College Football Playoff 2017: Case for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Can Notre Dame make the Playoff?

No question Notre Dame can make the College Football Playoff. Where the committee has them ranked now is a good indication they believe the Irish are one of the best teams in the country. Adding a top 10 win to their resume will cement their status.

Coaches want to keep distractions to a minimum and Brian Kelly is no different. Keeping his team focused on the task at hand and taking it one game at a time will be key. They cannot get caught up in the moment. Beating Miami would be huge, but following up with a loss to Navy or Stanford would be devastating.

One thing to watch during the stretch run is the Irish defense. They have been vulnerable to the pass, ranking 90th in the country while giving up 245 yards per game through the air. They are better against the run, ranking 30th. While the Irish only give up 18 points per game, they gave up 37 points to Wake Forest. It was the first time all season Notre Dame had allowed more than 20 points in a game.

The biggest question remaining is can Notre Dame go on the road and beat a tough Miami team. The game against the Hurricanes is by far their biggest road test. Right now, we will give the Irish a 40 percent chance of making the College Football Playoff. Their odds will heavily increase if they get past the Hurricanes.