2. Notre Dame 47, Clemson 40 2OT, Part 2
Notre Dame needed this win a whole lot more than Clemson did. The Tigers are more than fine in the playoff chase – they’re in by winning out. Get the Irish in the ACC Championship – and don’t biff the road game against Virginia Tech – and Clemson is the No. 3 seed at worst. However, don’t blame this loss on not having Trevor Lawrence. DJ Uiagalelei was brilliant, completing 29-of-44 passes for 439 yards and two score with a rushing touchdown.
He might have missed a few reads that Lawrence wouldn’t have, but whatever. The problem was a banged up Tiger D that wasn’t close to 100%, but there’s no excuse here. Notre Dame was better on the lines and came through with the win that puts it right in the College Football Playoff mix.
1. Notre Dame 47, Clemson 40 2OT, Part 1
Ian Book was fantastic – throwing for 310 yards and a touchdown with 68 yards on the ground – and Kyren Williams ran for 140 yards and three touchdowns, but give it up to the Irish defensive line that was the absolute truth all game long. The ten tackles for loss were nice, but it didn’t let Travis Etienne breathe – he was held to 28 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, and caught eight passes for 57 yards.
Now the CFP is there for the taking. Win out, and the Irish are obviously in. However, three of the last four games are on the road – Boston College, North Carolina, Wake Forest – and all of them are landmines. Get through it all, beat Clemson – assuming it’s Clemson – in the ACC Championship or lose in a good, tight game, and it should be fine.
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