Tag: 2024 Notre Dame football

Here’s why Notre Dame will — or won’t — make the College Football Playoff

The arguments about Notre Dame’s playoff chances continue — and they will until the ball is kicked against Purdue.

Is Notre Dame in or out of the College Football Playoff? It’s the question that’s being bandied about after the Fighting Irish’s huge loss to NIU.

In truth, there’s no way to know until the rest of the season unfolds. We’re just two weeks in and arguments can be made both ways. Notre Dame could also be helped or hurt by how other teams do going forward.

CBS Sports took a look at both the argument for and the argument against the Irish in a point/counterpoint post between writers Will Backus and Shehan Jeyarajah. Backus backed (pun intended, sorry) the Irish and Jeyarajah argued the other side.

Notre Dame football is on the wrong end of a home-favorite stat
Northern Illinois celebrates after wining a NCAA college football game 16-14 against Notre Dame at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in South Bend.

Here’s some of what Backus said: “It’s not like 10 more wins aren’t attainable for the Irish, either. They’ll have a chance to pad their résumé against ranked teams like No. 19 Louisville and No. 11 USC. Though Florida State has lost its luster, beating the Seminoles still resonates”

And Jeyarajah: “Realistically, the path is for Notre Dame — a team that just stumbled against a MAC team — to win 10 straight games, including tricky matchups like Georgia Tech, Army and No. 19 Louisville. Then, it has to hope that these wins actually remain impressive by the end of the year. And then even on top of that, it has to hope that every at-large team in the country finishes with multiple losses.”

Who do you think is right? How will it all play out?

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Bowl Projection Has Notre Dame Out of Playoff

Few are predicting the playoff for Notre Dame after Saturday.

The fallout continues for Notre Dame after the ugly loss to Northern Illinois in Week 2.

The Fighting Irish have their work cut out for them if they want to be in the newly expanded College Football Playoff. At least one outlet has them missing the playoff, instead qualifying for the Gator Bowl, where they’d play Oklahoma.

This comes from 247Sports’ weekly bowl game projection/prediction series. Here’s what they have to say.

“The Fighting Irish fall out of this week’s playoff projection after a lackluster showing during a home loss to NIU. Notre Dame would have to win out from here to grab one of the seven at-large spots based on our projections — and that’s not happening if Marcus Freeman’s team struggled to handle business as a three-touchdown favorite in Week 2.”

Notre Dame may be settling for a bowl after its failure against NIU.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) hurdles over Northern Illinois safety Nate Valcarcel on his way to score a touchdown during a NCAA college football game at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in South Bend.

It’s worth noting here that things can easily change, especially if other CFP contenders falter the way the Irish did — or if NIU shows that it’s a legit contender and its win wasn’t just because the Irish played an awful game. Other upsets could clear a path for the Irish, and if NIU is really a playoff contender, maybe the loss doesn’t look as bad a few weeks from now.

It’s also not clear that the Irish need to win out — many predictions made in the preseason or after the Notre Dame win over Texas A&M suggested the Irish could get in at 10-2. Of course, the two losses were predicted to be against top 25 teams — not a then-unranked team out of the MAC.

It’s a long season, and the same Notre Dame that experts said would get a home game in the first round is now being projected at out. Projections and predictions are just that, though — we’ll see what 247Sports says if the Irish are able to rebound. If they do, it starts next week at Purdue.

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Notre Dame drops in AP Top 25 poll after shocking loss

Notre Dame falls in the Ap Top 25 poll, but perhaps not as much as expected.

It’s obvious that Notre Dame was going to drop from No. 5 after being upset 16-14 by Northern Illinois in its home opener on Saturday.

Here’s how bad the damage is.

The good news is that the Fighting Irish remain in the top 20 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. The bad news is that the Irish fall to 18th.

It may be of some consolation to Irish fans who are fighting off charges of “overrated” to know that Northern Illinois is now ranked at 25th.

It may also be some consolation to see Michigan drop to 17th.

The top five are Georgia, Texas, Ohio State, Alabama, and Ole Miss.

Notre Dame could’ve dropped further given how bad the loss to a four-touchdown underdog was. The Irish have work to do, but it could’ve been so much worse.

