College Football Rankings 2020: Projected AP Top 25 for Week 9
By Zach Bigalke
player. 5-0. won 45-3 at Pittsburgh. Notre Dame Fighting Irish. 819. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 4
Due less to their own performance as the fact that 10 voters will add Ohio State on to their ballots this week, Notre Dame is projected to drop from No. 3 to No. 4 when the next AP Top 25 comes out on Sunday. The Fighting Irish did everything they could to retain top-four position in the poll, knocking off Pittsburgh 45-3 on the road to remain among the ranks of the unbeaten.
Ian Book was a sturdy 16-of-30, throwing for 312 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. Book added 40 rushing yards, helping bolster the rushing attack on a day where both C’Bo Flemister (13 carries, 48 yards, TD) and Kyren Williams (17 carries, 38 yards, TD) struggled to generate much momentum on the ground. What stood out most, though, was a Notre Dame defense that held Pitt to only 162 total yards and forced three interceptions.
A Halloween road trip to Georgia Tech awaits in Week 9, and the Fighting Irish will need to remain focused lest they get caught in a trap looking ahead to their November 7 home showdown against Clemson. That game will have major repercussions not just in the ACC race this season but also in terms of the College Football Playoff picture.