[Lefty Noob]

Looks like Notre Dame has released the final, official football schedules for the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

You'll undoubtedly notice that these are 12 game schedules - each with 7 home games and 5 road games. Apparently, the NCAA is now allowing schools to play 12 regular season games starting next year. Not sure if that's a good idea or not, but I that's how it's going to be.

Anywho, here are the ND football schedues:

2006 Notre Dame Football Schedule
Sept. 2 at Georgia Tech
Sept. 9 PENN STATE
Sept. 16 MICHIGAN
Sept. 23 at Michigan State
Sept. 30 PURDUE
Oct. 7 STANFORD
Oct. 21 UCLA
Oct. 28 at Navy (Baltimore, Md.)
Nov. 4 NORTH CAROLINA
Nov. 11 at Air Force
Nov. 18 ARMY
Nov. 25 at USC

2007 Notre Dame Football Schedule
Sept. 1 GEORGIA TECH
Sept. 8 at Penn State
Sept. 15 at Michigan
Sept. 22 MICHIGAN STATE
Sept. 29 at Purdue
Oct. 6 at UCLA
Oct. 13 BOSTON COLLEGE
Oct. 20 USC
Nov. 3 NAVY
Nov. 10 AIR FORCE
Nov. 17 DUKE
Nov. 24 at Stanford

[Lefty Noob]

Focusing on that 2006 Notre Dame football schedule, it once again looks like one of the most difficult in the country. The Fighting Irish play the Nittany Lions, the Wolverines, the Spartans, the Boilermakers, the Bruins, and of course the Trojans of Southern Cal. Lots of opportunities for either big wins or heartbreaking losses. So how does everyone think Charlie Weis, Brady Quinn and company will fare during the upcoming season?

[cjg11582]

I think they will be a consenus favorite in every game they play except for maybe USC and Michigan. I would assume they would be favored going into SoCal considering it is the last week of the season and ND should have a pretty substantial wave of media hype following them out there (that isn't to say I think USC will win). And they have Michigan at home in South Bend, which would lead me to believe they will be a favorite.
As for the schedule as a whole, they do play some quality programs but most people's expectations are not terribly high for Purdue, Penn State, Michigan State or UCLA. Obviously USC will be significantly less threatening than they were the past few years (though that will not stop them from winning the underachieving Pac-10).
With the BCS system firmly entrenched in College Football, and generally one loss negates any opportunity for a national title (There are obvious exceptions), the schedule is about potential losses more so than easy victories versus easier victories (That is what makes the SEC such a difficult conference to win a national title in). For the 2006 ND schedule, I this team sustaining more than one or two losses in the upcoming season.

[rmjvol]

Sure is a lot of talk about ND football.

Click here to see the other discussions we've been having about them.

If you're new to our community we hope you'll signup and check out our welcome info.

Thanks, Ross

[Lefty Noob]

Focusing on this year's schedule, the only dangerous looking road trip comes when the Irish travel to Southern Cal to play the Trojans on Nov. 25th. Many people seem to think that Notre Dame can run the able in 2006. Do you agree?

[david murray]

I think the Irish can run the table as long as they get thru the first four games unscathed. Georgia Tech away will be a challenge--they've got an All-American wide receiver who is going to be tough to stop, but hopefully they won't be able to get the ball to him. Get that pass rush going! Irish are replacing two linebackers who are in NFL camps, so that has to be a concern too. Penn State will have nine new starters on defense--I don't think they will be able to stop Brady Quinn or Darius Walker. Maybe Michigan is th epivotal game on the schedule--how tough are they going to be this year?

[bautch24]

Some of the games will be tough but Quinn and Co. will prevail undefeated and then Show OSU that last year Fiesta Bowl was a fluke. that would be a heck of a game ND-OSU National Championship.

[david murray]

Notre Dame has a tough schedule--I was remembering last year when the Stanford game turned into one of the most exciting contests and the Irish barely pulled it out in the end. I like it that ND has kept up the tradition of playing the service academys all these years--what does everybody think?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Focusing on that 2006 Notre Dame football schedule, it once again looks like one of the most difficult in the country. The Fighting Irish play the Nittany Lions, the Wolverines, the Spartans, the Boilermakers, the Bruins, and of course the Trojans of Southern Cal. Lots of opportunities for either big wins or heartbreaking losses. So how does everyone think Charlie Weis, Brady Quinn and company will fare during the upcoming season?

Didn't you post about 0 for their last 8 in Bowl Games?...I think the team is slightly overrated...I like the Quinn kid...but its not their year...and the pressure on them is tremendous.

[Lefty Noob]

Good point about the pressure, Gotham. I mean, anything short of an apperance in the BCS title game will be a disappointment for the Irish in 2006. How in the world does Charlie Weis keep his team calm and focused with those kinds of expectation and under the intense pressure they will inevitably be feeling this season?

[CARRownsND]

I am sure you will win 5 games this year. After all you still have Army, Navy, and Airforce. To bad coast guard does not have a team. Notre LAme you guys are the worst. Completely worthless. I would be willing to bet that quinn does not make it to the NFL, way overrated.

[Lefty Noob]

Talk to Tennessee fans about Air Force being a "creampuff" - the Falcons played the Vols mighty tough. Let us not also forget that next week they play an undefeated Michigan State team out of your beloved Big Ten, and they also have USC at year's end.

Kudos to Michigan, though, they played a hell of a game. Hat's off to 'em.