Notre Dame football dominated their first-round win and have won 11 straight games by a margin of 468-151, but that still doesn’t impress Cam Newton. Newton, the 2010 Heisman winner and 2011 No.1 overall pick, got on ESPN First Take once again and talked college football and disrespected Notre Dame for a second time.
Newton will go down as one of the best college quarterbacks of all time, but as of recent the Auburn alum has favored the SEC heavily. Newton is still upset that Alabama or Ole Miss were not in the playoff and actually doubled downed on his take saying Notre Dame not only doesn’t belong in the quarterfinals, but actually doesn’t belong in the 12 team playoffs after their dominant first round win over an 11 win Indiana squad.
Cam Newton drops disrespectful take on Notre Dame football's legacy once again
Newton was simply asked who has the most to prove in these quarterfinals and Newton went after Notre Dame football history and legacy. The Fighting Irish will go up against the powerhouse in Georgia in the quarterfinals and will look to have their statement win prove the national media wrong.
“Notre Dame has the most to prove.” Newton stated “Respectively this is not basketball and March Madness where we see upsets left and right. This is football. You will find out sooner rather than later if you belong. I am just saying I don’t think Notre Dame belongs.”
Ryan Clark defended Notre Dame telling Cam Newton he is out of his mind and wrong. Newton being an SEC homer was trying to make a claim that Alabama or Ole Miss is better than Notre Dame and they belong in the top eight rather than Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish also have a 20% chance of winning the National Championship, which ranks second by ESPN and also have a 37% chance of making it to the finals. Cam Newton however then takes a jab at Notre Dame not being in a conference, despite Notre Dame is third in ESPN FPI ranking and has the third best strength of record in the nation in their metrics.
"I'm saying I don't think Notre Dame earned the right like Georgia, Alabama, Ole Miss," The 2010 Heisman stated. "It's also the conference final that has major implications if you make it to the college playoffs, but the strength of schedule. You're playing Indiana. If Notre Dame beat Alabama, then my whole tone is different."
Notre Dame 2024 season has been nothing but a domination. The Fighting Irish are top 10 in multiple stats on all three phases of the ball and not only belong in the playoffs but are a dark horse favorite to win the national championship.
Notable stats for Cam Newton to look at
- The Irish are third in total touchdowns with 68
- Given up the fifth least amount of touchdown with 22
- Top 3 in points against with 13.8
- Top 4 in total points per game with 38.8
- Notre Dame defense has given up the fourth least amount of passing yards with 162.3
- Top 8 for least number of total yards with 295.3
- Top 10 in rushing yards per game with 222.4
- Irish defense is 8 in the nation on 3rd down conversion percentage as they allow just 30%
- Notre Dame offense converts 76% on 4th down which ranks sixth
- Notre Dame defense ranks six at allowing just 34% conversion on 4th down
- Irish lead the nation team passing efficiency on defense at 94.1
- Red zone defense ranks ninth in the nation as they give up points just 73% of the time.
The Sugar Bowl represents an opportunity to silence some of the critics who question Notre Dame ability to win big games. A win over Georgia would not only end Notre Dame football’s bowl game drought but will send Notre Dame football to semifinals to face Boise State or Penn State. Notre Dame will play in New Orleans Jan.1 at 7:45pm.