Notre Dame football playoff resume gets better the deeper you look

As we wait for Tuesday and the first playoff rankings, many teams claim they belong on the field while also pointing to others that don’t. Unsurprisingly, Notre Dame football is one of the teams people point to as a squad that doesn’t deserve to go anywhere but a bowl game.

Detractors like to point to the Irish's loss to Northern Illinois. It’s often called the worst loss of the season for a team hoping to make the playoffs. But ND also won on the road against Texas A&M, and the Aggies are more likely to make it to the SEC Championship game.

But when looking at Notre Dame footbal’s schedule, it’s important to remember that it’s better than it is. Especially when broken down in specific ways. There is absolutely a path to claim there is no team that is more deserving of a playoff spot.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish schedule is better than it looks

Things get especially interesting when one looks at the “quality win” category. There really isn’t a team in the country that measures up in that regard.

The Fighting Irish are 7-1 following the blowout victory of a ranked Navy team.That record features wins over five opponents with a .500 or better record. They beaten three teams that were ranked at the time.

When comparing that to teams that experts feel like are more deserving, only Oregon has more wins vs .500 or better teams (six). Both Texas and Tennessee are tied with ND regarding ranked wins.

Looking towards at-large bids, the Notre Dame football team has more quality wins than Georgia, Penn State, Ohio State, Miami, BYU, Iowa State, Clemson, and Indiana at the very least. That’s a resume that gets them into the College Football Playoffs.