Analysis: Teasing out Notre Dame football's future

Joe Alt is Notre Dame's second-ranked offensive left tackle. Alt has a season grade of 91.7. Junior tight end Michael Mayer is the school's highest-rated defensive player. Freshman cornerback Benjamin Morrison picked off three passes in a 44-0 Senior Day romp against Boston College. He is one of three players who share the national lead in picks. He picked up five passes. It was snowing at the Senior Game. Joe Alt will remember it for the rest of his life.

Notre Dame is 15th in the coaches poll and 13th on the AP poll. The Irish play USC on Saturday night. If the CFP rankings match the poll, the Irish could play in five bowls. There were 18 scholarship players recognized on Senior Day. Some of them might not return next season. The first window of the transfer portal opens the day after the championship teams are selected. It closes 45 days later on Jan. 18. A 15-day spring period from May 1-15 is a key driver in those decisions. For now, players want to return in 2023. They were excluded from the Senior day ceremony.