The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are heading into a season with high expectations after Brian Kelly took the team to the national title game against Alabama last year and now the team will be looking to get back once again.

Last season the team did it on defense with Manti Te'o in the fold and while the team had Everett Golson at quarterback, he won't be back this season. The team ranked 72^nd in the nation in passing yards and 38^th in rushing yards per game and they were a high-powered offense, scoring over 25 points per game and they made it to the championship for the first time in years.

The team ranked second in the nation with 12.8 points allowed per game, but that defense was man handled by Alabama in the championship game and the contest was not close at all. Notre Dame always plays a tough schedule with their traditional rivalries and this season is no different, although the team will open with an easy matchup against Temple to start on August 31.

The team will play number 17 Michigan on ESPN on Saturday, September 7 and that game will come at 8 PM and can be watched on WatchESPN as well. The team will have a tough test against Michigan before taking on Purdue in their second straight road game on ABC at 8 PM and that will come before a big home contest against Michigan State, who played them tough last season.

The team follows with a home matchup against No. 16 Oklahoma before playing Arizona State at a neutral location and then the team will host USC at home in a very anticipated game. The team will travel to Air Force before playing Navy and then will finish with two out of three road games. The team will play at Pitt before coming home to play BYU and then they will finish with a road game at Stanford that could be one of the best games of the year.

Date     Opponent / Event         Location          Time / Result

08/31/13          vs. Temple TV Notre Dame, Ind.         3:30 p.m. ET

09/07/13          at Michigan TV            Ann Arbor, Mich.        8:00 p.m. ET

09/14/13          at Purdue TV   West Lafayette, Ind.    8:00 p.m. ET

09/21/13          vs. Michigan State TV  Notre Dame, Ind.         3:30 p.m. ET

09/28/13          vs. Oklahoma TV        Notre Dame, Ind.         3:30 p.m. ET

10/05/13          vs. Arizona State TV    Arlington, Texas          6:30 p.m. CT

10/19/13          vs. USC TV     Notre Dame, Ind.         7:30 p.m. ET

10/26/13          at Air Force TV            USAFA, Colo. 3:00 p.m. MT

11/02/13          vs. Navy TV    Notre Dame, Ind.         3:30 p.m. ET

11/09/13          at Pittsburgh TV           Pittsburgh, Pa.  TBA

11/23/13          vs. BYU TV     Notre Dame, Ind.         3:30 p.m. ET

11/30/13          at Stanford TV Stanford, Calif.            TBA