Saturday, December 5, 2015

The Opponents Notre Dame Will Face In 2016


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