponent and held up fairly well. If you recall, Notre Dame won the game by a 41-17 score, but the game’s comfort level never felt indicative of said final count. In a similar sense here, Miami won’t let the Irish off the hook easily.
No. 6 — at Purdue
When: Sept. 14 (Game Three)
Where: Ross-Ade Stadium
More than anything else, optics drive the upper-half ranking of this Shillelagh Trophy battle. Seeing the Irish come to town for the first time in over a decade, Boilermaker fans will likely create the second-toughest road environment for Notre Dame this season. Purdue also has a history of upsetting top-five teams, a designation that might belong to the Irish with a 2-0 start.
But those upsets of a few years back came under a different head coach, Jeff Brohm, and by the work of better teams. This rebuilding Purdue squad was 4-8 a year ago in Ryan Walters’ first head coaching season. The Irish could have some struggles in West Lafayette, but their talent advantage is undeniable.
No. 5 — Florida State
When: Nov. 9 (Game Nine)
Where: Notre Dame Stadium
Before you ask — yes, I did switch Florida State and Georgia Tech’s rankings after watching the Aer Lingus Classic. Make no mistake, this is a talented Seminole team. One that restocked plenty of talent after losing big at the end of 2023. However, now that Florida State is 0-1, there is a very real possibility that it arrives in South Bend out of playoff contention with multiple losses. It’s hard to imagine the Seminoles won’t lose another game with Clemson and Miami (FL) waiting in October.
Keep in mind also that Notre Dame hasn’t lost a November home game since 2016. Furthermore, the Irish benefit from a bye week preceding the Florida State game. If the Seminoles don’t have CFP urgency on their side come November, they become significantly easier to handle.
No. 4 — at Georgia Tech
When: Oct. 19 (Game Seven)
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Though it will still take place in the heart of Atlanta, the Georgia Tech game won’t look like a true road test. Expect Irish fans to make their presence felt in Notre Dame’s first trip to the Atlanta Falcons’ new home. Georgia Tech, however, now appears much stronger after taking Florida State’s heralded defensive line and carving right through it. Their one-two rushing attack of quarterback Haynes King and running back Jamal Haynes promises to burn the Irish at least a couple of times.
Notre Dame’s chance to overcome said threat rests on the other side of the ball. Georgia Tech allowed 29.5 points per game last year. In comparison, the Irish surrendered only 15.9 per contest. If the Irish can set an offensive tone early — and conquer the pangs of midterm week, which they certainly did a year ago against USC — they’ll snuff out this trap game.
No. 3 — Louisville
When: Sept. 28 (Game Five)
Where: Notre Dame Stadium
Here it is: the toughest Notre Dame home game of the season. The Cardinals slammed the Irish and their playoff dreams last October, so they cannot be taken lightly — even in South Bend. Jeff Brohm’s team faces a tougher schedule this year but still owns a roster good enough to pull major upsets.
Also, for whatever reason, the modern Irish have never matched up well with Louisville. The 2014 team fell to the Cardinals at home, the 2020 squad won an ugly, ugly matchup and the 2023 group was picked apart in the Derby City. The Irish defense must live up to its billing and do what it couldn’t last year — outplay Louisville’s.
No. 2 — at USC
When: Nov. 30 (Game Twelve)
Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Over three months stand between us and the fight for the Jeweled Shillelagh, but it’s hard not to dream on the game’s potential stakes. Never before have Notre Dame and USC met with playoff position immediately on the line. Barring the results of USC’s challenging Big Ten slate, that could very well be in play.
On paper, you would always expect Notre Dame to capitalize on the Trojans by punishing their defense. Lincoln Riley's defenses have never performed well, and USC’s certainly stunk last year. But Notre Dame’s ability to generate pressure and turnovers against USC’s offense actually set up 2023’s lopsided Irish win. And, believe it or not, when Notre Dame needed a win in Los Angeles to reach the postseason promised land in 2012 and 2018, it got there on the backs of its defense.
No. 1 — at Texas A&M
When: Aug. 31 (Game One)
Where: Kyle Field
For the third time in four years, I believe Notre Dame’s toughest game is its opener. And for the second time in three years, there is no way to argue against that claim. As loud as you might think Kyle Field will sound come Saturday night, trust me — it will be louder. Throw in an appearance from College Gameday, and the hype funneling into College Station rises off the charts.
Of course, what makes this opener an extremely difficult one is Notre Dame’s offensive uncertainty. Can an offensive line combination with six combined starts survive? Will the often-inured Riley Leonard effectively quarterback the Irish in his team debut? Notre Dame will remain in the game because of its defense, but there’s no guarantee that’ll be enough to win.
