I decided to look at Notre Dame's opponents next season, their head coaches, returners at QB and the team's record in 2015. Here's some of the highlights:
- ND plays against three teams with head coaches that are former ND assistants in their first four games
- ND will play half of their games in 2016 against teams with a new starting QB
- ND's opponents' returning starting QB's threw 66 TD's and 29 INT's
- ND will play against three teams in 2016 who have new head coaches -- four if you want to count USC
- ND's opponents' record in 2015: 82 - 57
@ TEXAS -- September 3
- Head Coach Charlie Strong -- former ND assistant
- QB: Jerome Heard -- 5 TD / 5 INT
- 2015 record: 5 - 7
NEVADA -- September 10
- Head Coach Brian Polian -- former ND assistant
- QB: Tyler Stewart -- 15 TD / 7 INT
- 2015 record: 6 - 6
MICHIGAN STATE -- September 17
- Head Coach Mark Dantonio
- QB: New starter in 2016
- 2015 record: 12 - 1
DUKE -- September 24
- Head Coach David Cutcliffe -- former ND assistant
- QB: Thomas Sirk -- 15 TD / 6 INT
- 2015 record: 7 - 5
@ SYRACUSE -- October 1
- Head Coach Dino Babers (just hired)
- QB: Eric Dungey -- 11 TD / 5 INT
- 2015 record: 4 - 8
@ NORTH CAROLINA STATE -- October 8
- Head Coach Dave Doeren
- QB: New starter in 2016
- 2015 record: 7 - 5
STANFORD -- October 15
- Head Coach David Shaw
- QB: New starter in 2016
- 2015 record: 11 - 2
MIAMI -- October 29
- Head Coach Mark Richt (just hired)
- QB: Brad Kaaya 15 TD / 4 INT
- 2015 record: 8 - 4
@ NAVY -- November 5
- Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo
- QB: New starter in 2016
- 2015 record: 9 - 2
ARMY (Shamrock Series Game) -- November 12
- Head Coach Jeff Monken
- QB: Ahmad Bradshaw 5 TD / 2 INT
- 2015 record: 2 - 9
VIRGINIA TECH -- November 19
- Head Coach Justin Fuente (just hired)
- QB: New starter in 2016
- 2015 record: 6 - 6
@ USC -- November 26
- Head Coach Clay Helton (just named)
- QB: New starter in 2016
- 2015 record: 8 - 5
