Notre Dame Football: 3 takeaways from disappointing playoff loss to Alabama

1. Brian Kelly and the Irish got another reality check

Notre Dame’s brand is one of the most far-reaching in the country and earning a scholarship from the Irish to play football is at the top of most young recruits’ list of accomplishments.

But Alabama and Clemson are currently the trump cards of college football. Those two programs, along with Ohio State, are the classes of the sport and it doesn’t seem like they’re going anywhere any time soon. That means Notre Dame must step it up.

It’s one thing to claim to be an elite program, but the Irish have to start showing that in the recruiting ranks — I’ll give Brian Kelly credit, he’s done that over the past couple of classes.

After losing to Clemson in the playoff two years ago, Kelly realized just how far he had to go to really be competitive with the big boys. He got that same reality check on Friday.

Progress has been made (Notre Dame was in the game into the third quarter) but the Irish nay be a couple of recruiting classes away from winning their first playoff game. This team was really good, but Alabama was elite. That was the difference.

Notre Dame is on the right path, but it may be a class or two away.