Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame Preview & Prediction | JD PicKell

Notre Dame has high hopes of breaking into the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff this college football season. But before they think too much about the postseason, the Fighting Irish will have to get through their 2024 schedule.

The upcoming slate looks pretty favorable for Notre Dame, as they enter the season ranked No. 7 in the country. But what are the chances that the Fighting Irish can run the rankings with an undefeated season to make their case to the CFP?

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ESPN’s FPI predicted Notre Dame’s chances of winning each of its 12 games this season. Check out the odds below.

August 31: Notre Dame at Texas A&M — 58.7% chance of winning

Notre Dame’s biggest task of the season comes early, with a visit to College Station for a Week 1 matchup against Texas A&M, an evening game that will also host ESPN’s College GameDay to kick off the season.

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The Fighting Irish’s 58.7% chance to win in Week 1 is their lowest across the entire 2024 schedule. A win over the Aggies would weigh heavily on Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff hopes.

September 7: Notre Dame vs. Northern Illinois — 96.8% chance of winning

The Fighting Irish’s home opener is the first of six games in which Notre Dame is favored by more than 90% this season, against an NIU team that finished 7-6 in the MAC last season.

Week 2 marks the first home game at Notre Dame Stadium for several key new players for the Fighting Irish, including quarterback Riley Leonard, wide receiver Beaux Collins and defensive lineman RJ Oben, all of whom joined the team via the transfer portal this offseason.

September 14: Notre Dame at Purdue — 84.4% chance of winning

Purdue will represent the first Big Ten team Notre Dame has faced since they faced Ohio State in a thrilling matchup last season, and they will be looking to come out on the winning side of things this time around against the Boilermakers.

Last season, Purdue was coming off a disappointing 4-8 finish in their first season under Ryan Walters. And this year, they could potentially find themselves standing in the way of a Notre Dame team that is clicking in every area for a Week 3 matchup.

September 21: Notre Dame vs. Miami (OH) — 94.8% chance of winning

Notre Dame’s matchup against Miami (OH) kicks off a three-game home series for the Fighting Irish, hosting the reigning MAC Champions, who will be looking for a statement win to help their cause as the only Group of Five team in the College Football Playoff.

The Redhawks return 12 starters in total and aren’t one of the first non-Power Four teams anyone wants to face. But regardless, Notre Dame is still a legitimate home favorite.

September 28: Notre Dame vs Louisville — 95.3% chance of winning

The Cardinals are the first of five ACC opponents Notre Dame will face this season, and one of three teams the Fighting Irish defeated last season en route to an ACC Championship game.

Louisville impressed in its first year under Jeff Brohmbut he loses his best passer, rusher and receiver from last season. All of that makes the Fighting Irish heavy favorites at home as they try to redeem themselves after last season’s 33-20 loss.

Oct. 12: Notre Dame vs. Stanford — 76% chance of winning

Stanford is new to the ACC this season, but not new to the matchups against Notre Dame. The two programs will face off for the fourth straight season in October.

Notre Dame is 2-1 against the Cardinal in their last three games. But if they win against Stanford, they will have won big, outscoring them 101-37 between their two wins last season and in 2021.

Oct. 19: Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech (at Mercedes-Benz Stadium) — 78.3% chance of winning

The Fighting Irish will play three neutral-site games in 2024. It’s a game that still starts in their opponent’s backyard, as they take on Georgia Tech in Atlanta, not far from the Yellowjackets’ home stadium.

Georgia Tech started the college football season with a bang, with a surprise win over Florida State in Week 0 at another neutral site in Ireland. But when it comes to the odds of winning their game against Notre Dame, luck lies with the Fighting Irish.

Oct. 26: Notre Dame vs. Navy (at MetLife Stadium) — 97.3% chance of winning

Notre Dame will play in an NFL stadium for the second straight week as it faces Navy, meeting the Midshipmen after the two programs faced off at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, to kick off last year’s college football season.

The Fighting Irish made light work of Navy with a 42-4 win across the pond last season. It’s a result that ESPN’s FPI clearly thinks is possible again with the highest win odds of any Notre Dame game this season.

November 9: Notre Dame vs. Florida State — 75.5% chance of winning

Florida State’s trip to South Bend is one of the few games of significance on Notre Dame’s schedule and one of three teams entering the season ranked in the Top 25. But Florida State’s surprising Week 0 loss may have tarnished the game’s initial appeal.

The Seminoles have a long way to go before their showdown with the Fighting Irish. But either way, the stakes are likely to be high for both teams, who entered the season with College Football Playoff aspirations.

Nov. 16: Notre Dame vs. Virginia — 92.6% chance of winning

Virginia is the final ACC opponent on Notre Dame’s schedule and another team with a disappointing record last season, winning just three games for the second straight season under Tony Elliott.

Notre Dame once again has a better than 90% chance of winning a home game. The Irish seniors will look to end things on the right note in what could be their final game at Notre Dame Stadium unless they host a playoff game.

November 23: Notre Dame vs. Army (Yankee Stadium) — 96.2% chance of winning

Army will be the second academy school and the final time Notre Dame will play on a neutral site in 2024. They will take on the Black Knights at Yankee Stadium, one of the most unique settings for a college football game this season.

The Fighting Irish are no strangers to Yankee Stadium, having defeated Syracuse in 2018 and Rutgers in 2013 at the home of the Bronx Bombers. They’ll be looking for another as the heavy favorite going into the penultimate game of the regular season.

Nov 30: Notre Dame at USC — 62.1% chance of winning

Notre Dame closes out the game visiting Los Angeles, taking on USC in one of the most exciting rivalry games college football has to offer, for the 95th time in a series where the Fighting Irish have the upper hand.

The Trojans and Irish have split the series in their last two matchups. But with two new quarterbacks under center and potential CFP bets on the line, this year’s battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh could be an instant classic. It represents Notre Dame’s lowest win probability since Week 1.