Since taking over at Notre Dame in 2021, Marcus Freeman has compiled a 19-8 record, including bowl game wins in each of the last two seasons.
However, the Irish hired Freeman to usher in a new era of championship contention and the team has yet to ascend to that stratosphere.Â
With a projected win total of 10.5, the Irish are priced at 18/1 to win the national championship at FanDuel, placing them eighth on the oddsboard.Â
Let’s break down Notre Dame’s roster and schedule to find out if this can be a breakthrough season in South Bend:
Offensive outlook
Mike Denbrock takes over as offensive coordinator after leading Jayden Daniels to a Heisman trophy last season at LSU, and he’ll hope for similar success with Duke transfer Riley Leonard.Â
Leonard was limited to seven games last season due to an ankle injury, and the senior quarterback suffered a setback in the spring that required a second surgery. His health is pivotal to Notre Dame’s season.
Charles Jagusah was expected to step in at left tackle and replace All-American Joe Alt. However, Jagusah is reportedly out for the season with a torn right pectoral muscle. Now, only four of the team’s top eight players in offensive line snaps will return.Â
Jeremiyah Love has big shoes to fill in trying to replace Audric Estime as the lead back. Notre Dame has struggled to find consistent production from its wide receivers in the Freeman era, but Leonard should benefit from the return of tight end Mitchell Evans.
Defensive outlook
The Irish, who ranked seventh in points per game allowed last year, return some key contributors. Coordinator Al Golden is also back for his third season in South Bend.
With the return of defensive backs Benjamin Morrison and Xavier Watts, the Irish are expected to have one of the nation’s best secondaries. However, Morrison had shoulder surgery in March and might not be ready for Week 1.
Notre Dame lost two seasoned veteran linebackers, Marist Liufau and JD Bertrand, and they’ll need sophomore Drayk Bowen to step up in his new role. The return of Jack Kiser helps provide leadership to the second level.
Howard Cross III should be one of the top returning nose tackles in the country. Duke transfer R.J. Oben bolsters the line next to him.
2024 schedule
Notre Dame starts the season at Texas A&M in a game with a fun storyline, as new Aggies coach Mike Elko was Leonard’s coach at Duke.
The Irish should pad their record against MAC teams Northern Illinois and Miami (Ohio). Road trips against Navy and Army should also see the Irish as double-digit favorites. Games at Purdue and Georgia Tech shouldn’t be overlooked entirely, but it would be a significant upset for Notre Dame to lose either.
FanDuel has spreads posted for three other Notre Dame games — home against Louisville (-9.5) and Florida State (-4.5) and on the road against USC (-3.5).
Final verdict
I have more questions than answers about Notre Dame’s roster.
Can Leonard and Morrison get and stay healthy? With Jagusah out, can anyone adequately protect Leonard’s blind side? And can anyone in the wide receiver room finally step up for this team?
Yet, the schedule gives the Irish plenty of opportunities to rack up wins — they’re projected favorites in all but one game, and that’s a Week 1 pick ‘em against a team with a new head coach.
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The Irish are competing for one of seven at-large bids in the new-look College Football Playoff, and 10 wins should be enough to get them into the field.
Rather than pay the -205 juice on FanDuel for Notre Dame to win 10-plus games, I’ll take the slightly better number on the Irish to make the CFP.
Recommendation: Notre Dame to make CFP (-170, FanDuel).Â