History — the good kind, for Notre Dame — is repeating itself.

A shaky start followed by a win streak as long as it is dominant.

A dangerous team that is methodically building up momentum and looking more and more like a group capable of not only reaching the College Football Playoff — that is bordering on a certainty — but staying a while.

A year ago, the Irish suffered a stunning Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois. They had no choice but to run the table to reach the playoff. Notre Dame responded to its back being against the wall by winning 13 straight games, and reaching the final game of the college football season.