Notre Dame Moves Up To 5th In Sporting News Way-Too-Early Top 25

Sporting News updated its Top 25 for the 2024 season and Notre Dame moved up the rankings

Notre Dame is about two weeks out from the start of spring practice, but there is plenty of focus on what's to come in the fall. Sporting News did that today by dropping an updated Way-Too-Early Top 25 for the 2024 season, and Notre Dame moved up in the rankings.

The updated rankings are due to reactions to all the coaching changes and portal movement in recent weeks. Notre Dame has had a strong offseason by improving its coaching staff and having a successful portal period.

Notre Dame ranked 8th by Sporting News in the first Way-Too-Early Top 25 that came out right after the season ended, and they moved up to 5th in the updated rankings. 

"What changed: Notre Dame hired Mike Denbrock from LSU as its new offensive coordinator after he directed the Tigers to the nation's No. 1 offense in both yards and points. The Irish lost 15 players in the transfer portal, but the eight additions will make an impact. That includes Duke quarterback Riley Leonard and a pair of receivers in Clemson’s Beaux Collins and Marshall’s Jayden Harrison.

Lowdown: The Irish will maintain independent status in the 12-team CFP era, and this first season is an interesting test run. Running back Jeremiyah Love and receiver Jaden Greathouse are set for larger roles. Al Golden is back at defensive coordinator, and the defense returns key players at all three levels, including All-Americans Xavier Watts and Howard Cross III. Notre Dame’s schedule is favorable, too, with an opener at Texas A&M and a home game against Florida State on Nov. 9. Michigan won a national title with a similar roster last season. Is it the Irish’s turn to break a drought that extends back to 1988?" - Bill Bender, Sporting News 

Notre Dame began the offseason ranked between 8th and 10th in most preseason rankings, but they continue to climb up the charts as changes continue to happen with other teams.

Notre Dame has five opponents in the updated Sporting News Top 25, making it clear they are much higher on the Irish schedule than most.

Florida State is Notre Dame's highest ranked opponent, coming in at No. 7, which was also up three spots from the last ranking. USC climbed up two spots to No. 19, Louisville remained at No. 22 and Georgia Tech climbed up a spot to No. 24. Texas A&M is the newcomer to the rankings, checking in at No. 23 after not being ranked in the previous rankings.

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