When Notre Dame started the season 0-2 it was hard for those outside of the ND bubble to imagine this team making the college football playoff. Obviously, at the time, there were huge caveats put in place like winning 10 straight, and if they would have any good wins at all. It was very rational thinking, but they were all wrong… it kind of feels like none of it matters other than the wins.
Notre Dame played an absolutely ugly game against Boston College, got a 15 point win against a 30 point spread, and then were ranked #10 in both the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll.
Back in week three people talked about Notre Dame setting itself to be in striking distance when the first set of college football playoff rankings come out. While these two polls are NOT the CFP rankings, you know they probably won’t be far off come Tuesday.
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The Irish are closer to #9 than #11 in the latest AP Top 25, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they are ranked #12 by the committee. With four games left on the schedule #12 wouldn’t be striking distance — it’s the distance (since college football will college football and a a bump up will likely happen with wins). The real striking distance is the chance at hosting a playoff game inside Notre Dame Stadium… and that is most definitely still in play.
We will learn more about where exactly this team sits come Tuesday night and have a better sense of what needs to happen — but they’re here right now in November, and Irish fans should buckle up for the chance at possibly playing 8 more games before this is all said and done.
