Notre Dame should not lose ground in playoff rankings from close win

Notre Dame came into this week as the number four team in the College Football Playoff rankings, and the close call with Boston College shouldn’t hurt them.

The Notre Dame hate train is fully in motion, but not after a Fighting Irish loss, rather after their sixth consecutive win. The Fighting Irish (10-1) came into a converted Fenway Park in the Shamrock Series and knocked off Boston College.

But it seems the opinion of some is that since the Irish only beat the Eagles by a score of 19-16, they don’t belong in the top four any longer.

Whether or not you love or hate Notre Dame Fighting Irish, it wasn’t up for debate by the playoff selection committee whether or not they belonged in the top four entering Week 12 of the 2015 season, and to think they should be dropped from the top four now is insane.

Boston College is a much better team than given credit for being, and their defense is among the elite in the nation, ranking number five in scoring defense (14.8 points per game) and number one in total defense (255.6 yards per game). The fact that Notre dame scored 19 points and totaled 447 yards against this defense is impressive enough.

No, the Irish didn’t play their best game of the season. But they went into hostile territory, overcame five turnovers, and still managed to come out with a victory.

Isn’t that what the pundits always say? Champions find a way to win their games.

Yet there are those within the college football haut monde who for reason feel like Notre Dame doesn’t belong among the discussion of top teams in the nation…ever.

Because they don’t belong to a conference?

Because they saw the value in securing large national television deals long before conference networks were even a thought?

Whatever the reason is, it’s time to stop accusing those in power of showing favoritism to a program who has fought hard to regain respectability. A close win over a talented rival is the last thing that should cause Notre Dame to drop in the playoff rankings, especially given the fact that one of the teams above them – Ohio State – lost this week.

While Alabama and Clemson are certainly going to remain in the top four, there can be no logical explanation why Notre Dame would fall out. Iowa, who remained undefeated and has already clinched a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game, would be the next logical choice to join the top four. After that, Oklahoma would be the first team out.

Should Oklahoma vault over Notre Dame to take the remaining spot in the top four? Not if the committee really breaks it down, including their controversial “eye test”.

When you compare Notre Dame and Oklahoma – both talented teams with one loss – side by side, the nod has to go to the Irish. There is a common opponent, Texas, who the Fighting Irish dominated 38-3 in Week 1, and who Oklahoma came up short against in a 24-17 loss. Notre Dame’s only blemish is a slim 2-point loss to the number one team in the nation.

Nov 21, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops reacts during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Schedule strength is a push between the Sooners and Irish. Oklahoma had weak non-conference games against Tulsa and Akron, but did beat a Tennessee team who has been much less than their No. 23 ranking at the time of the game. Notre Dame’s weakest opponent to date has been Wake Forest, as well as a Georgia Tech team who fell from grace after being highly ranked early in the season.

Since neither Oklahoma nor Notre Dame play in a conference championship game, there is nothing to separate them on that basis even after the regular season is over.

Both teams finish the season against ranked opponents – Oklahoma against Oklahoma State, and Notre Dame against Stanford – so all things being equal, if they both win their games, then there shouldn’t be a change this week or next in the playoff rankings.

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It’s fair to think that undefeated Iowa could leapfrog Notre Dame into the No. 3 spot, but the Fighting Irish should retain their No. 4 ranking unless they lose another game.

If Ohio State deserved their place in the top four last season, then as of right now Notre Dame does as well.

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