Notre Dame Might Not Control Its College Football Playoff Destiny
11/06/2024 04:27 PM
The inaugural College Football Playoff rankings have Notre Dame positioned to make the 12-team postseason. However, Joel Klatt isn't convinced the Fighting Irish will lock down a spot even if they win their final four games.
Notre Dame ranks No. 10 in the CFP's first top 25 of the 2024 season. The independent program has no path to landing a top-four seed, but Marcus Freeman's squad would currently snag an at-large bid.
Discussing Tuesday's CFP rankings reveal on The Joel Klatt Show, the FOX broadcaster wondered if the Fighting Irish could fall below No. 12 without losing another game.
"What are we going to do with Notre Dame? If you actually sit there and look at Notre Dame and you think to yourself, are they safe even if they win out? I think the answer is maybe," Klatt said (h/t On3).
Notre Dame opened the season with a road win over Texas A&M, which responded with a seven-game winning streak. However, the Fighting Irish also suffered what Klatt called a "terrible" loss to Northern Illinois and rank 75th in strength of schedule.
Furthermore, he thinks the Fighting Irish have "very little" left on their remaining calendar despite opposing the currently undefeated Army later this month.
"Let's just play this out. They beat Florida State, they should, Virginia, Army, and USC, and they're sitting there as an 11-1. OK, well they would probably be sitting about where they're at," Klatt said. "You start to play this out, and what happens if Alabama beats LSU? Aren't they going to pass Notre Dame? Yes, likely they would. What happens if LSU beats Alabama? Wouldn't they probably pass Notre Dame? They probably would."
Saturday's SEC showdown between LSU and Alabama isn't the only matchup that could hurt Notre Dame. Klatt added that No. 14 Texas A&M could pass the Fighting Irish by defeating Texas, and No. 13 SMU could move up by beating Miami.
While Notre Dame has the head-to-head advantage over Texas A&M, Kltt thinks BYU losing the Big 12 Championship Game to Iowa State, Colorado, or Kansas State could complicate the CFP path.
"I don't think it's a guarantee that Notre Dame controls their own destiny ... They seem to be fine and safe now, but I just don't trust where they're at based on what's behind them and the games that those teams still have to play."
Related: First 12-Team College Football Playoff Rankings Of 2024 Have Been Released