Notre Dame football is on the wrong end of a home-favorite stat
Northern Illinois celebrates after wining a NCAA college football game 16-14 against Notre Dame at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in South Bend.

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Experts Punish Notre Dame for Stunning Failure Against NIU

As expected, analysts are sour on Notre Dame after the Irish faceplant against Northern Illinois.

It’s no shock that Notre Dame is falling hard in the rankings put forth by various experts after the Fighting Irish lost to Northern Illinois on Saturday.

The Irish were favored by four touchdowns and lost to the Huskies 16-14. Not only did they lose, but they looked awful doing so. The offense was disjointed for most of the day, the defense struggled in the first half, two field-goal attempts were blocked and the playcalling didn’t seem to make sense at times.

Football is, of course, a week-to-week sport. Notre Dame may have been ranked a bit too high after a gritty, ugly 10-point win in the hostile environment at Texas A&M. Similarly, they may take a bit too much punishment for having an awful day against an unranked opponent at home.

The rest of the season will help determine if the Irish are overrated or are a College Football Playoff contender that simply had a bad day and/or overlooked an underdog opponent.

For now, though, Danny Kanell doesn’t have the Irish in his top 10. Nor does Joel Klatt. CFB Kings puts the Irish at 22 in their top 25 — just ahead of an Illinois team that upset Kansas Saturday night.

Klatt’s top 10 is Georgia, Ohio State, Texas, Ole Miss, Miami, Tennessee, USC, Alabama, Penn State and Utah. Kanell’s top 12 are Georgia, Texas, Miami, Tennessee, USC, Penn State, Oregon, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Missouri, Alabama and Louisville.

Stewart Mandel from The Athletic now believes the Fighting Irish won’t even make the college playoff. Just a few days ago pundits had the Irish penciled in for a home game in the first round.

Notre Dame can play its way back into the pundits’ good graces. But it will need to win just about every game and look good while doing so.

https://twitter.com/dannykanell/status/1832738095042572627

https://twitter.com/joelklatt/status/1832666710325055991

https://twitter.com/cfbkings/status/1832779523290538063

 

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Legendary coach praises Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman on the Pat McAfee Show

When Nick Saban praises you, you’re in good company. Just ask Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.

When Nick Saban, arguably the greatest college football coach of all time, praises your coaching ability, you’re probably in a good place. Just ask Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.

Saban went on the Pat McAfee Show on ESPN and said that Freeman’s personality is a big part of why the Irish are already garnering attention as a College Football Playoff contender. Saban was doing the interview with McAfee from the field at Michigan Stadium.

“I love Marcus Freeman and your team reflects your personality … When your team knows you’re fired up that means something to your players,” Saban said.

The seven-time national champion coach went on to say that a team takes on its head coach’s personality to “some degree” and he pointed out that Freeman showing emotion and rallying the Fighting Irish shortly before they took the field against Texas A&M was key. That’s because, in Saban’s view, it means something to players to see that level of emotion from their head coach. It makes them feel like their coach is just as invested in their success as they are.

Freeman has been on the hot seat at times, in part due to inexperience and in part because of the team transitioning a bit after Brian Kelly decamped for LSU. But now that he’s in his third season and has shaped the roster and coaching staff, he seems to be growing into the gig.

He’s certainly impressed one of the GOATs.

https://twitter.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/1832114926305079596

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Experts expect Notre Dame to cruise over Northern Illinois

It’s no surprise that the experts think Notre Dame will smoothly sail past NIU this week.

Notre Dame hosts Northern Illinois in its season opener on Saturday, and the experts are united — the No. 5 Fighting Irish are likely to avoid an upset and cruise over the Huskies.

Any potential for a letdown following the Irish’s season-opening win at Texas A&M seems to be small.

CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm has the Irish covering the 28.5-point spread, saying that he can’t foresee the Huskies coming within four touchdowns of Notre Dame. Palm also points out that “If Notre Dame wants to be a playoff contender with its relatively soft schedule, it needs to send messages in games like this”, and he expects that the Irish will send that message while not looking ahead to instate rival Purdue in Week 3.

