2010 record: 8-5
2010 bowl: 33-17 win over Miami (Fla.) in the Sun Bowl
2010 final AP/coaches’ ranking: unranked/unranked
Coach: Brian Kelly, second year; 8-5 overall
Offensive coordinator: Charley Molnar, second year
2010 offensive rankings: 67th, scoring offense (26.3 ppg); 61st, total offense (379.7 ypg); 92nd, rushing offense (126.6 ypg); 34th, passing offense (253.1 ypg)
Defensive coordinator: Bob Diaco, second year
2010 defensive rankings: 23rd, scoring defense (20.2 ppg); 50th, total defense (357.2 ypg); 50th, rushing defense (142.2 ypg); 54th, passing defense (215.1 ypg)
Returning offensive starters: 9
Returning defensive starters: 8
Location: Notre Dame, Ind.
Stadium: Notre Dame Stadium (grass; 80,795)
2011 schedule: [view]
2011 roster: [view]
2010 statistics: [view]
Snapshot: There will be many a voter in the polls that “matter” who will place the Irish firmly inside the Top 10 based solely on the fact that they have 17 returning starters -- 19 if you include kickers. I’m not of those individuals, even as my vote doesn’t mean squat as I don’t have one.
A four-game winning streak to end the season -- with backup quarterback Tommy Rees under center -- certainly lends an air of optimism for the Irish’s prospects for the 2011 season, and I’m really close to drinking the green Kool-Aid. The defense certainly isn’t a cause for not taking a sip, however, as Brian Kelly returns more than three-quarters of a defense that finished in the top 25 nationally in scoring -- well, preventing it. Health is likely the only concern on that side of the ball as the Irish are somewhat thin at certain positions.
Speaking of health, and despite Rees’ heroics as a true freshman, the starter at the position will likely depend on Dayne Crist as he recovers from a season-ending knee injury that set the table for his young understudy to close out the year in winning fashion. There’s also the possibility sophomore Andrew Hendrix and/or freshman Everett Golson could work their way into the mix by being perhaps a better fit athletically for what Kelly would ultimately like to accomplish with his version of the spread.
Of course, there’s a lot of the optimism on the offensive side of the ball because of the return of Michael Floyd. The star wide receiver was fully reinstated to the program Aug. 3 following his third alcohol-related brush with the law since coming to South Bend. With Floyd, there’s a talented veteran target for whatever QB wins the job. No, Floyd’s presence won’t mean that much to the won-loss bottom line, but it surely couldn’t hurt as the Irish attempt to claw their way back into national prominence sooner rather than later.
Make-or-break game: Oct. 22 vs. USC
For the sake of argument, we’re going to assume the Irish will be able to get through their first six games of the season -- including the first night game in the history of The Big House against Michigan -- relatively unscathed, with “relatively unscathed” for our purposes being 5-1 or better. If that were to happen, their annual showdown with the Trojans looms very large. A home win over what will be a very good USC team (you’ll see how good in very short order) could potentially send the Irish shooting toward what could become a (gasp!) BcS berth. Could, mind you; a lot of other variables would be involved, mainly that six-game stretch to start the season that includes USF, road dates with Michigan and Pittsburgh and games with two teams in my Top 25 in Michigan State and Air Force. Of course, there’s also that regular-season finale against a team that’s in my Top 5, but the Irish will have to navigate a schedule full of potential potholes before chopping down that particular tree.
Heisman hopeful: Floyd
Floyd should be able to put up numbers -- he’s already on the verge of shattering every major school receiving record that he doesn’t currently already own -- that would garner some attention from Heisman types, particularly if the Irish are winning and especially because the Irish are winning as there is still a certain block of voters who hold a special place in their football hearts for South Bend and would love nothing more than a player from that school to be relevant again.
Postseason projection: Champs Sports Bowl
Special section: Notre Dame Central
Return to CFT’s preseason Top 25