Sept. 6 is Marcus Freeman’s target, with the Notre Dame coach urging players to stop talking about the playoff and focus on beating Wisconsin in the opener at Lambeau Field.
10-2 was not enough last season: Notre Dame finished No. 11 in the CFP rankings, missed the 12-team field and declined a bowl, a miss Freeman said the program did not earn its way out of.
An 0-2 start against Miami and Texas A&M last year helped sink those hopes, and Freeman pointed to earlier September losses under his watch as proof that looking ahead can derail the season.
Top-five expectations are building anyway, with quarterback C.J. Carr back after a 10-game winning streak and a roster still stocked with NFL-caliber talent despite six draft picks.
How will Marcus Freeman leverage the NCAA’s new five-for-five eligibility rule to manage developmental quarterbacks like reclassified freshman Teddy Jarrard?
With Charles Jagusah out and Ashton Craig recovering, can Notre Dame’s rebuilt offensive line protect CJ Carr against Wisconsin in Week 1?