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College Football 2018: 5 takeaways from Week 13

By Luke Feliciano

TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 24: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after passing for a touchdown to DeVonta Smith #6 against the Auburn Tigers with Josh Jacobs #8 at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 24: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after passing for a touchdown to DeVonta Smith #6 against the Auburn Tigers with Josh Jacobs #8 at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 24: Chris Finke #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates his touchdown with Michael Young #87 against the USC Trojans during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 24, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 24: Chris Finke #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates his touchdown with Michael Young #87 against the USC Trojans during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 24, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

2. Welcome to the playoff, Notre Dame

With the win against USC, Notre Dame has effectively punched its ticket to the College Football Playoff –– and took home the Jeweled Shillelagh.

Entering the game (as of Nov. 20) the Irish’s odds of making the playoff were set at +700. Compare that number to the preseason, which had Notre Dame’s playoff odds marked at +4000.

Because the Irish are an independent team, they will not play next week in a conference championship game. Therefore, they polished off a quality season with perfection –– as an undefeated team.

The Irish got off to a slow start but picked up the pace to put the Trojans away. The USC defense actually did a decent job of containing some of the key cogs but failed to limit the big plays.

The win gleaned one key topic of discussion. That is, the Irish don’t necessarily need to lean on its main targets, like Miles Boykin and Dexter Williams all the time.

Williams was held to only 16 rushing yards in the first half but totaled 97 yards and a touchdown by game’s end. Boykin was targeted three times throughout the game for 73 yards.

Instead, former walk-on Chris Finke supplied the spark the Irish needed to vault them to victory. He gashed through the USC defense and found open space. Finke corraled a team-high seven receptions while he and Book connected for 86 yards and a touchdown.

Given the fact that Notre Dame finished the season as an undefeated team, they will be at least the No. 3 seed. Although, that could change if either Alabama or Clemson –– the two teams ahead of the Irish in the rankings –– lose next week.

Notre Dame almost seemed to cruise to an unbeaten season, but at the beginning of the year, fears set in. Then, Book helped rescue the team’s offense and prove the Irish offense much more productive.

The Irish have veteran experience on both sides of the ball, which should be advantageous come playoff time. If the Irish are selected for the playoff, it will be the first time that an independent team is included in the playoff.

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