The atmosphere at last Saturday night’s Notre Dame-Texas A&M clash was electric. Both teams have found their quarterbacks, CJ Carr (ND) and Marcel Reed (A&M). The Irish had scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 12-yard Jeremiyah Love run to break a 34-all tie with 2:53 remaining. They botched the extra point, giving the Aggies a chance to win it in regulation. Reed engineered a 74-yard drive culminating in a dramatic touchdown pass to tight end Nate Boerkircher on fourth and goal from the 11 with 13 seconds left. The game-winning extra point was good and the crowd left in stunned silence.
Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Mario Craver (1) runs the ball during the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 13.
But let’s dive deep into the weeds about the significance of this outcome. First, the Aggies got a signature win and moved to No. 10 in the rankings. The Irish are still ranked (No. 24) and, although 0-2, have lost to two top 10 teams (No. 5 Miami). They should be prohibitive favorites in every remaining game on their schedule. In fact, let’s say it again. Unofficially, the Irish have clinched a College Football Playoff berth as they are predicted to run the table and finish 10-2!
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Why? Remember Northern Illinois? How’d that work out? Plus, those television ratings for last year’s Notre Dame championship final appearance were off the charts. The Irish are indeed a solid team and deserving of their ranking. Never mind that their national championship drought is 37 years and running — they are the college football version of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. Either you love them or hate them but you are always watching them because they’re America’s team and that has its benefits.
Some sanity restored to transfer rules
We told you weeks ago changes were coming to the transfer rules and the NCAA finally announced some reforms that will significantly curtail college football’s spiraling demise as a competitive sport.
First, the NCAA eliminated the spring transfer window entirely. About 1,100 players transferred last spring, creating numerous challenges for schools to fill out their fall rosters and chaos throughout the country. Common sense finally prevailed.
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Second, the winter transfer window, which stretched from Dec. 9 to 28 last year, was moved forward and condensed to a manageable 10 days, Jan. 2 to 11. There were also exceptions for players on teams still competing for the CFP Championship. For the first time in memory, the NCAA should be commended for its bold actions. Maybe they’ve been reading this column the past three years, where it was correctly predicted the transfer rules were a disaster for the sport and made absolutely no sense.
I wish they had gone even further by reinstating the “old” rule, which required every transfer to sit out an entire season if that player transfers a second time. They did create exceptions when a coach leaves the school or is fired, allowing 30 days for players to transfer. Good creative thinking. It is, however, this yearly “free agency” status that continues to threaten competition and this player movement must be restricted further. Even if the NCAA loses in court after the first so-called student-athlete files suit, at least recognize their effort to stabilize the game.
Embarrassed coaches dumped
UCLA and Virginia Tech, two Power Four schools, were 0-2 and favored last week against New Mexico and Old Dominion, respectively. The Bruins lost, 35-10, at home and the Hokies were defeated, 45-26. Both head coaches, DeShaun Foster of UCLA and Brent Pry of Virginia Tech, were shown the door with tens of millions of dollars left on their guaranteed contracts. Both schools have not had much success over the past decade and while they cannot be called national contenders, neither can survive an 0-3 start and lose to two opponents they are expected to defeat handily. It was simply embarrassing, and they both had to go.
Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney prepares to run on the field with his team before a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Sept. 13.
Come on, Dabo, use the portal
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is once again showing signs of a lack of understanding that success and compensation brings. Swinney brought the Tigers two national championships (2016 and 2018) and a national reputation it had never experienced in its history. But with success and being the second-highest-paid coach in the sport at more than $11 million per year comes greater expectations and more pressure. Swinney doesn’t see it that way. He continues to live off the past, and after Clemson lost, 24-21, to unranked Georgia Tech, the Tigers fell to 1-2 and Swinney continues to be in denial. “I think we’re the best program in college football. We’re the model in all of college football.” How many programs would sign up for nine wins as their worst record in 14 years? Rather than talk about your resumé and acknowledge the tremendous achievements, perhaps just take a deep breath and respond to why you’re 1-2. That and take more transfers. It’s no coincidence that Clemson’s fall from the top has coincided with his lack of use of transfers. The perception is Swinney is not utilizing the transfer portal as a resource and that has been the primary reason the Tigers are not the same program they were seven years ago. Again, adapt or die.
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My Top 25 predictions
No. 16 Texas Tech at No. 12 Utah (-2.5): The Red Raiders have defeated a bunch of nobodies by a combined score of 174-35. Utah looks as if it might be back to coach Kyle Whittingham’s emphasis on winning in the trenches and controlling the ball. Can’t buy into Tech’s success thus far, so lay the points in a game which both teams still have major questions.
No. 9 Illinois at No. 19 Indiana (-6): This is why there shouldn’t be rankings until late October. Who have either of these teams defeated? Duke? Indiana State? Prove it to me first. I’ll pick the Hoosiers to cover because I like their coach Curt Cignetti’s attitude – he always seems to have a chip on his shoulder. After the Hoosiers prevail, expect the sellout crowd to rush the field which probably has not happened to any Illinois team since the Galloping Ghost” Red Grange played 100 years ago.
No. 21 Michigan at Nebraska (+2.5): Two blue-blood programs but Nebraska basically has done nothing of note for more than a decade. The Wolverines will once again be without head coach Sherrone Moore, who is under suspension for cheating. Biff Poggi will be the acting head coach. Michigan freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood will once again be under center, where he has looked very uncomfortable. Cornhusker sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola has played well but against inferior competition as he continues to display progress and development. That’s all you need to know about this game, which is the difference between the two quarterbacks. I’ll be heading to Lincoln in person to see the Cornhuskers blow out Michigan and finally return to the national stage. Go, Big Red!
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Notre Dame football worthy of a Top 25 ranking despite 2 losses
