So if all that happens why should it affect Notre Dame? Sure last week was a hit on the Irish's best win, but at the same time, what win does Ohio St. have that is better? I'd saying beating Michigan was the best win for each of them.

 

And why is it Notre Dame that everyone wants to dump on. What has Clemson done to be safe from being jumped by Ohio St. and Oklahoma a la Notre Dame. They will have likely only beat two top 25 teams as well. Texas A&M and Syracuse, both of which they were fortunate were not loses. Even if Syracuse blows out Pitt a team against which Notre Dame barely squeaked by, they still have the Syracuse game in which Notre Dame blew them out while Clemson had to come from behind to win at the end.

 

Clemson's win against Syracuse is actually the best testament they can give as to why they are a championship caliber team. They literally beat Syracuse with their 3rd string QB, after the starter left the team.

Clemson's win against Syracuse is actually the best testament they can give as to why they are a championship caliber team. They literally beat Syracuse with their 3rd string QB, after the starter left the team.

 

He wasn’t the starter. That’s why he left the team.

He wasn’t the starter. That’s why he left the team.

 

He left the team one week before. Hardly enough time to prep a 3rd string QB for play. They lost "the starting qb" to a head injury and continued on. It's a testament to the team.

Which brings me to this...if Alabama beats Georgia, AND both OSU and OU win in dominating fashion (20+), I think there's a legitimate chance that both may get in, and it's Notre Dame that is on the outside looking in. I know everybody has said if they go undefeated, which they have, that they're a lock to get in. Maybe they are. I just think that with them not playing this upcoming weekend, that both OSU and OU have a chance, even with 1 loss, to gain on them. Whether or not it's enough to pass them, I don't know. But, I do think there's a chance.

 

There is absolutely zero chance OSU will make the playoffs over Notre Dame. OSU has been very average for a month and a half until this last game. So beating Michigan and Northwestern. Two teams Notre Dame already beat, isn't going to magically put a one lost team over Notre Dame. Especially since OSU really doesn't have any big wins on their resume besides Michigan, who Notre Dame beat too.

 

So if you want to discredit Notre Dame's resume that's fine. But it's hard to turn around and say there really is anything OSU can do that would put them in over Notre Dame. As much as many OSU fans want to forget or dismiss their beat down lost to a team that barely became bowl eligible. That lost did happen, and can't be just dismissed. You don't see teams in football who are trying to make a claim they are one of the four best in football, get beat down to a .500 team. Can a top team get upset to a bad team on the road, sure. Do top teams get beat down to .500 teams, no. So zero chance OSU would make it in over Notre Dame.

 

In your scenario of Bama losing, and Oklahoma and OSU winning big in their conference title games. It will come down to those three teams, Notre Dame is already a lock.

Bama and Notre Dame are 100% in regardless of this weekends games. We can stop debating that.

 

Clemson is 95% in regardless, and 100% in with a win, so that's the third.

Bama and Notre Dame are 100% in regardless of this weekends games. We can stop debating that.

 

Clemson is 95% in regardless, and 100% in with a win, so that's the third.

 

Agreed. Even if Georgia beats Bama on Saturday, the only change is that both Bama and Georgia make the field.

They only need a decent D if their offense is clicking...ask Michigan.

Ohio State's 3rd down D is 11th in the country just ahead of Bama, Clemson and Georgia and 78 spots better than ND.

Ohio State and Notre Dame are virtually tied in the number of 1st downs they give up.

Ohio State is 70th in 4th quarter defensive scoring, looks like they give up some garbage TDs late.

Defensively they give up just over7 points more than Notre Dame does, while scoring 10 more points a game.

 

All based on who they've played. I think the Big 10 is down. Michigan won't go anywhere with Harbaugh at head coach. Kelly is much better than he is, which is why they beat them with their second best QB. If Book played that game the score would have been ugly for Michigan. I'd rather play the Buckeyes than the Irish but it won't matter. It's Bama by a mile above everyone else.

Notre Dame's strenght of schedule compares decently with the other teams in the playoff discussion. At the beginning of the year on paper it was a much better schedule, but they were hurt by the poor play of Stanford, Virginia Tech, Southern Cal, and Florida St.

 

At the time they played the Irish, Stanford was ranked #7 and Virginia Teach was ranked #24. Obviously those ranking have not held, but Notre Dame can't help that.

 

Central Florida's strength of schedule is nowhere close to comparable to the other teams.

 

Well, by the same token...Penn State was #9, TCU #15 and MSU#18 when OSU played them. Penn St. will likely be still be ranked in the top 15 by tonight.

ND beat Michigan by 7.

OSU best Michigan 23.

 

ND best NW by 10.

OSU vs NW TBD.

I probably should know this, but do the teams that make the playoffs receive money for having done so?

Georgia wins, it’s Alabama.

 

Bama wins and it should be Georgia, but it’ll be Ohio State.

 

Oklahoma curb stomps Texas and they’ve got a chance.

I probably should know this, but do the teams that make the playoffs receive money for having done so?

 

Bowl payout is about $6,000,000 each I think for the semifinals.

ND beat Michigan by 7.

OSU best Michigan 23.

 

ND best NW by 10.

OSU vs NW TBD.

 

Missing

 

ND - zero loss

OSU - one loss

 

I was told that "math is hard" when I attempted to make the case that LSU should still be ranked ahead of OSU had LSU won against A&M. LSU solved that for us.

 

ND is in.

ND beat Michigan by 7.

OSU best Michigan 23.

 

ND best NW by 10.

OSU vs NW TBD.

With their second best QB.

OSU lost to Purdue by 29.

ND is undefeated.

It took overtime for OSU to beat Maryland. MARYLAND!

 

OSU beat Nebraska by 5 at OSU.

Minnesota beat Nebraska by 25 at Nebraska.

 

Do we really want to keep doing these comparisons?

Edited November 28, 20187 yr by Run To State

Here's 538's take. Interesting that they give Georgia the sixth-best chance to make the playoffs, but the third-best chance to win the national championship.

 

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