Is that we go 11-1 without a signature win and subsequently get left out of the playoffs. Right now our best bets at signature wins are at USC and Miami. I have a fear that USC is going to get beat by Wazzu this Friday and would not be surprised if Duke beats Miami earlier.

 

We can hang out hope that one of the ACC teams will survive but Wake needed a miracle to beat App St, NC State lost week 1 (plus FSU is bad), and Miami was overrated for whatever reason who will surely fall back down like they always do.

 

Stanford has 2 losses and will probably have 4 by the time we play. I can see Navy being 11-1 if we beat them but noone will respect that as a signature win, and now there's 5 conference champs.

 

It's USC or bust folks, the only way we make the playoffs is if USC runs the table after we beat them in South Bend. As much as I hate it we need to root for USC.

First, I think anyone would take 11-1 even if meant be left out of the playoffs.

 

But as long as we are debating it, who would be the Pac-12 champ in your hypothetical? ND would have a win over two of the better teams. They'd also have wins over 5 ACC teams, so you can argue they'd deserve to be in before a second ACC team or any Pac-12 team.

 

I don't see a Big 10 champ with less than 1 loss and 2 wouldn't be shocking. Can OU run the table? That leaves the Big 12 champ and SEC champ with ND against the Big 10, ACC second team and Pac-12. I think ND shapes up OK at 11-1 in that race.

First, I think anyone would take 11-1 even if meant be left out of the playoffs.

 

But as long as we are debating it, who would be the Pac-12 champ in your hypothetical? ND would have a win over two of the better teams. They'd also have wins over 5 ACC teams, so you can argue they'd deserve to be in before a second ACC team or any Pac-12 team.

 

I don't see a Big 10 champ with less than 1 loss and 2 wouldn't be shocking. Can OU run the table? That leaves the Big 12 champ and SEC champ with ND against the Big 10, ACC second team and Pac-12. I think ND shapes up OK at 11-1 in that race.

 

I see Clemson and Bama/Georgia as locks at this point. The Big Ten champ will get in with one loss but we would need that champ to have two losses. I don't see us beating out the Big 12 as I think Oklahoma or TCU will have one loss. In the Pac 12 I see Washington winning the conference again.

 

So really we would need the Big 10, 12 and Pac-12 champs to have two losses each. Last year no playoff team had two losses so I still see our chances are slim. The only glimmer of hope is there is much more parity this season in College football, it's the locks I mentioned and then everyone else.

I see Clemson and Bama/Georgia as locks at this point. The Big Ten champ will get in with one loss but we would need that champ to have two losses. I don't see us beating out the Big 12 as I think Oklahoma or TCU will have one loss. In the Pac 12 I see Washington winning the conference again.

 

So really we would need the Big 10, 12 and Pac-12 champs to have two losses each. Last year no playoff team had two losses so I still see our chances are slim. The only glimmer of hope is there is much more parity this season in College football, it's the locks I mentioned and then everyone else.

 

Got it. I guess I just don't see that as a "nightmare scenario". That just seems to be there are 4 better teams with 1 or 0 losses. To me, a nightmare would be 11-1 ND getting passed over by a 2 loss conference champ.

11-1?

 

Not my nightmare scenario.

I mean at the end of the day it will probably be a moot point because I see this team going 10-2 with a new years day bowl. That is what I think this team is but with our schedule I will not be shocked if we run the table.

 

I have a feeling an 11-1 ND will never get in unless some sort of chaos occurs. The sooner it happens the better because you know everyone at Notre Dame will lose their mind if we get passed over in the playoffs, should we only have one loss.

 

In that scenario I wonder if a decision will be made regarding joining a conference, or by that time the playoff may have already been moved to 8 teams which I think it should be.

I'll revisit this thread after USC. I like the way you are going though.

First, I think anyone would take 11-1 even if meant be left out of the playoffs.

 

But as long as we are debating it, who would be the Pac-12 champ in your hypothetical? ND would have a win over two of the better teams. They'd also have wins over 5 ACC teams, so you can argue they'd deserve to be in before a second ACC team or any Pac-12 team.

