College Football Rankings 2019: Projected Top 25, Week 5 – Wisconsin rising
By Zach Bigalke
11. player. Pick Analysis. 9/28 vs. Virginia. Notre Dame Fighting Irish. 819. Scouting Report. lost 23-17 at No. 3 Georgia
Notre Dame is probably only going to drop three to five spots in the AP Top 25 this week after falling 23-17 to No. 3 Georgia on the road between the hedges. The Fighting Irish took an early lead in the game after the Bulldogs flubbed a punt, and they took a 10-7 lead into the locker room at halftime. But Georgia roared back in the second half, and the Fighting Irish dropped their first game of the year.
The running game was effectively nonexistent once again on Saturday, leaving Ian Book to do the heavy lifting for the offense. He was unable to rise to the occasion, finishing with 275 yards and throwing a pair of touchdown and a pair of interceptions on 29-of-47 passing. Forced to take too many chances, Book paid the price that sometimes comes with a gunslinger mentality.
Brian Kelly’s team will need to dust itself off quickly, because another ranked showdown looms next weekend when Virginia comes to South Bend. The Fighting Irish will have a much tougher time landing in the College Football Playoff now that their record is blemished, but given their strength of schedule a one-loss Notre Dame team still has a shot.