![]() ![]() The Irish usually keep everything as an independent, but they’re spending their first and only season in the ACC for COVID-19 reasons. Notre Dame still would stuff the same amount of cash into its piggy bank, and that’s more than a few nickels. They could take their expected beating from Alabama by at least three touchdowns, or they could grab their first national title since 1988 by shocking the Tide before toppling the Clemson-Ohio State survivor in the other semifinal game. So there are many reasons the Irish must do nothing less this season than go all the way, but money isn’t one of them. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Getty Images on the sideline during the game against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium on Novemin Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. That brings us back to the Lou Holtz era on January 1, 1994, when Notre Dame kept its national championship hopes somwehat alive with a 24-21 victory over Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl.ĬHESTNUT HILL, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Such was also the case for Notre Dame during the regimes of Bob Davie, Tyrone Willingham and Charlie Weis. To be fair, the Irish’s struggles in huge games began long before Kelly arrived on campus. Notre Dame’s margins of defeat under Kelly during those losses against Top 10 teams in the postseason. against Top 10 teams in the postseason.Ģ8, 16, 27, 24. against teams finishing in the Top 25.Ġ-4. against teams finishing in the Top 5.ġ8-27. against foes finishing in the Top 10.Ģ-10. It’s just that Notre Dame has Kelly and those ugly numbers.ģ-14. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah won the Dick Butkus Award as the game’s premier linebacker, and Kyle Hamilton is everywhere during games at free safety. Notre Dame has a couple of extraordinary defensive players for a unit led by Clark Lea, the Irish’s genius of a coordinator who will run Vanderbilt overall following the CFP. Freshman Kyren Williams leads a slew of efficient running backs behind what was the nation’s best line before a couple of late-season injuries. On offense, Ian Book is the Irish’s magician of a quarterback, with enough dominating tight ends to satisfy several NFL rosters someday. What also helps Alabama is Nick Saban, the Rockne of the 21st century, with six national championships as a head coach, including five for the Tide since he came to Tuscaloosa in 2007.Īlabama is pretty great, but Notre Dame is only pretty good. They’re all among the top five vote getters for the Heisman Trophy, and they’re all among the six Alabama players picked for the Associated Press All-America first team, and they’re all among the Tides’ offensive guys combining with a potent enough defense to help Alabama defeat opponents by an average of 30 points per game. Not only that, but Alabama’s Najee Harris has an NCAA-high 24 rushing touchdowns while running for 1,262 yards. DeVonta Smith’s 98 catches surpass all receivers, and the same goes for his 1,511 yards through the air. Quarterback Mac Jones leads the nation in passing efficiency at 202.35 while completing 77 percent of his passes. ![]()
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