Notre Dame Football Week 13 Rooting Guide: Ohio State versus Indiana shakeout, close eyes on Alabama
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are fresh off of moving up two spots in the most recent College Football Playoff ranking, coming in at No. 8. Things remain quite simple for Notre Dame, win out and you’re in the field. With this recent bump, the quest to being the No. 5 seed is also very […]
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are fresh off of moving up two spots in the most recent College Football Playoff ranking, coming in at No. 8. Things remain quite simple for Notre Dame, win out and you’re in the field. With this recent bump, the quest to being the No. 5 seed is also very much on the table, needing a couple of things to happen down the stretch.
Irish fans should have a strong rooting interest in several games on this weekend’s docket. You control your own destiny, but your destiny can certainly be helped by what else happens around you. It centers mostly around the Big Ten conference, who has a blockade in front of them with four of the five teams at the top.
(5) Indiana at (2) Ohio State
Indiana is a team that has earned their ranking based upon beating a bunch of average to bad football teams, and beating them handily for the most part. Ohio State is their first real test, and if they lose, there is no way that the committee can keep them above Notre Dame. There is some merit for hoping Ohio State loses but the brand recognition should still get pushed up down the stretch. It could be more advantageous for the Irish if Ohio State loses at the right time (rematch against Oregon in the Big Ten Championship).
(4) Penn State at Minnesota
For whatever reason, Penn State is propped up by the committee. They have a competitive loss on their resume (sort of) but don’t have a strong win to rest on either. If they somehow lost to a team like Minnesota, it would be hard to justify them even making the field. It’s a highly unlikely upset, but we can dream.
(7) Alabama at Oklahoma
Yes, the chances of this happening are very, very small but most would have said the same about the Vanderbilt game. If Alabama keeps winning, they are a strong contender to jump Notre Dame down the stretch. If they lose, that will create some separation for the Irish. This type of upset would be damming to the Crimson Ride playoff resume.
