ESPN releases strengths, questions for Notre Dame and 2022 opponents

While there is still a long way to go until the fall, especially with the new transfer rules, 2022 college football rosters are becoming more clear after National Signing Day and NFL Draft declarations. With that clarity, it becomes easier to spot roster holes as well.

ESPN recently released the biggest strengths and question marks for each team in their Way-Too-Early college football top 25. Notre Dame is on that list, as are four of its 2022 opponents. Here is a look at the strengths and questions for each team.

No. 6 Notre Dame:

Strength: Defensive front seven

EDGE Isaiah Foskey. EDGE Justin Ademilola. Tackle Jayson Ademilola. Linebacker Jaylen Sneed. Linebacker JD Bertrand. The list goes on. Notre Dame’s front seven is loaded. As ESPN’s Bill Connelly points out, eight of the 10 linemen who played 100 snaps in 2021 are returning next season. Bertrand amassed 102 tackles in 2021, and Sneed brings five-star speed to a linebacking corps that had some issues in that arena last year. 

Question mark: Quarterback

Although it was perplexing at times, former Irish quarterback and graduate transfer Jack Coan started all 13 games for Notre Dame in 2021. He is now trying to make his way in the NFL, leaving Notre Dame with sophomore Tyler Buchner, junior Drew Pyne and freshman Steve Angeli as their options at the position for 2022. Buchner is the favorite to take over, but there are always questions with a new starter, particularly one who has not started a football game since 2019.

Irish face four “ranked” opponents in 2022

The way-too-early poll is obviously unofficial, but it’s clear Notre Dame has several very solid opponents in their future.

No. 2 Ohio State:

Understandably, the showdown between the Buckeyes and the Irish was recently named On3’s top game of Week 1 this fall. In addition to the massive College Football Playoff implications that come with this game, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman will be returning to his alma mater to coach his first regular season game. Where are the Buckeyes the strongest and how might Notre Dame look to exploit their weaknesses on Sept. 3?

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Strength: Quarterback C.J. Stroud

With a season now under his belt, it is clear Stroud will be one of the stars of college football in 2022. The Heisman finalist threw for 4,435 yards (fifth in the nation) with 44 touchdowns (third in the nation) and a passer rating of 186.6 (third in the nation). Couple those video game numbers with a receiving corps led by Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is coming off of a 347-yard Rose Bowl performance, and it could spell early trouble if the aforementioned Irish front seven can’t affect Stroud. 

Question mark: Defense

The good news for Notre Dame? They may be able to reach the end zone a fair amount themselves in Columbus. Ohio State’s 2021 defense finished tied for No. 59 in the nation in 2021. They have a new defensive coordinator in Jim Knowles (who the Irish ultimately did not face in last year’s Fiesta Bowl), but this could be baptism by fire for the defensive guru if the Buckeyes don’t improve this offseason.

No. 11 Clemson:

For the second time in three years, Clemson returns to Notre Dame Stadium, but the Nov. 5 game will be a little different from the 2020 pandemic matchup. The Tigers have a bye week before the contest, and it would not be even remotely shocking if they arrived in South Bend with an 8-0 record. 

Strength: Running game

The Irish missed on running back Will Shipley in the 2021 class, and now they will face him for the first time. Despite missing three games with a knee injury, Shipley amassed 739 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground in his first year at Clemson. Running backs Kobe Pace and Phil Mafah return as well. 

Question mark: Passing game

Which D.J. Uiagalelei will the Irish (and the rest of the country) get in 2022? The true freshman version that threw for a record-breaking 439 yards and had a combined four touchdowns the last time he visited Notre Dame? Or the sophomore that totaled just nine touchdown passes and 10 interceptions in 2021 and finished with the worst passer rating in the ACC? Obviously, a lot hinges on the signal-caller’s play for the Tigers.

No. 18 BYU:

The Irish will play UNLV at home this year, but they will also play at UNLV’s home stadium. That’s because they are set to take on the Cougars at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Oct. 8 as part of the Shamrock Series. BYU has been one of the best Group of Five programs in recent years, and signs point to that being the case once again in 2022. 

Strength: Offensive line

BYU was already set to have a stout OL this fall, but the addition of Oregon transfer and former On3 Consensus five-star recruit Kingsley Suamataia will make it even better. Left tackle Blake Freeland and left guard Clark Barrington are names to watch come the fall. Running back Tyler Allgeier took advantage of the line in 2021, finishing third in the nation with 1,601 rushing yards.

Question mark: Running back

On the topic of Allgeier, he won’t be a concern this fall for Notre Dame, as he declared for the 2022 NFL Draft. Who will replace him? Quarterback Jaren Hall was the team’s second-leading rusher in 2021 with 307 yards. Running back Lopini Katoa will be back for a fifth year in 2022, but he had just 61 carries for 242 yards last season. Expect Cal transfer Christopher Brooks to make an impact, but there is certainly a huge Allgeier-sized hole that needs filling.

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No. 22 USC:

This is shaping up to be quite the Thanksgiving weekend event. The annual Notre Dame-USC game will be at the Coliseum on Nov. 26 and don’t be surprised if the game has big postseason implications. 

Strength: head coach Lincoln Riley

This one should scare Irish fans, especially because at this point, this new-look offense will have had ample time to mesh. Riley raided the transfer portal, pulling in top transfer and quarterback Caleb Williams and his former Oklahoma teammate and wideout Mario Williams. Of course, USC always has great receivers. The latter Williams just made the receiver room that much more talented. It’s looking like the most daunting offensive attacks will bookend Notre Dame’s schedule, and the Trojans would love nothing more than to spoil Irish postseason aspirations. 

Question mark: Defense

The USC defense was horrible in 2021. They gave up more than 30 points in eight games, including 42 to Stanford and Utah, 45 to Oregon State and 62 to UCLA. All of those games were at home. Linebacker Drake Jackson was the highlight of the unit last year, but he is gone to the NFL. They’ve landed a few high-level transfers, including former Alabama linebacker Shane Lee and former Oklahoma corner Latrell McCutchin, but the defense has a long way to go.