Notre Dame Football: Making the case for Irish in 2019 CFB Playoff

With three top 25 wins and a favorable remaining schedule, there’s a legitimate case to be made for Notre Dame football’s playoff chances.

Heading into the 2018 season, it appeared as if the Irish would be tasked with making it through a daunting regular season schedule. Drawing Michigan in Week 1 would be an immediate test, but it was back to back matchups against Stanford and Virginia Tech that were of most concern. Considering Kelly’s struggles in big games, few expected the Irish to enter the second half unscathed.

Even fewer were those who expected Notre Dame’s smallest margins of victory to come at the hands of Ball State and Vanderbilt. Instead, the Irish can now look back at a 6-0 record with convincing wins over Wake Forest, Stanford, and Virginia Tech. More importantly, Notre Dame can feel confident in their chances with quarterback and former afterthought Ian Book under center.

Now halfway through the regular season, Notre Dame is staring straight into the face of their most likely playoff odds in the last few years. There are two ways this season can go, and with no top 25 competition remaining, Notre Dame’s success in 2018 will be defined solely by whether or not they make the College Football Playoff.