I’d put their chances of going undefeated at 50/50. Just for fun let’s say the Big12, PAC12 and the ACC are all left out of the CFP. And ND finishes 11-1. Would it be more likely that ND gets in the playoffs or the SEC gets 3 teams in?
They are still Clemson. Take a breath and let the season play out.
But I'll play along. Looking at your scenario, in which the Big 12, ACC and Pac 12 are all shut out from the playoffs, that presumes that Oklahoma and Clemson lose a couple of games. Maybe not likely, but let's go with it.
So we are left with, presumably, Ohio State, three SEC teams and ND for the 4 spots. Let's say OSU has at most one loss and win the B10. They are in. Same for the SEC championship game winner. Let's say the SEC championship game loser has only one loss, so they get in too. So then it comes down to an 11-1 ND and an 11-1 or 10-2 SEC team that did not play in the SEC title game.
Like it or not, this is where the 'eye test' comes in. Let's say we win out, but struggle in a couple of games like we did last year against Ball St and Pitt. In that case, I don't think we'd get in. But if we not only finish 11-1 and also kick some major ass along the way, I'd think we would get the 4th spot.
Also, 3 SEC teams in the playoff might cause a US civil war, and I don't think the selection committee wants that on their resume.
Maybe it happens again, but it isn't the norm.
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ND won't be in the playoffs this year even if we finish 11-1 which is unlikely.
Any undefeated conference champ is in over ND.
Any one-loss conference champ will be in over ND.
A one loss(heck 2 loss for that matter) Georgia(if it doesn't win SEC) is in over ND.
However, if things fall into place, we will have a chance. Remember hope is the best of things.
Southern Cal and Stanford are not good this year
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The game inn Ann Arbor will be very difficult USC you can never assume, always a talented roster, and while they may be only 3-2, schedule has been difficult..
that they DECIDE they wanna beat. Immense talent, mediocre coach.
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wouldn’t have played in a conference championship game? Or you think 2 Big10 teams would get in?
Three teams from the same conference will never get in.
Invent all the scenarios you want, ND is done re: the playoffs if for nothing else more that ND will lose another game. If you think ND is going to go undefeated the rest of the way, you haven't been watching.
If 3 Power Five conferences get left out, would ND get in or a third SEC team. I suppose you could also go with 2 Big10 and 2 SEC....
Heck, I'm sure you can come up with a scenario where Miami makes the NFL playoffs if you work hard enough.
It is really simple. ND isn't going to be in the playoffs this year.
I really don't care who does make it.
Unless Clemson's loss is a blowout to a poor team, and even then it would be hard for the committee to put ND ahead of them.
They are the defending champs, and have 2 of the last three.
We get blown out every time we get a chance....they dont forget that
ranked opponent they face? I’m assuming in that scenario that Wake isn’t ranked when they play. TAMU won’t be ranked either.
ND may end up having only one win against a ranked team at the time of the game, and possibly none ranked at the end of the year