The good news? The roster is filling holes thanks to a second consecutive top-10 recruiting class, including this year's group, ranked 10th by ESPN. That roster will be bolstered by the return of tailback Cierre Wood, who became the 20th back in school history to 1,000 yards and did it as a sophomore, and a massive O-line packed with five-year players (there are also some talented young defensive players returning, led by defensive end Aaron Lynch, who was No. 3 in Todd McShay's 2011 freshman rankings).

The bad news? The Dayne Crist debacle and Tommy Rees' mystifying inability to show signs of improvement have created a giant problem at quarterback. And the schedule, which includes five teams that rank in the top 14 of Mark Schlabach's Way Too Early Top 25, is its typically brutal self.

Of the teams I have listed here, I have the least confidence in this one to truly break out. But if the Irish do take care of business, their long-anticipated return to the upper echelon will have happened at last. And that would be a very big deal to very large group of people.