Your Team Can Win a National Championship: Notre Dame Edition

The fighting Irish are back in the playoff, and Coach Marcus Freeman isn’t please with just the appearance. The Irish have rebuilt themselves nicely since the departure of Brian Kelly, many will complain about the fact they are an independent team, but the Irish have done a great job of building their schedule where they will still garner respect. They have also become a desirable spot for transfers, which at first seemed impossible due to the academic prestige of the University. Marcus Freeman, at first the move was questioned by many, both inside and outside the program, but now the hire has been proven as the right choice.

Notre Dame can win a national title because of their path. I think this is the most important part for the Irish, not because their team has a lack of talent or ability, but because the styles match up well with other programs. Notre Dame wants to make the football game into a knife fight in a phone booth. Facing off against in-state rival Indiana bodes well for them, due to the fact this is the best team Indiana has faced all year (going off CFP rankings, calm down buckeyes). Notre dame can dictate the game style against the Hoosiers, and if they win and face off with Georgia, that game will be played in a similar manner. Georgia will be without Carson Beck, so their gameplan will be similar. I like Notre Dame’s running game more than Georgia’s inconsistent backfield, plus Riley Leonard, who may have struggled at times, definitely has more experience than Stockton. Penn State would be the likely semi-final match-up and as much as James Franklin has struggled in big games, Marcus Freeman has been exceptional, the Irish with Freeman as Head Coach are 10-4 against ranked opponents.

Notre Dame can win a national title because of their defense. Not only are they a stout unit against the pass, but overall, they are third in the country for scoring. Al Golden serves as the defensive coordinator and most people remember him as a failed head coach from his time at Temple and Miami. After a few short stints in the NFL, Golden found his footing as Notre Dame’s DC, and he has posted back-to-back top 5 years for the Irish Defense. Notre Dame also leads all CFP teams in turnover margin, which is even more impressive if you think back to the Irish’s own struggles on turning the ball over on offense earlier this year. They do not allow big plays, they do not allow big passing days from other quarterbacks, and they turn the ball over. All of this leads to a scary unit that plays complimentary football.

Notre Dame can win a national title because of their running game. More importantly Jeremiyah Love, who’s averaging 7.1 yards a carry and 7.4 yards a touch. Love who has improved throughout the season is the main piece of Notre Dame’s Offense, but Riley Leonard is what can be the game changer for them. Love and Leonard are going to be the focal points for opposing Defensive Coordinators, as they determine the best way to slow this rushing attack down, the Irish will focus on staying on schedule, controlling the clock, and ensuring they don’t give the opposing offenses short fields. Love has the home run ability you look for in a running back and Leonard does a great job of making plays when the defense keys in too much on him. Mobile, experienced quarterbacks have performed exceptional in the playoffs when you look at Michigan and Georgia’s championship runs, so look for Leonard and Irish OC Denbrock to try and replicate that.

Notre Dame CAN’T win a national title because Leonard doesn’t have elite arm talent. I think that is the main factor when looking at the Irish’s chance to win it all. If they are put in a situation where an opposing offense can run the ball, and their offense is forced to air it out to get back in the game, how will they respond? Every game this year, except in their major upset loss to NIU, they have not been forced to throw the ball. The only drives that their offense had to rely on Leonard’s arm, came in the 4th quarter of the NIU game. Of those 2 drives, Leonard was 3/7 for 36 yards and an interception. Notre Dame must dictate the game script, and they cannot afford to trail a team that is able to run the ball. As good as their defense is, if there is a weakness it is their run game. Mike Denbrock has to do a good job of scripting his opening drives to not allow the Irish to trail early, if not, Notre Dame’s CFP woes will continue.