John Kennedy
May 18, 2024 7:00 am ET
2024 is going to be a very important year for Notre Dame football and Marcus Freeman. Most reasonable Irish observers had a fair amount of patience through his first two seasons with an understanding that he was learning on the job and that there was much retooling within the program that had to be done to set Notre Dame up for modern success. That patience is starting to understandably wane and the fan base is now focused on results.
Speaking of results, what will Notre Dame fans consider a successful year? Making the expanded 12 team College Football Playoff field for starters. To get even more specific, I have my eye on a home game in late December which would mean being one of the highest seeds outside of the automatic bids. Can the Irish make this a reality?
Let’s discuss the five games that will determine if Notre Dame’s season will be considered a success or failure.
at Texas A&M
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Notre Dame vs Texas A&M was already a huge game and moment. That moment got even bigger after the announcement that ESPN Gameday will be in Aggieland for the game. This is a needle mover for the Irish. The realities of an 11-1 or better season could largely hinge on this week one outcome.
Mike Elko is a great coach that Notre Dame fans respect from his tenure with the Irish. Nobody doubts his credentials and football mind. The environment will be hostile and the weather hot. That being said, Marcus Freeman is in year three. Elko is in year one, game one and it’s fair to expect Notre Dame to be more put together in this moment. This is as close to a “must win” as there is on the schedule regarding both practical and perceptual momentum. All of America will be watching. Give them a show.
at Purdue
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On the surface, I don’t think many Irish fans look at a road game against Purdue as a huge challenge, I just feel that it’s a bit of a tricky spot for Notre Dame. Why? Both parties don’t view each other the same way.
Purdue football isn’t Notre Dame football. And I think they and their fans resent that. Add in toll-road proximity and you have yourself an intense afternoon in West Lafayette. One that the Irish better be ready for. I feel as if this game will be circled on more Purdue calendars than Notre Dame ones, and that could spell danger if the Irish aren’t geared up and ready to go.
Louisville
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Notre Dame walked into a hornet’s nest visiting Louisville last year. The Cardinals were prepared for the moment and the Irish were not. And it cost them dearly in one of the low points of the season. Louisville played fast and focused while Notre Dame appeared lackadaisical and quite uninterested.
While Louisville does return a lot of their talent that beat Notre Dame last year, this matchup is in South Bend and should have the Irish’s full attention this time. Bitter revenge is on the menu and must be had.
Florida State
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Notre Dame and Florida State have quite the history and the next iteration of the series will occur in South Bend in early November. This alone is a huge advantage for the Irish and in my opinion, the colder the weather is the better.
Florida State was loaded with talent, a lot of it garnered via the portal last year, and had a terrific season that was derailed by a catastrophic injury to standout quarterback Jordan Travis. Will they be able to recreate the success of 2023 or will they take a step back? Will this game have CFP implications for one or both teams? This could be a potential “Gameday” situation should circ*mstances line up.
at USC
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Caleb Wiliams is now a Chicago Bear, not a USC Trojan. How will his replacement stack up? What about the other parts of the USC program that are being rebuilt such as the entire defense? There are many more questions than answers about how USC will look in 2024 and there will be 11 games of evidence to suggest their level leading into this one.
If USC suffers 4-5 losses in their first Big Ten season before meeting the Irish, they may be checked out and uninterested which has been the historical culture of USC. But, if they have a strong year, you can bet this will be a dogfight in Hollywood for a playoff spot.
Down with the horse.
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