3 takeaways from a statement win by Notre Dame football over Clemson

Another argument for a 12-team playoff

Notre Dame football beat the No. 4 team in the country with a quarterback that threw for 85 yards. Logan Diggs and Audric Estime both went over 100 yards and the Irish flat-out dominated in the trenches.

Benjamin Morrison’s interception return for a touchdown turned a one-sided affair into a laugher. It also got me wondering about a 12-team playoff because if one existed, Notre Dame would still have very real hopes of getting to it.

I really hope the format is six automatic berths for the top six league champions and the six best-ranked teams after. That would give Notre Dame encouragement to join a conference because it should, but this season, a 9-3 Notre Dame could work its way near the top 12.

Yes, the Irish have some really bad losses. But they also have some good wins. Notre Dame beat Syracuse and North Carolina on the road, plus Clemson at home. They should be ranked in the top 20 and should have been ranked last week.

This is also another reason the playoff should be expanded. Give hot teams a chance to play their way in at the end despite 2-3 losses. Notre Dame could make its way into a conversation for a major bowl but who knows? Still, a 9-3 season doesn’t sound so bad, and Irish fans have to feel much better about Marcus Freeman than they did a few weeks ago.