Can't say I am shocked. Playing down to lesser teams over the past 3 weeks. Give this committee any reason to bump ND from the playoffs, and they will. Had they just played like they are capable twice over the past 3 weeks and they would still be ranked. I said it two ago week before the BC game that they might have just played themselves out of the playoffs...and they did. Going to need a complete ass kicking of Stanford to get their name mentioned again. Maybe the fact they are out will get them going....
I don't think it requires an ass kicking of Stanford, just a well played game. Take care of the football, score touchdowns in the red-zone instead of field-goals, limit big plays on defense. Maybe ND will play with a little more fire knowing this is the eliminator game. I have a feeling this is going to be a crazy weekend.
Penn State at Michigan State
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State
Baylor at TCU
Iowa at Nebraska
Alabama at Auburn
I have a feeling there will be 2 upsets from the games above.
No surprise for me. It is all about how you play in November. Also the eye test comes into play. Notre Dame did not look like one of the best teams in the country last weekend. Really nothing has changed. We need to beat Stanford and have a little help. Still 2 weeks of the regular season remain and if we beat Stanford I like our chances.
Here is a breakdown: ND vs Oklahoma ND Schedule:
ND beats Texas(4-6): 38-3(oklahoma lost)
ND beats UVA(4-7): 34-27 (close win lost starting QB) Not a great win but with Back up its ok.
ND beats GT(3-8): 30-22 (not as close as the score shows)
ND beats Umass(2-9): 62-27
ND loses Clemson(11-0): 24 to 22 (#1 team in the country on the road in an hurricane.)
ND beats Navy(9-1): 41-24 (blow out a Top 15 team) undefeated at the time
ND beats Temple(9-2): 24-20 (undefeated at the time late in the season)
ND beats Pitt(8-3): 42-30 (blow out)
ND beats Wake(3-8): 28-7 (blow out)
ND beats BC(3-8): 19-16 (bad win)
Overall very impressive for ND
OU Schedule:
OU beats ARK: 41-3
OU beats Tenn: 31-24
OU beats TLSA: 52-38
OU beats WVU: 44-24
OU loses Texas(4-6): 24-17 ND beat them and they lose to a 4-6 team.
OU beats KSU: 55-0
OU beats TTU 63-27
OU beats KU 62-7
OU beats ISU 52-16
OU beats Baylor: 44-34
OU beats TCU: 30-29
overall Yes OU has been strong as of late but you have to go by the full schedule. We beat a team that OU lost to and that team is 4-6 oh yeah they lost at Home to a 4-6 team. Its Clear ND should be ahead and if not at the end they need to break up the Committee. Both schools dont play in a conference championship.