College Football Rankings 2021: Projected AP Top 25 for Week 2

Even after they struggled to put away Florida State on Sunday night, especially after McKenzie Milton entered the game, Notre Dame is still going to find themselves climbing a few spots up the AP Top 25 this week. Winning is ultimately the most important thing, and they did so in dramatic fashion as the only game on television in prime time.

Wisconsin transfer Jack Coan looked great as the new starter under center for Notre Dame. Coan finished the night 26-of-35 for 366 yards with four touchdowns to four different receivers. His biggest blunder was a pick-six that kept Florida State in the game in the first half. The Fighting Irish relied heavily on Coan’s arm, as Kyren Williams and Chris Tyree failed to average even three yards per carry on their 25 combined carries.

Notre Dame’s defense raised some questions, as they were gashed for 264 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground. While Jordan Travis was in the game, they depended heavily on that running game to carry the load. After Milton came in and changed the complexion of the Florida State offense, the Irish defense wilted for a moment but recovered in overtime when the stakes were highest.

Without a conference affiliation this year, the margin for error for the College Football Playoff tightens up again. The Week 2 home opener against Toledo presents a chance to shore up defensive issues and figure out the rushing attack, and the Irish will continue to have a single-digit number next to their name on the scoreboard while doing so.