I hesitate to even draw attention to this because I think it was done for that exact reason.
That or someone is entirely oblivious to the world.
We’re at the time where “Way Too Early Top 25” polls are being released daily as the focus now shifts to 2020 after Clemson and LSU get done Monday night in New Orleans.
Brett McMurphy of Stadium released his “Top 25 Rankings for 2020” and quite frankly, they should be rolled into a ball and thrown into the closest fire pit.
Clemson checks in at one which nobody should have any problem with.
No. 2 is Ohio State before the water-carrying for the SEC begins as LSU, Alabama, Auburn and Texas A&M check-in three through six.
A few more spots down you’ll find the team Notre Dame just dismantled in Orlando, Iowa State tenth, and no, the Irish are not listed in that 7-10 range.
Nor are they right after Iowa State.
You have to go to 15, one spot behind even USC to find Notre Dame, where you’ll find this write up:
Last year, Notre Dame might have been one of the most under-appreciated two-loss teams in recent memory. Only a close loss at Georgia and a blowout loss at Michigan kept the Irish out of the playoff and New Year’s Six bowl contention. Still, Brian Kelly became the first coach in Notre Dame history with three consecutive double-digit win seasons since Lou Holtz (1991-93). Quarterback Ian Book, 20-3 as a starter, announced he would remain at Notre Dame for his senior season, which will be a huge boost for the Irish, who lost RB Tony Jones Jr. and TE Cole Kmet early to the NFL Draft.
Excuse me, what?
In what was perhaps the biggest bowl game in the history of Iowa State football they got fired into the sun by Notre Dame, who we weren’t sure had any interest in being there much of the week.
The talent discrepancy was as evident in that game as it was on any Saturday in South Bend this year besides the New Mexico or Bowling Green clashes. Yet those close games Iowa State lost get rewarded with a top ten ranking.
Hilarious.
And USC at 14 in their current situation is just as laughable. In a bad Pac-12 they were an after-thought in regards to the conference championship. A notorious underachiever who just got their doors blown off by Iowa in the Holiday Bowl are going to finally put it all together in 2020?
Good luck with that.
Notre Dame returns a ton on both sides of the ball. Obviously replacing Claypool and Kmet will be a challenge but the offensive line figures to be better, defense should be nearly as good even with a dip at corner and potentially a game-changing offensive coordinator could still be brought in.
15?
If Notre Dame finishes 15th in the final rankings next January it will have been an incredibly disappointing season for the Fighting Irish.
Side note —
Should I do my own of these? Warning: I would use actual logic behind them and not just fire crap at the wall to see what sticks.