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Notre Dame football not making playoffs in latest projection

By Oliver Vandervoort

Sep 30, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman watches his defense during the second half against the Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman watches his defense during the second half against the Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /
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In one analyst’s latest playoff and bowl game projections, Notre Dame football is on playoffs outside looking in. So, what bowl are they in?

Thanks to a last-second loss to Ohio State, Notre Dame football misses the College Football Playoffs this year. That’s according to one analyst who believes the Fighting Irish will play in a big bowl, just not the biggest ones.

Brett McMurphy of Action Sports Network released his latest bowl projections and playoff predictions after Week 5. Despite a come-from-behind win against the Duke Bluedevils, it appears Notre Dame football didn’t do enough to convince him they should make a playoff seed. However, they will be playing in a December 30 bowl.

McMurphy also made it clear that Notre Dame football is far from out of the running. He just believes they will need to keep taking care of business if they want to have a shot.

"“The Irish (5-1) still must play at No. 25 Louisville Saturday and host No. 9 USC the following week. In November, Clemson also could present a challenge. If Notre Dame wins out, it would be in College Football Playoff contention, but a 10-2 finish would still likely keep the Irish in the top 12 of CFP rankings. That’s why in my Week 6 bowl projections, I have Notre Dame in a New Year’s Six bowl”"

Notre Dame football headed to New Year’s Six bowl

While McMurphy thinks that the Fighting Irish schedule is a little too tough to run the rest of the gamut, he does believe Marcus Freeman’s squad will have a pretty nice 2023 season when all is said and done.

The analyst’s latest projections have the Golden Domers headed to the Peach Bowl to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. I’ll add my own analysis that if they are 10-2 heading into that matchup, it sure seems as though there are good odds they’ll finish the year 11-2.

So, who is making the playoffs if Notre Dame football misses out? McMurphy has the final four being Michigan, Georgia, Texas, and Florida State. He believes it will be the Bulldogs and the Seminoles facing off in the National Championship game.

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