Notre Dame Ranks 13th In The Preseason Coaches Poll
The USA TODAY Coaches Poll just came out and Notre Dame will start the season ranked 13th in the poll. Notre Dame finished the 2022 season ranked 18th in the Coaches Poll, so there's a slight climb for the Irish in the preseason ranking.
Notre Dame began the 2022 season ranked 5th in the preseason poll but quickly fell out after losing back-to-back games against Ohio State and Marshall in the first two games. In fact, Notre Dame fell completely out of the polls after the loss to the Thundering Herd.
The Irish didn't get back in until November, re-emerging in the No. 25 spot after blasting then No. 5 Clemson by a 35-14 score. Wins over Navy and Boston College jumped the Irish up to No. 15, but they fell back to No. 19 after losing to then No. 5 USC on the road.
In the Gator Bowl, No. 20 Notre Dame beat No. 19 South Carolina by a 45-38 score, which resulted in the Irish finished the season ranked 18th.
Notre Dame is between where it ended the 2022 campaign and where it started. Head coach Marcus Freeman and his squad have a lot to prove this season after an up-and-down campaign last fall. Freeman led the Irish to a 6-1 finish with wins over four opponents that were ranked when they met. Freeman and the Irish will look to build on that strong finish in his second season.
Notre Dame is one spot behind Texas, who went 8-5 a season ago and finished the season ranked 25th. Oklahoma, who finished the 2022 season with a 6-7 record, is ranked 19th in the preseason poll. Texas A&M, who went 5-7 last fall, is ranked 25th.
Three Notre Dame opponents were also in the Top 25. Ohio State checks in at No. 4, USC is ranked No. 6 and Clemson is ranked No. 9.
Here's the preseason poll:
1. Georgia Bulldogs
2. Michigan Wolverines
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
5. LSU Tigers
6. Southern Cal Trojans
7. Penn State Nittany Lions
8. Florida State Seminoles
9. Clemson Tigers
10. Tennessee Volunteers
11. Washington Huskies
12. Texas Longhorns
13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
14. Utah Utes
15. Oregon Ducks
16. TCU Horned Frogs
17. Kansas State Wildcats
18. Oregon State Beavers
19. Oklahoma Sooners
20. North Carolina Tar Heels
21. Wisconsin Badgers
22. Ole Miss Rebels
23. Tulane Green Wave
24. Texas Tech Red Raiders
25. Texas A&M Aggies
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