Notre Dame football has work to do to convince pundits of playoff worthiness

The Notre Dame football team is 4-1 despite some people thinking the program’s season was over after the upset loss to Northern Illinois. Thanks to winning the next three games, including No. 16 Louisville, the Irish are back in the thick of the playoff race.

However, not everything is rosey when it comes to national pundits. Certainly there are people who think the Irish could really get back into this thing if they went 11-1. That would include another win over a team that will likely be in the Top 25 when it happens.

Still, the Notre Dame football team needs to convince more people that there’s reason to believe they can make enough noise to go somewhere other than an afterthought bowl game. Chief among those who need to have their minds changed are Danny Kannell and Joel Klatt. 

Both analysts released their top teams list after Week 5. The Irish weren’t on either one.

Notre Dame football has some work to do to convince analysts

Klatt’s Top 10 is Alabama, Texas, Ohio State, Tennessee, Georgia, Penn State, Oregon, Miami, Missouri and Clemson. He also has a list of “almost” that includes Iowa State, Michigan, USC, Oklahoma and Ole Miss.

Klatt’s list means he doesn’t see Notre Dame in his Top 15. Which is more than a little surprising. Clearly the loss to UNI has him convinced they’re just not that good.

Kannell’s list has Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Miami, Oregon, Penn State, Ohio State, Georgia, Clemson, Indiana, BYU and Missouri.

Notre Dame football not being anywhere near either of these lists doesn’t mean a whole lot in the real world. But it does show where sentiment around the Fighting Irish is right now.