Notre Dame fans need to root for surprising teams outside of the Irish vs. Syracuse as the CFB playoff race continues to heat 

Week 13 rooting guide for Notre Dame football

Ryan Roberts — National College Football Writer
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Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) celebrates after getting a first down in the first half of a NCAA football game against Southern California at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in South Bend.

With only two games left in the 2025 college football regular season, head coach Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are focused on finishing on a strong note. They are currently ranked as the No. 9 team in the latest College Football Playoff ranking, and if they win, Jeremiyah Love, CJ Carr, and company should have the chance at another deep playoff run. So for Notre Dame, the main topic of conversation will center around beating the Syracuse Orange in dominant fashion.

To make for the most advantageous playoff scenario for the Irish, they also need some things to go their way outside of their performance. Notre Dame isn’t the only team that Irish fans should be rooting for this weekend. Here are some other games and outcomes to keep a close eye on this Saturday.

(15) USC over (7) Oregon 

The game is in Eugene, so the deck does feel a little stacked against regular Trojans this weekend. They do, however, have more than enough firepower to cause some issues for Oregon, especially defensively. If Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane are able to make a few big plays, USC could be in this one until the end. The game will come down to whether the Trojan defense is able to slow down a very good Oregon rushing attack. You want to force Dante Moore to have to beat you late in the game, and just hope that he can’t quite get it done. 

(22) Missouri over (8) Oklahoma 

With the news that Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula is doubtful for the game, it feels unlikely that Missouri will have enough to upset the Sooners. Their best bet will be to get their star running back Ahmad Hardy going early, but with a one-dimensional offensive attack, the deck is stacked against them. The Tiger defense might have to be the difference in this contest. Trying to force John Mateer into some mistakes stands as their best chance. This feels like a lower-scoring game regardless. 

(3) Texas A&M over Samford (lol) 

Let’s not spend too much time on this matchup. Texas A&M is a school that Notre Dame needs to keep winning, and they will do just that against FCS Samford. Let’s just hope they don’t have a lackluster performance against an inferior opponent that should be over before halftime. 

(13) Miami over Virginia Tech 

The thought process is the same for the Hurricanes as it was for the Aggies. The more Miami wins down the stretch, the better it is for the Irish. The College Football Playoff committee has made a clear statement that they prefer Notre Dame’s resume over Miami’s. As long as the Irish keep winning, they won’t get jumped by Miami. All they’re doing by winning is helping Notre Dame indirectly.

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