Key Week 10 storylines for upcoming opponents

Notre Dame is off this week, enjoying a well-deserved break to rest, recuperate and prepare for a four-game stretch in November that will decide the program’s playoff fate.

The Irish have won six games in a row, all but one by more than 17 points, and are playing their best ball. They will also have the advantage in each of the remaining four games of the regular season.

However, Marcus Freeman and staff must make the most of this time to avoid a breakdown that leaves the CFP decision in the hands of a committee.

The Irish don’t have a game in Week 10. Where will their final four opponents be on Saturday?

The Seminoles lost to Miami last week and are officially out of bowl contention. The collapse of this program was stunning considering where it was a year ago.

The Noles have all sorts of problems as they prepare to host North Carolina. The most glaring of these is an offense that has failed to score 17 points in seven straight games. Meanwhile, the Heels are building a potent attack around QB Jacolbi Criswell, RB Omarion Hampton and WR J.J. Jones.

The Cavaliers, like the Irish, are off this week and need a break. UVA looked like one of the ACC’s feel-good stories, but they didn’t win a game in October and didn’t get back to 4-4.

Tony Elliott’s main challenge will be fixing a defense that allowed 89 points in back-to-back losses to Clemson and Carolina.

The Black Knights return to action after resting last weekend and perhaps enjoying Navy’s crushing loss to Notre Dame.

The Army hosts the Air Force in the first leg of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy tournament. The Falcons are 0-6 against FBS opponents, but this is a record game so the Knights must stay focused.

USC faces Washington, a familiar foe from their Pac-12 days. The Huskies have won 18 straight games in Seattle, so this isn’t your typical matchup between 4-4 teams.

The Trojans are hoping to build on last Friday’s rout of Rutgers, in which QB Miller Moss and RB Woody Marks were the stars. This is a big game for the hopes of both schools, especially Washington, which still has Oregon and Penn State on its schedule.

How Notre Dame football can improve during the critical November period