I submit there is a possibility, albeit not likely, ND can still make the playoff. Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State appear to be locks. If the Big 12 takes each other out, would you put ACC champion Clemson or PAC-12 champion USC in before ND, considering the Irish would have beaten these two one-loss Power 5 champions?
If this all plays out, I think the only way you keep ND out is if the Big 12 champion only has one loss. If they have two, they have no better argument than ND. Again, I realize all of this is extremely unlikely...but the possibility does exist.
And still made the playoff. Granted, it was their only loss and were still ACC champs, so that's different. But since Marshall happened so early in the year, if my scenario happens, perhaps the committee will recognize ND had yet to find its identity, especially with a new coach.
We are not out of it yet. I hope the team is thinking this way!
Alabama AND Georgia are not sure fire ins yet in my opinion. They have already had close calls and a loss plus another in championship game should they meet may be enough to knock one of them out.
Let’s assume that OSU is in, but if Michigan beats them, they may both go so that’s not a good scenario for us.
Lets also assume that BIG-12 beats each other up and/or doesn’t pass the ‘eye test’
This all assuming that we beat Clemson and USC, the presumed ACC and PAC-10 Champions.
We really dominated BYU, the number 16 team in the country. If we continue on our current trajectory, it’s not out of realm of possibility that we finish 10-2.
Still making the playoffs would be unlikely, but at this point not impossible.
I REALLY hope the team sees this and gets HUNGRY!
Clemson's D-Line has the potential to cause issues with the run game. They are currently playing with their best corners out with injury, hence their issues with the passing game against Wake Forest. If they get healthy back there I'm not sure how well we will be able to move the ball. At this point we can win the game if we make some plays and they don't. I also hope the home fans don't sell the tickets to Clemson so that the stadium is taken over again.
USC can't stop the run, at least not so far this year, so getting blown out is unlikely, but the team never seems to play well in LA. I think our D-line has not been causing a lot of pressure because we are holding back when the QB has the ability to run so they don't burn us on that anymore, much more bull rushing to collapse the pocket versus using speed to get around to the QB which can leave lanes for the QB to scramble from. We will probably do the same against USC, so that could give them enough time to find holes in the secondary and score points. I see that game as possibly being more of a shoot out, but not unwinnable either.
...I love Al Golden, but his schemes are Van Gorder-like; appear too complicated.
Well the offense wont score enough points being as vanilla as it is in big games, 17-20 points wont get it done!
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I don't see us beating both of them and it's a little more likely we lose to both, with Clemson being a close hard fought game and USC possibly being a route.
But IF we were somehow able to finish 9-3 and then go win a bowl, a 10-3 finish for a first year HC who started the season 0-2 would be pretty encouraging.
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how we define ourselves as a program under this coach who is a very impressive individual (and recruiter) is far more important than what politics allows us to achieve should we win out.
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The loss is looking worse and worse each week.
Would be easier to fit a camel through the eye of a needle than for…Notre Dame to enter into the playoffs.
Plus wins over Brigham Young, North Carolina and a possibly ranked Syracuse team. Ok let's not talk about it.
They could very well lose in the regular season and then lose to Georgia.
Love to finish 10-2, major bowl and WIN it! Good building block moving forward for Freeman.
After beating ND, this is what they've done...
Loss to Bowling Green
Loss to Troy
Win over Gardner-Webb
Loss to Louisiana
They could easily lose to every team left on their schedule as well.
Who is the fourth team if not ND?
Marshall has gone on to prove that they're a bad team.
You have laid out the best possible outcome.
defeat of any top 10 team. Can’t goto the playoff with that resume point
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agree that it is an egregious loss.
And yet If we beat Clemson and USC, both undefeated, it will be the best pair of WINS out of all four playoff spot contenders.
Big if’s, I know. It will certainly be interesting to see what the committee thinks at the end of the season if all IF’s come to pass.
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…still think Marshall as a second loss would be too much though.
That scenario would put the Irish in a major bowl.
A win there would be a great stepping stone…if they could play 60 minutes this time ‘round.
Lots of IF’s there…
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the subject deserves not a second of discussion. But should it become reality, there will be much...and just maybe deservedly so.