Fresh off a run to the national championship game, but also still reeling from the loss of quarterback Everett Golson, Notre Dame opens the 2013 season ranked 11th in the Pre-Season USA Today Coaches Poll released Thursday.
Notre Dame has not been ranked this highly to start a season since 2006 when the Brady Quinn led Fighting Irish opened the year ranked 3rd. Notre Dame moved up to #2 in 2006 before stumbling against Michigan in the second week of the season that year.
The Irish are the lowest ranked one loss or fewer team from 2012 in the top 25 to start the season. Oregon, anothrer other one loss team from last year, is ranked 3rd while reigning champion and 1-loss Alabama is ranked first. Ohio State, undefeated a year ago but ineligible for post-season player, is ranked 2nd to start the season.
Notre Dame being ranked outside the top 10 should not come as too much of a surprise after the fallout from the BCS Championship blowout at the hands of Alabama combined with the loss of Golson. After being roughed up by the Crimson Tide and then losing Golson, the Irish will be in a bit of a “prove it” mode again this year. Luckily for Brian Kelly and Notre Dame, it won’t be long for the Irish to have a chance to do just that.
Notre Dame will face two ranked opponents in September with the potential for a third.
The highest ranked opponent on Notre Dame’s 2013 schedule is Stanford coming in at #4 while Oklahoma (16th), Michigan (17th), and USC (24th) round out the ranked opponents the Irish will face this year. Michigan State, Arizona State, and BYU all fell into the “Others Receiving Votes” category to kick off the season.
Last year Notre Dame opened the 2012 season ranked 24th before eventually moving up the top spot in the polls following their win over Wake Forest in November – the first time the Irish had occupied the top spot in the polls in 19 years.
Way too low. Should be at least top 6. Stanford is ranked 5th and ND beat them last year. What the Heck is up with these rankings?
I expect us to be in the top five by the time we get to Michigan! ND will definitely make chicken soup out of Big Blue! Ooooo another prediction by JC and I won’t be singing the bluuuues! Book-it-Professor!!! Hahaha!
GoooooIrish!
Texas A & M beat Alabama 2012. LSU came as close as one can and lost
Alabama was not undefeated last year as indicated above.