We are continuing our Preseason College Football Countdown, ranking every team at the Football Bowl Subdivision level from 120 down to 1.
Matt Murschel compiled the rankings based on several factors including: returning letterwinners, returning starters, 2010 performance, coaching staff changes, strength of schedule and strength of the conference.
Brian Kelly vows to shave head if Notre Dame wins a BCS bowl game.
Look back: When Brian Kelly took over the Notre Dame program, he stressed that he was going to change the culture around the program. With only two 10-win seasons in the last decade, the Fighting Irish were lacking that swagger that they had held decades earlier. A rough1-4 start to the season didn’t help his cause with two of those losses by three points or less. Losses to Navy and Tulsa didn’t derail the team which finished with eight wins for the first time since 2006.
Key losses: RB Armando Allen, RB Robert Hughes, TE Kyle Rudolph, NT Ian Williams
Top returnees: QB Dayne Crist, RB Cierre Wood, WR Michael Floyd, LB Manti Te’O
Strengths: Incumbent Dayne Crist was injured in Week 9 of the season against Tulsa and backup Tommy Rees filled in guiding the Irish to four straight wins to finish the season including a 33-17 victory over Miami in the Sun Bowl. A healthy Crist means there could be a quarterback controversy in South Bend. … Running back Cierre Wood led the team in rushing with 603 yards and his 5.1 yards per carry was the best by a running back since Julius Jones in 2003. … The defense saw so much improvement in 2010, giving up 20.2 points per game, the lowest number in over a decade. Linebacker Manti Te’O led the team in tackles last season with 133 including 8.5 for a loss. His presence in the middle will anchor the defense.
Weaknesses: Michael Floyd spent most of the spring battling off-the-field issues stemming from a DUI. He was suspended from the team by Kelly and wasn’t allowed back on the team until this summer. His addition to the offense could be key to just how far ND goes this season. … The Irish lost CB Darrin Walls, LBs Kerry Neal and Brian Smith, as well as NT Ian Williams. The quartet combined for 171 total tackles, four sacks, and four INTs. Replacing that sort of output will be key for defensive coordinator Bob Diaco.
Outlook: Notre Dame plays three of its first five games on the road to start the 2011 season with the Irish playing its first-ever night game at the Big House in Michigan as well as Pittsburgh and Purdue. Notre Dame plays three ACC opponents sandwiched by USC and Stanford, to finish out the season. With the return of the core of last year’s team as well as the incoming talent, Notre Dame could continue to see success under Brian Kelly this season.
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