 

I don't see a Big 10 champ with less than 1 loss and 2 wouldn't be shocking. Can OU run the table? That leaves the Big 12 champ and SEC champ with ND against the Big 10, ACC second team and Pac-12. I think ND shapes up OK at 11-1 in that race.

 

Yep. This is always the argument that should be given. With the way NDs schedule is set up, if they go 11-1 or 12-0 that means they likely beat AT LEAST one powerhouse pac 12 and team and likely two and then dominated the ACC. This is exactly what they want with their schedule. If they perform well, they essentially prove they are the best or in the top group of two power 5 conferences. Throw in a yearly big 10 battle and it looks to be a yearly SEC battle coming and their schedule matches up against anyone in the country.

11 and 1

 

Not a NIGHTMARE - a MIRACLE

 

aloha

11 and 1

 

Not a NIGHTMARE - a MIRACLE

 

aloha

 

Amen to that, Hawaii!

First, I think anyone would take 11-1 even if meant be left out of the playoffs.

 

.

 

I would actually prefer it this year barring some

Miraculous improvement in the pass game. We have the potential to be slaughtered by a power house top 4 team this year.. I think we are a solid 20 and maybe 15 team with a little improvement.

I would actually prefer it this year barring some

Miraculous improvement in the pass game. We have the potential to be slaughtered by a power house top 4 team this year.. I think we are a solid 20 and maybe 15 team with a little improvement.

 

Clemson and Alabama could potentially get ugly. But I think ND would be in the game vs just about anyone else.

 

Maybe not win, maybe not with 14, but I don't think it would be Alabama 2012 except vs those two, and I'm not even sure they would do that to ND again.

I would actually prefer it this year barring some

Miraculous improvement in the pass game. We have the potential to be slaughtered by a power house top 4 team this year.. I think we are a solid 20 and maybe 15 team with a little improvement.

 

By all accounts most people would put Georgia as a top 4 team. You could say a few plays and Williams getting in the game was the difference in us winning. I don't see that 2012 debacle happening again.

 

I'm not making excuses but it was a perfect storm with the manti and eagle situation for us to screw up. Plus they had one of the best olines in college football history.

 

This team has slaughtered everyone they should have and almost beat a top 10 team. Georgia has a better defense than Bama this year.

 

No one is beating this ND team by more than a score

Sorry, but an 11-1 Irish get left out of nothing...no way, no how...too much $ attached to them...

id rather see them left out of the playoffs at 11-1 and then finally win a new years day bowl.

Sorry, but an 11-1 Irish get left out of nothing...no way, no how...too much $ attached to them...

 

It will be an interesting test case when it happens. They were 5th in 2015 at 10-1 and I'm not certain beating Stanford was going to get them into the top 4.

Sorry, but an 11-1 Irish get left out of nothing...no way, no how...too much $ attached to them...

I tend to agree, but ND must look dominant near the end of the year. Not pretty good, but really good. That's how Ohio St gotta in a few years ago and won the whole thing. They destroyed Wisconsin in the Big X championship game making it tough to leave them out. Also, keep in mind that the Big XII has a championship game now also. No way OU runs the table. If we run out and look dominant think we have a very good chance. But, this is way too early to discuss this as exciting as it is. I'm just worried about Saturday at this point.

We are 3-1. Looooooooooooooooong way to go.

 

USC, NC State, North Carolina, Stanford and Miami will ALL be tough games for us.

Oh, I doubt we go 11-1, just saying there is zero chance CFB leaves us out with the national - heck, INTERNATIONAL draw of the Irish...

id rather see them left out of the playoffs at 11-1 and then finally win a new years day bowl.

 

Completely agree, let's get the big bowl win off our back (it's been since 94) and then worry about playoffs.

Oh, I doubt we go 11-1, just saying there is zero chance CFB leaves us out with the national - heck, INTERNATIONAL draw of the Irish...

 

We would have been left out in 2015 if we would have beat Stanford.