Notre Dame cracks top 10 in Athlon Sports’ 2022 top team rankings
The Notre Dame regular season is just 97 days away, and several teams will take the field even before the Irish’s primetime contest against Ohio State on Sept. 3. The transfer portal has calmed down, spring practice has ended, and rosters are becoming more clear as fall camp approaches.
Following the increased clarity, Steve Lassan of Athlon Sports has taken the data surrounding the 131 FBS teams and compiled a Top 25 Rankings for 2022 list. Unlike many rankings interspersed right now, Lassan’s list is not a preseason prediction. Instead, the rankings attempt to predict where teams will fall at the conclusion of the 2022 season.
Lassan has Notre Dame at No. 7 with multiple 2022 Irish opponents ranked in the top 10. Here is a closer look at his thoughts.
The offensive concerns listed are nothing too new: Who will play quarterback, and who will replace former Irish running back Kyren Williams?
“Whether or not Notre Dame can make a run at the CFB Playoff again is likely to hinge on the development of promising sophomore quarterback Tyler Buchner,” Lassan said. “The California native ran for 336 yards and three scores and threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns in 10 appearances last year.”
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Additionally, Lassan discusses the concerns with a lack of depth at wide receiver. Talks of grabbing a wideout from the portal are abundant among the media and fans, but there has yet to be action. Of note on that topic, Notre Dame currently has 86 scholarship players, one above the 85-man limit.
Consistent with numerous other predictions, there are few questions with Notre Dame’s front seven. Where the uncertainty creeps in on defense for the Irish is in the secondary.
“Safety Kyle Hamilton won’t be easy to replace, but (Brandon) Joseph, a transfer from Northwestern, can be an All-America performer,” Lassan said. “If there’s a concern on the defense, it’s the cornerback spot.”
Starters Clarence Lewis and Cam Hart return at corner, but the last time the unit took the field, they were shredded by an average Oklahoma State defense. Rising sophomore Ryan Barnes could be a breakout player at the position this fall.
Athlon lists five key games for the Irish in 2022: at Ohio State, at North Carolina, versus BYU (Las Vegas), Clemson and at USC. The Buckeyes and Tigers are ranked ahead of Notre Dame, while the Trojans fall just behind.
Full Athlon Sports Top 25
- Alabama
- Ohio State
- Georgia
- Clemson
- Texas A&M
- Michigan
- Notre Dame
- Utah
- USC
- Oregon
- Baylor
- NC State
- Oklahoma
- Michigan State
- Cincinnati
- Wake Forest
- Oklahoma State
- Tennessee
- Wisconsin
- Miami
- Kentucky
- Arkansas
- Pittsburgh
- Houston
- Penn State
