Notre Dame started the 2025 season with a disappointing 0-2 record. Many fans and analysts believed any hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff were over.
However, for the second straight season, Marcus Freeman has pulled Notre Dame up and led them back into contention. The Irish have won five straight games to get to 5-2 entering their second and final bye week of the season.
In consecutive weeks, Notre Dame has knocked off Purdue, Arkansas, Boise State, North Carolina State, and USC. With that being said, Notre Dame has definitely put itself back into the driver's seat and controls their own destiny to make the playoffs for the second straight season.
Here are a few key things to know entering the bye week before Notre Dame enters the home stretch.
Notre Dame football continues to move up the rankings
After starting 0-2, Notre Dame fell as low as #24 in the AP Poll, with many fans and analysts arguing they should have fallen out of the rankings altogether. Since then, Notre Dame has been steadily rising in the AP Poll and Coaches Poll rankings. Following their crucial victory over rival USC, Notre Dame enters the week ranked 12th in the AP Poll and 13th in the Coaches Poll.
Although the only poll that matters remains the College Football Playoff rankings that debut on November 4th, that poll typically mirrors the AP and Coaches poll with some slight variation. It is safe to say that Notre Dame has definitely put themselves in a good spot going into that initial poll, assuming they can continue to win.
Notre Dame Must Win Out
Obviously, the biggest reason for Notre Dame's climb back to contention is its current five-game win streak. If they hope to make the playoffs again, they must win the remaining five games as well. 9-3 will not get them into the playoffs.
The good news for the Irish is that they have the highest likelihood of winning their remaining games. ESPN FPI gives Notre Dame a 49% chance to win the next five games, by far the highest in the nation.
Notre Dame wraps up the regular season after the bye week with games against Boston College (1-6), Navy (6-0), Pittsburgh (5-2), Syracuse (3-4), and Stanford (3-4).
Notre Dame Could Use Some Help
One thing that Notre Dame could really use is some help from other teams in some important spots. Although none of the remaining teams on their schedule are currently ranked, if Navy and Pittsburgh continue to win, it would give both teams a good chance to be ranked when they come to South Bend in November.
This would give the playoff committee some good opportunities to watch the Irish play ranked teams late in the year. Additionally, Notre Dame could really benefit from some teams pulling away from the pack in conference play. For example, if a few SEC teams, such as Georgia and Alabama, can win a large number of games, it would put the rest of their conference behind the Irish. Georgia still must play Texas and Georgia Tech, two teams that may be competing for a final spot with Notre Dame later this year. Alabama still has Oklahoma and LSU on the schedule, and wins would give both of those teams their third loss.
Likewise, Texas A&M reaching the SEC Championship would be big for Notre Dame, as would Miami playing for and winning the ACC Championship. Having two very competitive losses against two major conference winners or runners-up would be a good selling point for the Irish in the committee room on selection day.