CFP Rankings underline a missed Notre Dame Football opportunity
The new College Football Playoffs rankings are out and they demonstrate beyond a doubt the opportunity Notre Dame Football missed this season.
Perhaps this wasn’t going to be a season where Notre Dame Football competed for all the marbles. Though the fact that they took second-ranked Ohio State to the wire begs to differ.
Maybe the Irish didn’t quite have enough horses on offense to get themselves to the promised land. But when looking at the latest CFP rankings one things is clear. Being ranked 20th in this this season is a waste.
It’s a missed opportunity. At least for a New Year’s Six bowl. Ranked 20th in the latest College Football Playoff Rankings, the Irish look set for an also-ran bowl.
They have to hope they can play an intriguing opponent in that game. Otherwise, Marcus Freeman and company might finish with the quietest and most disappointing 10-3 record in the sport.
It’s not the top four spots that should bug Notre Dame Football fans. Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan and Florida State have taken care of business. They’re four of the five best undefeated teams in the country.
Washington, Oregon, Texas and Alabama have looked pretty darn good for most of the season as well. However, the Longhorns have looked beatable at times.
It’s what comes after the cream of the crop. It’s Missouri at 8-2. It’s Louisville at 9-1.
The Cardinals, being that high especially, should cut deep. Notre Dame controlled its own destiny in that regard. People easily forget that the Irish were poised to win that game until they imploded.
CFP Rankings add insult to injury for Notre Dame Football
Oregon State? Penn State? Ole Miss? Notre Dame isn’t better than those teams?
Iowa!? The Haweyes are once again setting records for offensive futility. And yet they’re ranked 16th in the CFP poll while the Golden Domers sit at 19th. Behind the often laughably bad Arizona Wildcats.
The rankings indicate what we’ve known for a while now.
2023 is going to go down as one of the biggest missed opportunities in recent Notre Dame Football history.
Stop the final drive by Ohio State. Show up in the fourth quarter against Louisville. Show up at all against a Clemson team that was the walking wounded.
Current even one of those mistakes and we’re at least looking at going to a big bowl. Instead, we’re left hoping Notre Dame Football doesn’t play in the Quaker State Bowl on December 23.