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Notre Dame football: Irish should retain No. 2 ranking in CFP

By Brad Weiss

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 27: Kyren Williams #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs against Jahlil Taylor #52 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of their game at Kenan Stadium on November 27, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 27: Kyren Williams #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs against Jahlil Taylor #52 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of their game at Kenan Stadium on November 27, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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The Notre Dame football program had a convincing win on Friday against North Carolina and should retain their No. 2 spot in the CFP rankings Tuesday.

In their likely final regular-season test of the 2020 college football season, the Notre Dame football team went into Chapel Hill and dominated the No. 19-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. After a shaky start, the Irish were able to outplay the Tar Heels in a big way from the first quarter on, as they put another stamp on a magnificent season.

Looking ahead to Tuesday’s latest College Football Playoff rankings, the Irish should once again be the No. 2 teams in the country, and still in line for a spot in the Final Four. The Alabama Crimson Tide, the No.1 team, absolutely dismantled the No. 23 Auburn Tigers this past weekend, doing it without head coach Nick Saban on the sidelines.

Rounding out the top-four last week were Ohio State and Clemson, two teams who should retain their rankings as well. Ohio State had their game postponed, but they are one of the more talented teams in the country, and Clemson got Trevor Lawrence back and proceeded to put 52 on Pitt.

Dominant win against the Tar Heels

For all the talk of the North Carolina game being a trap for the Irish, they were able to take a haymaker early from the Tar Heels, and then dig in and prove they are an elite team in the country. After allowing two early touchdowns to Sam Howell and company, Ian Book and the Irish took over, as he played outstanding football, and the defense really held a high-powered Tar Heels offense in check.

Next. Notre Dame football: Offensive position grades vs. North Carolina. dark

Overall, it was the kind of convincing win that the Irish are going to have to stack the rest of the way if they want to hold on to their ranking in the CFP. Even if they lose in the ACC title game, they should still make the playoff, but only if they can pummel both Syracuse and Wake Forest to close out the regular season.

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