Clemson is an 8 point underdog and Michigan is a 14 point underdog if they play Alabama in the champoinship game.
People don't say it...but that is also figuring into the evaluations of the "eye test" people who fear that ND is not up to the task because of what happened the last time around.
If ND is in the playoff it will be even more important to play competitive games (ideally winning of course). Another blowout will compound that perception and make it even more difficult for ND teams in the future when they are the subject of "judgment calls".
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........they obviously think Mich is a stronger opponent than the Irish
stronger than an Irish team that beat them without their #1 QB or #1 RB playing and which beat common opponent Northwestern by more than they did.
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