We’re starting to sound like a broken record, but once again, two top college football experts have kept Notre Dame off of their top 10 lists.
Although one does have the Fighting Irish in the “almost” category.
Once again, we blame the continuing fallout from the Northern Illinois game, though at this point it’s less about that loss than the perception that Notre Dame has only played one quality opponent — Louisville — since.
The schedule is the schedule, though, and while it probably is weaker in 2024 than Irish fans are used to seeing, Notre Dame can only play the team in front of it. Next week it faces a frisky but not unbeatable Georgia Tech team in a neutral-site game that’s in the Yellow Jacket’s backyard.
Florida State was once considered tough, but that team is a mess. Army and Navy are both undefeated to this point but few expect either team to beat the Irish. Even if it wins out, Notre Dame may still be overlooked until it faces USC at season’s end — and even then, the Irish will need a victory over the Trojans.
Joel Klatt did put the Irish as an “almost” in his Top 10 before giving the top five to Texas, Oregon, Ohio State, Georgia and Penn State. Danny Kannell, meanwhile, doesn’t have the Irish in his Top 12. He doesn’t list honorable mentions.
Kannell’s top five are Texas, Oregon, Penn State, Miami (Florida) and BYU.
For reference, the Irish are No. 12 in the AP poll.
Notre Dame will need to keep stacking wins — and ones that look like the blowout over Stanford, if possible — to get more respect. Perhaps some other teams need to lose, as well.
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