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How to watch Notre Dame hosting Northern Illinois on Saturday, September 7th

Here’s how to watch Notre Dame’s home opener against the Northern Illinois Huskies on Saturday.

Notre Dame has its home opener against the Northern Illinois Huskies on Saturday, September 7th. Here’s how to watch if you can’t be in South Bend to see the No. 5 Fighting Irish in person.

The Irish will be looking to avoid a letdown after a gritty, impressive 23-13 Week 1 win over the Texas A&M Aggies. Meanwhile, the Huskies would love nothing more than to notch a huge upset against a potential College Football Playoff team.

Here are the viewing notes:

  • Game Day: Saturday, September 7, 2024
  • Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
  • TV: NBC
  • Streaming: Peacock
  • Radio: Check local info here
  • Venue: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

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Notre Dame’s Week 1 win makes believer out of pundit

Pundits and analysts believe Notre Dame’s victory against Texas A&M was no fluke.

It’s easy to overreact to the first game of the season, so most analysis should be consumed with that in mind. That said, Notre Dame did have to face a tough test early and the Fighting Irish’s 23-13 triumph over the Texas A&M Aggies has impressed more than a few observers.

On3Sports’ J.D. Pickell praised the Irish as a “Mature/salty team with zero flinch” and said that the win/the Irish are “gritty over pretty.”

He also said that we, as fans and observers, can trust that the Irish weren’t a fluke in Week 1 and will be in the playoff hunt all season.

He also added “I love everything about Notre Dame,” praising the maturity of the roster while noting seven defensive players are grad students.

Notre Dame is already creating playoff buzz.
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS – AUGUST 31: Howard Cross III #56 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates his sack with Rylie Mills #99 against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field on August 31, 2024 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images)

Pickell did point out that Florida State and USC could give the Irish fits, but he also thinks that even if the Irish finish 10-2, they will be in the College Football Playoff.

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Hotel pricing in South Bend skyrockets as Notre Dame playoff talk increases

Notre Dame has only played — and won — one game, but optimism is already spreading throughout South Bend, as evidenced by these hotel prices.

Hotels near the Notre Dame campus are already preparing for the Fighting Irish to host a game in the College Football Playoff.

Prices for the weekend of the scheduled first round are quite high, at least according to X.com (formerly Twitter) user College Football Watcher.

The first round of the CFP is set for December 20-21.

Notre Dame’s strong 23-13 win against Texas A&M on the road in a hostile environment and its two-place rise in the AP Top 25 are certainly playing a part, as are stumbles by other potential playoff teams like LSU and Florida State.

There’s a long way to go in the season, of course, so it might be too early for fans to be booking rooms in South Bend. Then again, most hotels won’t charge a credit card this far in advance, so perhaps some folks are just happy to stake a claim, just in case.

https://twitter.com/cfbwatcher/status/1830997191713837269?s=46&t=NKxhO50JTypMTJmFyBYfiQ

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Does this College Football Playoff prediction have Notre Dame slotted correctly?

Notre Dame’s big win is leading analysts to suggest the Irish will have a good playoff seed.

Only one game has been played, but Notre Dame’s statement win at Texas A&M has the pundits and College Football Playoff bracketologists giving the Fighting Irish high marks.

On3 Sports’ Andy Staples has the Irish getting a five seed and playing UNLV in the CFP.

Notre Dame will never be able to get a better seed under this current format. Since the Irish are independent they can’t play in a conference championship game, and the top four seeds go to conference champions.

Staples believes that the growth shown by a young offensive line combined with a talented, experienced defense will set the Irish up for a shot at running the table.

The schedule certainly looks favorable right now, especially as Florida State struggles — the Seminoles were supposed to be the biggest challenge on the slate. That said, Louisville did beat the Irish last year and is currently in the top 25, and Georgia Tech, which beat Florida State, has snuck into the rankings. Long-time rival USC beat LSU this weekend and lurks just outside the top 10.

Florida State could rebound, too.

On the other hand, the Irish are home against Louisville and Florida State.

Things can — and will — change from week to week. But for now, at least one analyst is giving the Irish a good shot at the fifth seed.

https://twitter.com/on3sports/status/1830622359423692995?s=46&t=NKxhO50JTypMTJmFyBYfiQ

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