Notre Dame Football: Ranking the top 5 moments from the 2010s

1. The Irish make their first ever College Football Playoff

While postseason appearances haven’t been particularly kind to the Irish in recent years, it remains a highly acclaimed accomplishment nonetheless. Very few teams have had the chance to compete at the highest level of college football, so it shouldn’t be taken for granted that the Irish did what they were able to do in 2018.

Much of the Irish’s success that season could be attributed to an explosive offense that complemented a very stout and sound defense. Book proved to be quite effective after taking over for Wimbush, and the rushing prowess of Dexter Williams has been made evident by the inconsistency of Notre Dame’s run game without him.

Defensive coordinator Clark Lea continued his case as one of the most capable defensive minds in the league, something he has continued to do this season and will likely do in seasons to come. The leadership of the linebacker corps and the intensity of the defensive line fueled a defense that was able to keep up with the best of the best.

Nevertheless, the Irish faltered greatly against a Clemson team that would end up putting up a similar performance against Alabama’s powerhouse, ever so slightly taking the sting out of what appeared to be such a brutal loss. All in all, the Irish’s very presence at a stage of this magnitude should have fans excited for the decade in front of us.