2 losses to UGA and a loss to Clemson are the only opportunities they had. Blew it. They beat 7 teams that finished between 12 and 23.
2017- 12 USC, 15 Mich. St, 18 LSU, 23 NC St.
2018- 14 Michigan, 15 Syracuse, 21 Northwestern.
Comparing this run to anything that Lou Holtz, or Frank Leahy did is heresy. Lou Holtz, in 1988 alone defeated #2 Miami, #4 Michigan, #5 West Virginia and #7 USC. (final rankings). 4 squads in the final top 7 in one season. This is apples and oranges. The fact that ND has only played 3 top ten teams in a 34 game span further illustrates how badly Notre Dame is dumbing down the schedule by comparison to the past.
Let's take a look at 1989. ND beats #4 Colorado, #7 Michigan, #8 USC, #15 Penn State, #16 Michigan State, #17 Pittsburgh. (final rankings)
That's 6 teams that finished in the top 17 in one season. So between '88 and '89 ND faced and defeated 10 teams that FINISHED in the top 17. So I have to apologize if my pulse doesn't quicken at the mention of 28-6 with 3/4 of the wins coming over unranked also rans. To compare anything Brian Kelly has done to Lou Holtz is absolute absurdity.