Ah, yes, we have arrived at the annual preseason moment when Notre Dame finds itself overrated -- or have we? Let's take a look at the numbers. The Fighting Irish finished 2019 with an 11-2 record, the third straight season in which the program has eclipsed at least 10 wins and the fourth such season in the past five years. That span also included two bowl wins and a College Football  Playoff appearance. (And, yes, it also included 2016's forgettable 4-8 effort.) 

There's a caveat, of course. Signature wins have been few and far between. The Irish have notched some decent victories over Virginia, Michigan and LSU, but they've fallen short against more elite opponents like Clemson and Georgia. Put another way: say what you will about Notre Dame -- love 'em or hate 'em -- but coach Brian Kelly has managed to win consistently at a high level, even if not the highest. 

But what does 2020 have in store for Notre Dame? The playoff and a national championship remain the loftiest goals. But with uncertainty surrounding the upcoming season, Notre Dame, an independent with only minor scheduling ties to the ACC, is concentrating first and foremost on competing for a full season. 

2019 rewind

Final ranking: No. 13 | Achievements: 11-2, won 33-9 over Iowa State in the Camping World Bowl

Not too shabby, right? A lot of teams would take 11-2 and a bowl win. But just how good was 2019 to the Irish? A 23-17 loss at Georgia wasn't exactly a barn burner with a bit of a misleading score. Then the Irish posted their worst game of the season a month later at Michigan. Against arguably their top two best opponents, Notre Dame failed to show up, but the second half of the season quietly saw this team gain some momentum. The Irish won their final five games, including the bowl game, by an average of four touchdowns.

Oddly enough, Notre Dame had one of its better offensive showings under Kelly despite some of its early struggles, but there is a lot of turnover at key spots in the offense heading into next season.  

Key departures

TE Cole Kmet: This section of the preview is going to be a recurring theme. The Irish return quarterback Ian Book and a veteran offensive line but lose their biggest skill contributors. Kmet was the latest in a line of big-time Notre Dame tight ends to be drafted into the NFL. He was a major mismatch at 6-foot-6 and 262 pounds. He was second on the team in 2019 with 43 receptions for 515 yards and six touchdowns, right behind ... 

WR Chase Claypool: He was the team's leading wide receiver with 1,037 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns. A lengthy wideout at 6-foot-4, Claypool was a massive red-zone target with eight touchdowns coming in that part of the field. In general, the Irish lose a ton of size and production from its pass-catcher unit heading into next season -- Chris Finke is gone as well -- resulting in a loss of about 61 percent of the receiving yards.

RB Tony Jones Jr.: Hey look, another statistical leader on offense who's gone. Jones may not have been a bell cow production back, but there was no denying he was a violent runner with some big-play ability. He and Book made up a bulk of Notre Dame's running game last season, so the Irish will be looking for a new No. 1 back. 

OC Chip Long: In what was a surprising move, Kelly moved on from Long at the end of last season. Long, just 37, is considered one of college football's bright young minds and he was a Broyles Award finalist in 2018. Long ended up as an offensive analyst at Tennessee under coach Jeremy Pruitt, so it shouldn't be too long before he's calling plays again. Still, this was an unexpected move coming off of a strong end of the season. 

DE Julian Okwara: There are a handful of key defensive players that Notre Dame is losing. Okwara is the most recognizable with 21 starts over the last two seasons. Had he not missed the final few games of last season with a fractured fibula, he was on his way to being an All-American selection. 

Who's back?

QB Ian Book: Has Book reached his ceiling at Notre Dame already? Maybe. But unless he regresses, there's nothing wrong with having a seasoned, 3,000-yard passer who is also a threat in the running game. With so much turnover at the running back and wide receiver spots, Book is a rock on the offense. He could have either declared for the NFL Draft or transferred to another program and started, but he's back in South Bend and will try to finish his career on a high note. 

OL Tommy Kraemer: A knee injury cut Kraemer's 2019 season short, but he's back and one of the Irish's most accomplished returning offensive linemen. This unit was banged up a year ago and those injuries are going to linger into the offseason, but once healthy, this should be one of the best groups in college football. 

WR Braden Lenzy: Fellow wideout Javon McKinley has been around longer, but Lenzy is probably the better option to be Notre Dame's big-play threat. He was used in both the running game and passing game last year and is more of a home-run threat, averaging about 19 yards per play from the line of scrimmage. 

CB TaRiq Bracy: With the departure of Troy Pride Jr., Bracy is solidified as the defense's top returning corner. He led the team with seven passes broken up and also had a forced fumble; the talent is there, the consistency just needs to follow. Bracy could be the next good corner to come out of South Bend. 

DE Daelin Hayes: Like other stars on this list, Hayes had his last season cut short due to injury, playing in just four games before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the year. But as a returning senior, Hayes should be one of Notre Dame's defensive leaders and a breakout star for 2020. 

Fresh faces

OC Tommy Rees: Yes, that Tommy Rees. The former Irish quarterback from 2010-13 has stepped into Long's old role and will be the offensive coordinator for 2020 after previously serving as the team's quarterbacks coach for the past three years. 

WR Bennett Skowronek: The Northwestern grad transfer brings size, production and experience to Notre Dame's pass-catching group. Though his 2019 season was cut short by injury, he was a major player in Northwestern's run to the Big Ten West title in 2018 and had one of the Wildcats' best plays of the season against Iowa. 

RB Chris Tyree: In trying to replace some fo the carries left from Jones, Tyree may be an option to contribute right away. The top player out of Virginia for the 2020 class, Tyree is a blue-chip prospect who could make an impact in the running and passing game. 

Critical games

Week 5 vs. Wisconsin -- Oct. 3: It's a neutral site game at Lambeau Field, which in most cases would be a de facto home game for the Badgers. However, this is Notre Dame we're talking about, and if any fanbase can make this seem more neutral, it's them. This should be a matchup of ranked teams and would be a quality win for the Irish. 

Week 10 vs. Clemson -- Nov. 7: If you're going to draw Clemson, best to draw them in South Bend. The Tigers should be easy favorites in this game, but it would be an opportunity for Notre Dame to make a statement. The last time these two teams met in the Cotton Bowl two years ago, the Tigers won 30-3 on their way to a national championship. 

Week 13 at USC -- Nov. 28: The Irish don't have many true road games, and only one of them presents any real difficulty. This is that game. The Trojans are a trendy pick to win the Pac-12 with so much talent returning. This could be a year in which coach Clay Helton finally puts it together in Los Angeles. These are two programs in similar spots, so winning this game would be a nice stamp on the season. 

2020 outlook

It's no secret what Notre Dame expects most seasons to look like. The question is how much can the team live up to the hype. The 2020 Fighting Irish have a good chance to get to double-digit wins once again thanks to a combination of a strong core of returning players and a favorable schedule. The hardest opponent the Irish will face all year is at home, and there are a couple of other chances to show this program can win on the big stage. 

A successful season will be marked by yet another playoff appearance. Though the ceiling for the Irish may be a touch lower than it was a few decades ago, this is a program that can still win games in bunches. Of course, the Irish have also experienced the lowest of lows under Kelly, having gone just 4-8 four years ago. While it would take several unfortunate events for this team to fall that hard, anything under nine wins will be a disappointment.