There is an ideal CFB Playoff start that every Notre Dame fan should hope for, and another matchup that the fanbase would dread
Who should Notre Dame fans want the Fighting Irish to play in the CFB playoff first round?
It was a boring Tuesday night for Notre Dame football fans when watching the newest reveal of the College Football Playoffs bracket. Despite a lot of conversation about the Fighting Irish potentially moving up or down, they stayed put at No. 9 in the ranking. While the Oklahoma Sooners rose in front of the Irish, the Alabama Crimson Tide fell one spot behind them as well. That movement became net neutral, at least to a degree anyway.
With Notre Dame having won eight straight games, Irish fans are anxiously waiting to see who head coach Marcus Freeman, quarterback CJ Carr, and superstar running back Jeremiyah get to play when the postseason begins. For argument’s sake, let’s take the group of programs that surround the Irish right now. While things are sure to change a bit before the final selection show, we are starting to get a firmer understanding of the playoff landscape. The options are becoming more absolute, and we will know for sure in just a few short weeks.
There is one matchup that Notre Dame fans should be hoping for, and one that brings a bit more difficulty. Here are those teams that the Irish fan base should keep a close eye on down the stretch of the 2025 season.
Best matchup: Oklahoma Sooners
If the playoffs started today, Notre Dame would travel to Norman to take on the Sooners. While Oklahoma has a very good defensive unit, led by head coach Brent Venables, and it is a very daunting test, their offense is a much less impressive group. Quarterback John Mateer has had great moments, this Sooner passing game is very inconsistent. Their running game has also been hot and cold, depending on which game you watch. I like Notre Dame’s chances to slow down a volatile unit, even in enemy territory.
At the end of the day, I like the Irish chances to outscore the Sooners. It will still most likely be a lower-scoring game, but I would bet on Carr and Love to make a big play in the biggest moment. Despite being the road team, Notre Dame would be the betting favorite, and for good reason.
Worst matchup: Alabama Crimson Tide
No team is unbeatable across the college football landscape. If Notre Dame did end up matched up against the Crimson Tide, they have more than enough talent to win the football game in the end. Of the three most likely opponents right now, however, Alabama is the team that presents the biggest challenge, and I don’t think it is particularly close. This team is a bit Jekyll and Hyde, but when they are in rhythm, Alabama is a tough team to beat. You would imagine Kalen DeBoer’s team would be locked in during a playoff atmosphere.
From a defensive perspective, Alabama has enough size in its front seven to attempt to slow down Love and Jadrian Price. With a good secondary, the Crimson Tide could present some challenges to Carr and the passing game if they are one-dimensional. That could come down to a Carr versus Ty Simpson shootout, which would be interesting. Notre Dame would have a very good chance to beat Alabama, even if the team had to travel down to Tuscaloosa.
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