Notre Dame Football: Game-by-game predicitions for 2018

Can the Irish do enough to make the College Football Playoff?

Now we wait! With conference title games the week before the selection, it likely won’t be a matter of if the Fighting Irish get into the College Football Playoff — with an 11-1 record — but what seed they’ll be.

The Big Ten and SEC champs will likely have one loss or be undefeated. So, that leaves two spots up for grabs. Notre Dame wouldn’t be able to leapfrog over the Big Ten or SEC champ with one loss. So, the best they can hope for in a No. 3 seed in the CFP.

Georgia will win the SEC, and in a shocking turn of events, Michigan will stun everyone and win the Big Ten. In the end, the four teams that qualify for the CFP will be as follows:

1. Georgia (12-1)
2. Michigan (12-1)
3. Florida State (12-1)
4. Notre Dame (11-1)

Notre Dame being independent will hurt their seeding. Since they don’t have another game to play to prove themselves against a quality opponent, they will have to settle for a No. 4 ranking. Also, a head-to-head loss to Florida State means the Seminoles get the nod ahead of Notre Dame. Notre Dame does make it to the National Semifinals for the first time, and they will have a shot at the national championship.