Why Notre Dame going undefeated in 2024 is 'definitely on the table'

Marcus Freeman is off to a strong start as the head coach at Notre Dame. The Irish are 19-7 the past two years, coming off of a 10-win season and have recruited extremely well since Freeman took over.

Is Freeman’s squad ready to take the next step and go undefeated in 2024? That’s a question On3’s Andy Staples was recently asked on “Dear Andy.”

According to Staples, it’s definitely a possibility.

“I went to ESPN’s SP+ … it’s a predictive model, so kind of like a Vegas power ranking, which is what they would use to set the lines with games,” Andy Staples explained. “So Notre Dame is No. 9 in SP+. The next closest teams to Notre Dame that are on Notre Dame’s schedule are Florida State and Texas A&M. Florida State’s 12, Texas A&M’s 13.”

The Texas A&M game is the opener for the Irish and will be played at Kyle Field in College Station. It’s also the first game for new Texas A&M coach Mike Elko.

The Florida State game will be played in early November and could have College Football Playoff implications. Playing at USC (No. 23 in SP+) is another game that could be tough for the Irish, but Staples believes that as things stand, Notre Dame will be favored against all 12 teams on its schedule.

“Texas A&M is at Kyle Field, so remember, we’re going to probably give them 3 points in the spread for home-field advantage. So that’s probably a slight Notre Dame favorite or a pick ‘em,” Staples said. “Florida State, obviously that’s later in the season. A lot can change between now and then. But I believe Notre Dame, as the home team, would be a slight favorite. They’re favored in every other game. Every other game. So they’re probably favorites, as we start the season right now, in 12 of their 12 games.”

Upsets obviously happen every week in college football, and the Irish have lost some games they shouldn’t have under Freeman.

Still, it’s at least possible Freeman’s squad goes undefeated in 2024.

“Yea, undefeated is definitely on the table,” Staples said. “Is it easy? No. No undefeated season is ever easy, no matter what the schedule looks like. But this particular Notre Dame schedule does look like it is workable. This Notre Dame schedule looks like you can navigate it.”

If the Irish do indeed go undefeated, and even with only one loss, they would almost assuredly be in the expanded College Football Playoff in Year 1.