Notre Dame Football: 3 potential 2019 bowl destinations for Irish

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL – DECEMBER 31: A general view of the Orange Bowl logo on the field before the Captial One Orange Bowl between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Sun Life Stadium on December 31, 2014 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

3. Orange Bowl

Each of these bowl games has it own unique scenarios because of Notre Dame’s unique position. That’s no different with the Orange Bowl.

The Orange Bowl is the only postseason game the Irish don’t have a direct ACC tie-in with. However, they can get into the Orange Bowl as an at-large if they rank higher than either the Big Ten or SEC eligible team after the playoff, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl have made their choices.

These are the two scenarios that get the Irish in.

SEC Participant

LSU is more than likely going to the playoff. That puts Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Florida, Auburn and Alabama are now ranked higher than Notre Dame in the current playoff rankings. In order for Notre Dame to make it to the Orange Bowl, three teams would have to fall below them in the rankings, and that’s not going to happens since none of these teams have an additional game left to play.

Big Ten Participant

Ohio State is going to the playoff, and the Rose Bowl is dependent on how far Wisconsin falls after the Big Ten title game. If the Badgers drop outside the top 10 that means that Penn State goes to the Rose Bowl which leaves Wisconsin and Michigan; both higher ranked than Notre Dame.

The Orange Bowl is the only of the New Year’s Six that is strict about their rankings, so it might take some upheaval for Notre Dame to get in. The positive to not getting into the Orange Bowl is they don’t play Virginia again.

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