Will USC vs. Notre Dame loser miss the College Football Playoff?
College Football Enquirer co-hosts Ross Dellenger, Andy Staples, and Steven Godfrey preview the USC vs. Notre Dame matchup and say this is a do-or-die game for Notre Dame. Hear the full conversation on the “College Football Enquirer” podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
Notre Dame had two nip-and-tuck losses to Miami and Texas A&M.
But those are the two best teams on their schedule, probably, unless USC is one of the best teams on their schedule.
And they have to win this game.
They lose this game.
Notre Dame is out of the playoff.
No question about it.
What about USC, though, guys?
What if USC loses this game, where do they stand?
I think this is close to a playoff elimination game.
I know that we talked very briefly before we went on the air, guys, that USC still has a path at 10 and 2, but I don't know about this remaining schedule.
We're talking about at Nebraska, all right.
Uh, we're talking about at Oregon.
Those are not just easily winnable games, and then also the bottom of their schedule, the sort of weaker winnable games are all against teams that are sort of on the upswing in conference, so Northwestern, Iowa, they get both of those at home, that's fine, but sort of upset alert games.
And then, by the way, they close the year against a reanimated zombie.
UCLA and that offense, which is not nothing, because that interim staff might be coaching for their future lives.
I think at 10 and 2, right?
You would think that they would still potentially get into the playoff.
I mean, if they go 10-2, you know, they obviously win out, and that would be a win at Oregon and Nebraska.
So that would be pretty good, probably good enough to get the last spot or two maybe into the playoff.
But yeah, for Notre Dame, it's sort of do or die.
You know, I was at the Miami Notre Dame game and the A&M Notre Dame games.
I mean, those aren't just the two best teams potentially on their schedule.
I mean, those are potentially the two best teams on their schedule.
Right?
Andy, those are the two best, those are two top five teams right now and maybe, I don't know, maybe the two best teams in the country.
Maybe A&M wins the SEC and Miami wins the ACC.
And, and you never know.
I mean, they've looked pretty good, so it kind of sets up for Notre Dame to go 12 and squeak into this thing, which I'm sure would make everybody really happy around the country.