Notre Dame's CFP Hopes Get a Boost After Texas Stuns Ohio State
Notre Dame took care of business Saturday with a dominant 52-0 shutout of Rice, moving to 2-0 on the season as the Fighting Irish continue their march toward a College Football Playoff berth. But the bigger news came later in the day, when Texas mounted a stunning comeback to knock off previously unbeaten Ohio State, 24-23, shaking up the national title picture in ways that could benefit the Irish down the stretch.
The win vaulted Texas to No. 1 in the AP Poll and dropped Ohio State to No. 6, but for Notre Dame fans, the real story is what lies ahead for both of those programs. The Longhorns and Buckeyes both face treacherous schedules loaded with potential landmines, while the Fighting Irish control their own destiny with a manageable path to an undefeated regular season.
How Texas Beating Ohio State Helps Notre Dame's Playoff Chances
Texas may have grabbed the headlines with its dramatic comeback, but the Longhorns now face one of the toughest remaining schedules in college football. Trips to Tennessee, LSU, and Texas A&M await, along with a neutral-site showdown against Oklahoma and a home date with Ole Miss. That gauntlet leaves plenty of room for at least two losses, which would knock Texas out of contention for a top seed and a first-round bye.
Ohio State's road is hardly easier. The Buckeyes travel to Iowa, Indiana, and USC, and close the regular season at home against Michigan. Any one of those games could produce a second loss that would push the Buckeyes down the playoff ladder.
For Notre Dame, that means the path to the No. 1 overall seed, while not easy, is very much alive. The Fighting Irish simply need to keep winning and let the chaos in front of them play out.
What Notre Dame Must Do to Earn the Top Seed
The formula for Notre Dame is straightforward: go 12-0. An undefeated season would almost certainly secure a top-four seed and a first-round bye, but claiming the No. 1 overall spot will require some help.
Ideally, the Fighting Irish want Miami to finish 12-1 and win the ACC in convincing fashion. A strong Miami resume would boost Notre Dame's strength of schedule, as would a quality win over BYU earlier in the season. Even with an unbeaten record, a one-loss champion from the SEC or Big Ten could still leapfrog the Irish, so every data point matters.
College Football Playoff Projection After Week 2
Here's how the 12-team playoff field shapes up after Saturday's action, according to our projections:
- Indiana
- Notre Dame
- Georgia
- Texas Tech
- Miami
- Texas
- Ohio State
- LSU
- Alabama
- Texas A&M
- Penn State
- Memphis
Under this scenario, Notre Dame would earn a bye and face the winner of the 7-10 matchup between Ohio State and Texas A&M in the second round. A potential semifinal clash with Georgia would be a rematch of last year's title game, and a national championship matchup against Indiana would be a fascinating all-Independent final.
Concerns Remain for the Fighting Irish
Despite the strong start, there's one area of concern for Notre Dame: the running game. The Irish haven't shown the consistency on the ground that championship teams typically need, and that could be the difference between a deep playoff run and an early exit.
Head coach Marcus Freeman has time to fix the issue, with a home game against Michigan State up next before the schedule ramps up. If the running game comes together, Notre Dame has the defense and quarterback play to beat anyone in the country. If not, the Irish could find themselves on the wrong end of a neutral-site showdown with a team like Georgia or Indiana.
For now, the pieces are in place. Notre Dame controls its own destiny, and Saturday's results only strengthened the Irish's position. The