A week ago the USA TODAY bowl projections done by Erick Smith had Notre Dame headed to the Peach Bowl to take on Texas A&M in a meeting that used to be reserved for the Cotton Bowl. Despite not being the College Football Playoff it would be a trip to a New Year’s Six bowl for the Irish.
That took a hit this week however as Smith’s new projections are out and don’t have the currently 2-0 Irish in the New Year’s Six. Instead, it’s a New Year’s Eve matchup with Auburn in the Gator Bowl that Smith has down.
For whatever its worth, Smith still projects the Aggies to the Peach Bowl despite needing a last-minute drive to escape Colorado with a victory last week.
Auburn has started the year 2-0 but travels to Penn State for a tough showdown this Saturday. Notre Dame and Auburn have never met on the football field.
Notre Dame is 1-2 in their three all-time Gator Bowl appearances.
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