Brian Kelly entered the 2017 season very much on the hot seat at Notre Dame. But the Irish’s 6-1 start helped cool things off considerably. Notre Dame clobbered USC in South Bend, 49-14, to reenter the College Football Playoff conversation.
Despite a 20-19 loss to Georgia, the Fighting Irish took care of business against the other five opponents in the first half of their regular season schedule. The victories included a pair of wins over ACC opponents Boston College and North Carolina.
Things will get much more challenging for the Irish on their back end of their ACC slate, as they have to host NC State Oct. 28 and travel to Miami Nov. 11. Those two contests are sandwiched around a trip to Wake Forest Nov. 4.
NCSU and Miami are each having resurgent seasons under Dave Doeren and Mark Richt, and are still in the hunt for ACC titles. Neither school has ever even appeared in an ACC Championship Game, so spirits are running high in Coral Gables and Raleigh.
Miami is undefeated halfway through its regular season slate. The Canes still have to host Virginia Tech Nov. 4 leading up to the Notre Dame game. But if Richt’s squad can topple both the Hokies and the Irish, an unbeaten regular season should be in the cards. Miami’s other remaining games are all winnable ones against UNC, Virginia, and Pitt.
In NC State’s case, if they can knock off Notre Dame and then return home and beat Clemson Nov. 4, the Wolfpack could be in position to challenge for a berth in the College Football Playoff as well. NCSU lost its season opener to South Carolina, but they’ll win the Atlantic Division if they beat Clemson. In fact, NCSU and Miami could very well play each other in early December in Charlotte, with a CFP berth on the line.
Miami is undefeated at 6-0 halfway through its regular season slate following a 27-19 win over resurgent Syracuse. The Canes still have to host Virginia Tech Nov. 4 leading up to the Notre Dame game. But if Richt’s squad can topple both the Hokies and the Irish, an unbeaten regular season should be in the cards. Miami’s other remaining games are all winnable ones against UNC, Virginia, and Pitt.
So where does Notre Dame fit in?
While the Irish cannot ruin either Miami or NCSU’s ACC title chances, they could eliminate any hope of either playing for a national championship.
It’s unlikely a two-loss N.C. State squad will have a sure path to the College Football Playoff. Even if they can beat Clemson and whoever wins the Coastal Division title in the ACC Championship Game. NCSU will play in a huge bowl in that scenario, but no CFP is possible unless they can topple Notre Dame.
Miami could sneak into the CFP with one loss if the Canes win their remaining ACC games. But a potential loss to Notre Dame would complicate the situation. After years of underachieving on the part of both schools, the prospect of a Miami-Notre Dame game that means something on the national landscape is fantastic for those college football fans who can remember their epic clashes of the 1980s.
If the Irish continue winning, and pick up marquee wins against the likes of Miami and NCSU, they themselves can forge their way into the forefront of the CFP discussion. With a one-point loss to undefeated Georgia the only stain on their resume, Notre Dame is trying to do more than merely play ACC spoiler. They can return to the national championship picture by winning these two games against NCSU and Miami.
Read more: When NC State returns to the field, it has Josh Adams waiting for them