Leftovers & Links: Brian Kelly, Notre Dame cannot mask expectations

Coming off a 52-0 thrashing of South Florida and in good position to stake a claim as an ACC contender, No. 7 Notre Dame (2-0, 1-0 ACC) is teetering on the brink, and Irish head coach Brian Kelly knows it.

As soon as Notre Dame reached the locker room after dispatching the Bulls despite missing seven players due to positive tests and contract tracing, Kelly reminded his team what is at stake. In 2020, their every decision impacts the season; a mild Saturday night celebration can turn the entire championship endeavor awry.

“We can’t afford to lose guys each and every week,” Kelly said in the postgame locker room in the above video. “We’re not going to be able to be the championship football…