As we stand less than two weeks from opening day in Tallahassee, there’s a lot to be both excited and nervous about when it comes to the 2021 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football season.
The Irish are replacing one of the more successful QBs in the program’s history, 4 starting offensive linemen, multiple starting wide receivers, an All-American linebacker, and key starters/leaders at defensive end (x2), cornerback, and safety. Looking at the replacements at all those spots this spring/early summer did not necessarily make everyone super confident, as lots of questions about unproven and late-developing guys stepping into key roles had many convinced that the team will be taking a sizable step back in 2021, even if a relatively easy schedule by ND standards means a successful season is still very likely.