ESPN Ranks Notre Dame 2023 Schedule As The 19th Toughest

The ESPN Football Power Index ranks Notre Dame's 2023 schedule as the 19th toughest in the country

The ESPN Football Power Index has rankings for the strength of schedule for the 2023 season, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish schedule ranks as the 19th toughest in all of college football.

It is an interesting ranking with a very strong and clear SEC and Big Ten bias. Of the 18th teams that rank ahead of Notre Dame in strength of schedule, all but one (Texas) is a Big Ten or SEC team. The Texas strength of schedule is likely due to it playing at Alabama early in the season.

Notre Dame has a challenging schedule that is not only top-heavy, but also has quality depth. When discussing the difficulty of the Irish schedule, the focus will be on the "big three" of Ohio State, USC and Clemson. Notre Dame plays the Buckeyes and Trojans at home but travel to Clemson in early November. 

The Buckeyes went 11-2 a season ago, losing to Georgia by a 42-41 score in the College Football Playoff. USC went 11-3 in Lincoln Riley's first season and return Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Caleb Williams. Clemson went 11-3 last fall and won another ACC title.

Beyond the top three programs, Notre Dame plays five more teams that won at least eight games last season. When the Irish kick off against Ohio State on September 23rd, it begins seven-game stretch against opponents that won at least eight games a season ago.

The week after playing Ohio State the Irish travel to Durham, N.C. to take on a Duke team that won nine games last fall. That is followed by a matchup against 8-win Louisville, 11-win USC, 9-win Pitt, 11-win Clemson and 8-win Wake Forest. Notre Dame also faces an 8-win NC State team in early September. 

Unlike most seasons, Notre Dame actually gets a few early games to get themselves right. Prior to travel to Raleigh to take on NC State on September 9th, the Irish kick the season off against 4-8 Navy and 4-7 Tennessee State. That will be Notre Dame's first ever game against a FCS opponent. After playing the Wolfpack the Irish face 4-8 Central Michigan as a tune up for the Buckeyes.

If Marcus Freeman can lead the Irish to an improved record in his second season it will come against a very challenging schedule.

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2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

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