Things We Learned: Notre Dame’s identity? More also-ran than Playoff contender

Notre Dame planned. Michigan laughed.

For two weeks the Irish plotted for their biggest win of the season, and the very first of those plans fell flat, just as the rest would.

“We had talked about getting off to a fast start for about two weeks and we didn’t get off to a fast start,” head coach Brian Kelly said following the 45-14 loss that will stain Notre Dame far beyond the weekend. “That was concerning.”

While the first Irish drive did manage to gain 34 yards, it only got past midfield thanks to a roughing the punter penalty. Notre Dame then moved further backward than forward. The next Irish drive also gained a first down, but then Notre Dame went six full drives without moving the…