Breaking down the Notre Dame football schedule: Big names and Big venues headline 2022

A new era of Notre Dame football is about to commence as first-year head coach Marcus Freeman leads the Irish into the 2022 season with big goals.

Many questions to answer ahead of fall camp and the primetime season opener at Ohio State on Sep.

3 in Columbus, Ohio. A new quarterback has to emerge.

So does a new running back. Back are some important defensive pieces.

Others were added via the transfer portal.

All will be key to a successful year, which the Irish hope ends in a College Football Playoff berth for the second time in three seasons, and third in five.

Here's a look at Notre Dame's 2022 schedule ranked by matchup from LAST to FIRST:

Oct. 22 at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Ind. 1. Other players to watch: Doug Brumfield (RB), Kyle Williams (WR) 2. Last year's record: 2-10 (2-6, Mountain West) 3. Series history: No previous matchups

12. UNLV

Sept. 10 at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Ind. 1. Other players to watch: Corey Gammage (WR), Henry Colombi (QB) 2. Last year's record: 7-6 (5-3, C-USA) 3. Series history: No previous matchups

11. Marshall

Sept. 17 at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Ind. 1. Other players to watch: J. Michael Sturdivant (WR), Damien Moore (RB) 2. Last year's record: 5-7 (4-5, PAC-12) 3. Series history: 4-0, Notre Dame 4. Last meeting: 1967 (41-8, Notre Dame)

10. Cal

Nov. 19 at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Ind. 1. Other players to watch: Zay Flowers (WR), Pat Garwo III (RB) 2. Last year's record: 6-6 (2-6, ACC) 3. Series history: 16-9, Notre Dame 4. Last meeting: 2020 (45-31, Notre Dame)

9. vs. Boston College

Oct. 29 at the JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, N.Y. 1. Other players to watch: Courtney Jackson (WR), Garrett Shrader (QB) 2. Last year's record: 5-7 (2-6, ACC) 3. Series history: 7-3, Notre Dame 4. Last meeting: 2020 (45-21, Notre Dame)

8. Syracuse

Nov. 12 at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Md. 1. Other players to watch: Tai Lavatai (QB), Kai Puailoa-Rojas (RB) 2. Last year's record: 4-8 (3-5, American) 3. Series history:78-13-1, Notre Dame 4. Last meeting: 2021 (34-6, Notre Dame)

7. Navy

Oct. 15 at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Ind. 1. Other players to watch: Elijah Higgins (WR), Benjamin Yurosek (TE) 2. Last year's record: 3-9 (2-7, PAC-12) 3. Series history: 21-13, Notre Dame 4. Last meeting: 2021 (45-14, Notre Dame)

6. Stanford

Oct. 8 at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas 1. Other players to watch: Jaren Hall (QB), Puka Nacua (WR) 2. Last year's record: 10-3 3. Series history: 4-2, Notre Dame 4. Last meeting: 2013 (23-13, Notre Dame...later vacated)

5. BYU

Sept. 24 at Keenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, N.C. 1. Other players to watch: British Brooks (RB), D.J. Jones (WR) 2. Last year's record: 6-7 (3-5, ACC) 3. Series history: 20-1, Notre Dame 4. Last meeting: 2021 (44-34, Notre Dame)

4. North Carolina

Nov. 26 at the Memorial Coliseum , Los Angeles 1. Other players to watch: Travis Dye (RB), Jordan Addison (WR) 2. Last year's record: 4-8 (3-6, PAC-12) 3. Series history: 48-36-5, Notre Dame 4. Last meeting: 2021 (31-16, Notre Dame)

3. USC

Nov. 5 at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Ind. 1. Other players to watch: Kobe Pace (RB), Joseph Ngata (WR) 2. Last year's record: 10-3 (6-2, ACC) 3. Series history: 4-2, Clemson 4. Last meeting: 2020 (34-10, Clemson in ACC Championship)

2. Clemson

Sept. 3 at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio. 1. Other players to watch: Miyan Williams (RB), Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR) 2. Last year's record: 11-2 (8-1, Big Ten) 3. Series history: 4-2, Ohio State 4. Last meeting: 2016 (44-28, Ohio State in Fiesta Bowl)

1. Ohio State

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