Notre Dame Football: 5 reasons Irish will beat Stanford in Week 13

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SOUTH BEND, IN – NOVEMBER 18: (L-R) Jonathan Bonner #55, Jay Hayes #93 and Jerry Tillery #99 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrate a defensive stop on 4th down against the Navy Midshipmen at Notre Dame Stadium on November 18, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Navy 24-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

1. Playoff, New Year’s Six bowl hopes are on the line for Notre Dame

Believe it or not, Notre Dame still has a chance to make the College Football Playoff. Although the experts will tell you that the Fighting Irish have next to no shot, which isn’t far off, they do have a chance with how crazy the season has been.

If enough craziness takes place in the coming weeks with the rivalry games and conference titles, the Fighting Irish could find themselves in the hunt as one of a handful of teams looking to take that last playoff spot when the final committee decision is made.

Notre Dame is currently No. 8 in the country and a road win over the nation’s No. 20 team would be an eye-opener for the committee. If they were to take a two-loss team, would it be a Fighting Irish one that beat the likes of Michigan State, USC and NC State handily this year? Moreover, the only losses were against Georgia and Miami, two teams that could very well make the playoff.

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The Fighting Irish will play inspired football because even if they don’t make the playoff, they can still make a New Year’s Six bowl with the quality win. There is still plenty to play for.

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